Food for Diabetes Patients
Diabetes is a disease that millions of children and adults suffer from across the country. There is no cure for this disease, that can be deadly, but eating a healthy diet and taking medications can reduce the symptoms and keep the patient healthy. Diabetes is caused by the lack of production of insulin in the body or the body’s failure to react to the insulin that is created. Living with diabetes can be a difficult task for many, especially children, but eating a healthy diet can make the fight against the disease much easier to deal with. The only known cure is a pancreas transplant but it can be controlled with insulin injections.
Some of the best foods for patients with diabetes are grains, starchy vegetables, regular vegetables, heavy proteins, low fat or non fat dairy, fruits, nuts and legumes, oils and flavorings. Before changing your food intake you should consult your doctor, especially if you are a child or if you are pregnant. Doctors recommend patients with diabetes stay away from trans fats, potatoes, popcorn, refined grains, starchy vegetables above ½ cup daily, alcohol and saturated fats. The most important food listed above for patients suffering from diabetes is vegetables. Vegetables help to fill you up quickly because they are full of fiber and low on calories. If you eat more vegetables you won’t eat more simple carbs, which raise blood sugar, and saturated fats, which increase insulin resistance.
Fruit is important for diabetes patients to eat because it is low in fat, high in fiber, and relatively low in calories. Fruit helps diabetes patients protect their nerves, their eyes, and their heart because it is loaded with antioxidants that do just that. Doctors recommend three or four servings of fruit per day, which is one piece of whole fruit. Eat the fruit in whole and not as a juice. When juicing a piece of fruit the sugar is concentrated and the fiber found in the fruit is eliminated.
Eating as much fiber in your diet as possible is very important for people suffering from the disease diabetes. One way to get that fiber is to eat cereal and plenty of it. People who eat a high fiber cereal to start their morning actually eat less throughout the day as defined by a variety of different studies. Choose a cereal that offers at least five grams of fiber per serving and never forgo breakfast if you have diabetes, no matter how late you might be running for work or for school.
Fish is another helpful food for living with diabetes. Fish is incredibly easy to prepare and even faster to cook. Fish is a great source of protein and a substitute for higher fat meats. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish, which help patients fight and control their diabetes. Omega-3 fatty acids help to keep the patient’s arteries clear of buildup that can lead to a stroke or a heart attack, which are possibly fatal medical conditions along with diabetes.
