When you are diagnosed with diabetes, you may have to think twice about items that you readily ate before. Carbohydrates and fats must be analyzed and monitored before you can eat them. Luckily, there is guidance and advice on restrictive diets that you can follow. For more information or additional help, consult a registered dietitian.
Glycemic Index
The glycemic index diet is a method to control the rise in blood glucose from food. Foods are assigned a glycemic index number that refers to the percentage of blood glucose following ingestion of the same amount of glucose. The scale starts at zero and goes up to 100. The lower a food is on the scale, the lower its glycemic effect on blood glucose. A food with a glycemic index rating of less than 50 is considered low. A moderate glycemic rating is between 51 to 70 and a high glycemic rating is above 71. If you are diabetic and looking for glycemic control, it is best to eat foods that are low to moderate on the glycemic index.
Carbohydrate Counting
Carbohydrate counting involves a simple system of carbohydrate exchanges. Exchanges stand for grams of carbohydrates in foods. According to the Cecil Essentials of Medicine by Thomas Andreoli, you should aim for a portion containing 15 grams of carbohydrate. This method is beneficial to those that take insulin. Knowing exactly how many carbohydrates you have ingested allows you to form a precise insulin dose.
Fats
A diabetes diagnosis comes with an increased risk of developing heart disease. Diabetes makes your blood more viscous and thus more susceptible to causing buildup in the arteries. To decrease your risk of heart disease, you should eat a low-fat diet. The American Diabetes Association suggests replacing unhealthy fats with healthier fats. Unhealthy fats include saturated and trans fats that are often found in red meat and fried or processed foods. Unsaturated fats, including poly and monounsaturated, should eaten instead of saturated fats. Unsaturated fats can be found in olive oil, nuts, some legumes and sesame seeds. You should try to opt for healthier versions of fatty foods whenever possible.
References
- "Cecil Essentials of Medicine"; Andreoli, Thomas, Carpenter, Charles, Griggs, Robert, Loscalzo, Joseph, eds.; 2004
- University of Wisconsin Health; "Glycemic Index"
- American Diabetes Association: Fat and Diabetes
