1. Diabetes and You
Over 20 million people in the United States, some 7 percent of the population, has a form of diabetes, and another 54 million are pre-diabetic, or on the verge of developing the disease. Diabetes prevents a person's body from extracting energy from foods like sugars and starches. Symptoms of the condition include extreme hunger or thirst, fatigue, irritability, blurred vision, weight loss or frequent urination. In type 1 diabetes, a person's body cannot produce insulin, and in type 2 the body does not properly use insulin and also produces less of it. 90 to 95 percent of people diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. There is also gestational diabetes, a relatively rare and usually temporary condition that sometimes occurs during pregnancy.
2. What is Sugar Busters?
Like the name implies, the Sugar Busters diet removes most sugar from your diet, and not just table sugar, but also high-sugar fruits and vegetables, such as bananas and beets, and simple carbohydrates like white bread, white rice and potatoes. The diet is low in carbs and high in protein and fat. Proponents argue that by largely eliminating sugar from your diet, you will lose weight, increase your energy, lower your cholesterol and control diabetes and other diseases.
3. Does Sugar Busters Help Diabetes?
Many doctors and dieticians dismiss Sugar Busters as a way of controlling diabetes, due to its reliance on the glycemic index, a rating system that demonstrates the effect that different foods have on blood sugar levels. The glycemic index is not universally accepted; critics argue that it does not reflect the way that most people actually eat and that the ratings can be deceiving, since each food is rated individually, not combined in a meal. They also note that the same food prepared different ways can produce a different rating. The Sugar Busters diet is not harmful for diabetics; indeed, cutting refined sugars and simple carbs from your diet is a good step in the right direction. However, don't expect it to be a magic bullet.
4. More About Sugar Busters
Many people do report weight loss with Sugar Busters, despite its high fat content, although this is probably because of the meal plans total only 1,200 calories a day. However, high-protein diets can leech calcium from your body, weakening your bones and contributing to osteoporosis. They also can exacerbate gout. The Sugar Busters diet is not recommended for vegetarians.
5. Controlling Diabetes
The best way to control and prevent diabetes is to work with your doctor to find a diet and exercise plan that works for you. A healthy diet for diabetics is rich in whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables. Choose healthy protein sources, like beans, lentils, fish or lean meat, and opt for low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Drink lots of water. Many doctors recommend many small meals throughout the day, instead of two or three big meals.
Member Comments