The premise of the ZonePerfect Diet is based on research showing the efficacy of another similar plan that promotes a specific balance of carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats. The ZonePerfect nutrition plan recognizes that for many, the exact ratio of 40-to-30-to-30 is difficult to achieve, but that you can achieve similar results by staying within a specific range of those original ratios. The affect of a 40-to-30-to-30 ratio diet on insulin control is particularly interesting to researchers and those diagnosed with diabetes.
Diabetes
There are 25.8 million children and adults in the United States diagnosed with diabetes, according to the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet. There are another estimated 79 million people who are pre-diabetic. Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases characterized by high blood glucose levels that result from defects in the body's ability to produce or use insulin. Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the body is unable to produce insulin; it is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. Type 2 diabetes, in which the body either doesn't make enough insulin or the cells become insensitive to it, is more common.
Insulin and Glucose
Insulin allows the body to use glucose for energy. The body breaks down all of the sugars and starches in the food you consume into glucose. The resulting glucose forms the basic fuel for the cells in the body. Insulin's function is to takes that glucose energy from the blood into the cells. When the insulin is unable to transport the glucose into the cells, glucose builds up in the blood. Treatment for diabetes mellitus typically involves a combination of medication, diet and nutrition. You may be able manage your diabetes without medication in some instances, with proper diet and nutrition.
The ZonePerfect Plan and Diabetes
Lean proteins and vegetables are the cornerstones of the ZonePerfect nutrition plan. This diet takes the original premise of the original 40-to-30-to-30 diet and acknowledges that many will be unable to meet the regimented ratios per meal, expanding the "zones" to a broader range. For example, the ZonePerfect diet recommends an intake ratio of between 35 to 50 percent of your calories from carbohydrates, 25 to 35 percent from proteins and 20 to 35 percent from healthy fats. The ZonePerfect nutrition plan steers you away from carbohydrates that release glucose quickly such as grains, breads, pasta, rice, and other similar starches. As a diabetic, this shift assists in maintaining steady blood glucose levels. The ZonePerfect plan is based upon the science of the Zone diet that seeks to reduce cellular inflammation through maintaining a balanced insulin response, not too high and not too low. Maintaining this balance is ideal for you as a diabetic, as it is these fluctuations, which often require medication to combat.
Caution
Check with your physician and/or dietitian prior to starting a diet program such as the ZonePerfect nutrition plan. Diabetes makes this conversation extremely important. See your physician for baseline tests, such as a fasting blood sugar, HA1C level, and cholesterol panel. Review the ZonePerfect nutrition program with your physician and determine whether adjustments will be required in your present insulin regime. Your physician will likely recommend close monitoring of your blood sugar and making adjustments in insulin dosing depending on the blood sugar test made throughout the day.
Medical Nutrition Therapy
Nutrition-based therapies are of the utmost importance in managing and preventing diabetes. The goal of medical nutrition therapy, an approach promoted by the American Diabetes Association, is to achieve and maintain blood glucose levels in the normal range, lipid and lipoprotein profile that reduces the risk for vascular disease and blood pressure levels that fall within the normal range. The ZonePerfect diet is a nutrition plan that, under a physician's care, can assist in achieving these goals. As with most food choices you make as a diabetic, there are concerns with following a high protein diet. High protein diets present a risk of hypoglycemia if you are taking sulphonylurea medication or insulin.
References
- Zone Perfect Nutrition: The ZonePerfect® Nutrition Program™
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Effects of Low-Carbohydrate vs Low-Fat Diets on Weight Loss and Cardiovascular Risk Factors; Alain J. Nordmann, MD, MSc et al.; 2006
- "Diabetes Care"; Nutrition Recommendations and Interventions for Diabetes A position statement of the American Diabetes Association; 2008
- Australian Family Physician; High Protein Diets and Diabetes; Melissa Carapetis BHSc, MND; 2006
- "The Journal of American Medical Association"; Comparison of the Atkins, Ornish, Weight Watchers, and Zone Diets for Weight Loss and Heart Disease Risk Reduction; Michael L. Dansinger, MD; Joi Augustin Gleason, MS, RD; John L. Griffith, PhD; Harry P. Selker, MD, MSPH; Ernst J. Schaefer, MD; 2005
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention: 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet
