Diabetes is now the fifth leading death-causing disease in world and it continues to be on the increase. It is a metabolic disorder of the carbohydrate, protein and fat in the body. This could be due to any one of the following:
1. The lack of insufficiency of a hormone known as insulin.
2. The cells of the body resisting the action of insulin.
3. The inability of the cells to sufficiently take in sugar from the bloodstream for use as energy.
The outcome is a high level of sugar circulating in the blood which upsets the sugar balance in the body. If this circulating high blood sugar is allowed to continue for a prolonged period, it will affect the other body systems leading to: Blindness, heart problems, kidney damage, high blood pressure, poor wound healing leading to infection, disorder of the nerves.
* Diabetes type 1 accounts for only 5 to 10% of the diabetics in the world. It occurs mainly in children and young adults and is characterized by a total disability of the pancreas to secrete insulin. Thus, the patient has to be insulin dependent. Diabetes Type 2 accounts for 90% of diabetics. It is adult onset diabetes contributed by one or a combination of any of the following: overweight, inherent diabetes in the family, lack of exercise. It occurs mainly in the age group of 40 to 60
* Diet is the cornerstone treatment in managing diabetes. The other supporting role is exercise. However, when the diabetic is unable to control his blood sugar with both diet and exercise, then the physician may recommend oral medication and in some cases, insulin.
* A well-balanced diet high in fiber and complex carbohydrates, but low in fat, is recommended for diabetics. A high fiber intake of 25 gm per 1,000 calories is encouraged.
* Simple carbohydrates must be restricted in a diabetic diet. Examples of foods containing simple carbohydrates are sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, condensed milk, sweetened drinks and canned fruits, sweet biscuits, cookies, cakes, jam and, rock melon sugar, and brown sugar.
Examples of foods containing refined complex carbohydrates are white rice, white flour, plain flour, plain biscuits, noodles and crackers, sweet potato & cornflakes.
* Carbohydrates of high fiber nature are high in fiber. The fiber in the diet slows down the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream. It is recommended that the major portion of carbohydrates that diabetics eat be in this category in order to achieve better control of glucose level in the blood.
Examples of foods containing high fiber complex carbohydrates are unpolished rice, whole meal bread, whole wheat pasta/noodles, whole meal crackers, legumes that is Green peas, green beans, soybeans, chick peas, rolled oats, potato (with skin)
The amount of protein taken easily exceeds our requirements; therefore insufficient protein intake is seldom a concern. However, vegetarian diabetics need to make a concerted effort to take in enough protein.
* Since diabetics are at risk of developing high blood lipids, predisposing them to heart problems, keeping to a minimum fat intake is encouraged.
1. The lack of insufficiency of a hormone known as insulin.
2. The cells of the body resisting the action of insulin.
3. The inability of the cells to sufficiently take in sugar from the bloodstream for use as energy.
The outcome is a high level of sugar circulating in the blood which upsets the sugar balance in the body. If this circulating high blood sugar is allowed to continue for a prolonged period, it will affect the other body systems leading to: Blindness, heart problems, kidney damage, high blood pressure, poor wound healing leading to infection, disorder of the nerves.
* Diabetes type 1 accounts for only 5 to 10% of the diabetics in the world. It occurs mainly in children and young adults and is characterized by a total disability of the pancreas to secrete insulin. Thus, the patient has to be insulin dependent. Diabetes Type 2 accounts for 90% of diabetics. It is adult onset diabetes contributed by one or a combination of any of the following: overweight, inherent diabetes in the family, lack of exercise. It occurs mainly in the age group of 40 to 60
* Diet is the cornerstone treatment in managing diabetes. The other supporting role is exercise. However, when the diabetic is unable to control his blood sugar with both diet and exercise, then the physician may recommend oral medication and in some cases, insulin.
* A well-balanced diet high in fiber and complex carbohydrates, but low in fat, is recommended for diabetics. A high fiber intake of 25 gm per 1,000 calories is encouraged.
* Simple carbohydrates must be restricted in a diabetic diet. Examples of foods containing simple carbohydrates are sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, condensed milk, sweetened drinks and canned fruits, sweet biscuits, cookies, cakes, jam and, rock melon sugar, and brown sugar.
Examples of foods containing refined complex carbohydrates are white rice, white flour, plain flour, plain biscuits, noodles and crackers, sweet potato & cornflakes.
* Carbohydrates of high fiber nature are high in fiber. The fiber in the diet slows down the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream. It is recommended that the major portion of carbohydrates that diabetics eat be in this category in order to achieve better control of glucose level in the blood.
Examples of foods containing high fiber complex carbohydrates are unpolished rice, whole meal bread, whole wheat pasta/noodles, whole meal crackers, legumes that is Green peas, green beans, soybeans, chick peas, rolled oats, potato (with skin)
The amount of protein taken easily exceeds our requirements; therefore insufficient protein intake is seldom a concern. However, vegetarian diabetics need to make a concerted effort to take in enough protein.
* Since diabetics are at risk of developing high blood lipids, predisposing them to heart problems, keeping to a minimum fat intake is encouraged.
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