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The first reaction to a diagnosis of diabetes in most people is
one of panic. The anxiety and uncertainty increases with the phrase
“diabetes diets.” These patients, for the most part, are people for
whom diet and weight have been issues for a while, some of them, for
a lifetime. It can be depressing at best and, for some, and
insurmountable roadblock to be told that their treatment starts with
a diet. Which is why most healthcare professionals present diabetes
diets not as diets but as changes in eating habits and lifestyle.
The goal of diabetes diets is to get the patient to an optimal
weight and keep them there. By losing weight and increasing
exercise, a person with diabetes can control his blood glucose
levels and keep them at a normal rate. In best-case scenarios it can
be as simple as eating less and keeping a regular eating schedule.
Adding exercise to a daily routine is the second part of the diet
plan.
One of the most popular meal plans recommends that about 50-60
percent of daily calories come form carbohydrates, 15-20 percent
from protein and less than 30 percent from fat. This plan spaces the
meals out and includes snacks on the schedule. This meal plan along
with regular exercise should result in gradual weight loss, which is
the safest way to lose weight. Weight lost in this manner is more
likely to stay off, too.
In order to keep blood glucose levels from straying too high or
too low, some dieticians suggest counting carbs. Eating a consistent
amount of carbs every time you eat can keep your blood sugar level.
Another method used by nutritionists and dieticians uses the
exchange system. This system groups food into categories and a
serving of something from that group is called an “exchange.”
Knowing the values of the foods in each group allows switching or
exchanging one food for another and meets the dietary needs for each
group. This allows for greater variety and that translates into
greater success in following a meal plan.
Diabetes diets work best when they are simple and tailored toward
the patient. It is important to keep expectations realistic and have
attainable goals. Slow and steady weight loss and increased daily
exercise are the main elements of diabetes diets that work.
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