Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that affects how your body metabolizes and uses glucose, the body's main source of fuel. In type 2 diabetics, the body fails to produce enough insulin, a sugar-processing hormone, or else the body fails to respond to insulin. As a result, blood glucose rises, which can lead to serious complications. There is no cure for this condition, but it can be managed by following a healthy diabetic diet, which will help you keep your glucose levels under control.
Complications
Diabetes can result in several serious complications. Because glucose is toxic at high levels in the blood, it can damage blood vessels, which can result in heart disease. Diabetes can also result in nerve damage, or neuropathy, because the increased levels of glucose in the blood can injure the walls of the blood vessels that feed into the nerves. Another complication can be nephropathy, or kidney disease, which is very common. This occurs when high levels of blood glucose damage the blood vessels in the kidneys, which filter the blood.
High-Carbohydrate Foods
You might be surprised at how many foods are actually high in carbs (which are the ones that have the biggest impact on blood glucose levels after digestion). Some high-carb foods include breads, crackers and cereals, as well as pasta, rice and grains. However, there are some other unexpected foods that are also very high in carbs, such as beans and legumes; starchy vegetables such as potatoes, corn and peas; milk and other dairy products; and fruit and fruit juices. This is why it is important for you to check the Nutrition Facts label whenever you choose to buy a food product.
Exchange List Diet
This type of diabetic diet groups foods into seven categories: starches, fruits, milk, meat and other proteins, sweets, fats and free foods. Within each group, you will see how you can eat any of the various foods, which are measured by serving sizes, because they have the same amount of calories, carbs and other nutrients. You can "exchange," or trade foods within each group because they will affect how your blood glucose reacts similarly. Normally, a registered dietitian can help you figure out the number of exchanges from each group that you need each day to meet your nutritional needs. She can also help you determine how to spread these "exchanges" throughout the day in a way that will be most beneficial for keeping your blood glucose under control. Following this diet is a good way to start to learn how to count carbs in the future.
Carbohydrate Counting
Counting carb servings helps control your blood glucose level by helping you control how many servings you eat each day. One serving of a food that contains carbs should contain about 15 g of carbohydrates. Make sure to check the nutrition labels and measure the portions of your foods. For many people, eating three to five servings per meal and one to two servings per snack works really well. In a healthy diet plan, these carbs should come from about five servings of fruits and vegetables, three servings of whole grains, and two to four servings of milk and other dairy products. Finally, try to eat 4 to 6 oz. of meat or another protein food each day as well to maximize your nutrient intake.
