Diabetes is one of those diseases that can be controlled and held in check through the right diet and through increased physical activity. This does not mean that the diet will be monotonous - there are plenty of foods diabetic people can eat. In fact, there are recipes specially designed to make diabetes-friendly foods without sacrificing taste.
While Type I Diabetes is usually diagnosed in children, now we know that it does not affect only them. Type I diabetes, unlike Type II diabetes, is an autoimmune disease. When the beta cells, which produce insulin, in the pancreas, are damaged, the individual suffers from Type I diabetes. When the body becomes resistant to insulin, the patient suffers from Type II diabetes. Both can be combated through proper eating, which includes a varied diet consisting of foods like fat-free, sugar-free and fibrous food items.
While people who do not take care of their health are at an increased risk for diabetes, the disease is often hereditary. Even if you have diabetes in your family, if you eat right and exercise regularly, you can avoid its onset. Once you do have diabetes, though, you will have to be on constant medication that causes the insulin level in your body to stay within the normal range. However, the first preference doctors show is for another sort of treatment - making sure that you control your diet and eat according to a carefully thought out preparation.
You also have to make sure that you stay active - some kind of activity that you enjoy, whether it is walking, or dancing, or jogging - should be taken up and stuck to, for at least half an hour each day. You should also make sure that your diet is designed with healthy alternatives to your regular eating habits, and avoids things like sweets, high-fat foods and alcohol.
A typical diabetic diet should include fibrous carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals and plenty of water. Whole grains, wholemeal bread and oats are excellent examples for fibrous carbohydrates, while protein should be taken from lean meat,fish, legumes, nuts and seeds. Vitamins and minerals can be found in abundance in leafy green vegetables and fresh fruits. Such food items can be consumed in any amount and throughout the whole day. The 8-glass minimum for water consumption must also be followed.
All sorts of creams and sauces must be avoided while preparing diabetic foods. Barbecue, teriyaki and sweet and sour sauces are strictly to be avoided.
Other items that most emphatically are not foods diabetic people can eat are red meat, cheese, butter, carbonated drinks, eggs and mayonnaise. Unsaturated fats and unsweetened foods must be opted for, instead. Once you are diagnosed with diabetes, you have a responsibility to yourself and to those who care for you to stay healthy. It is essential to talk to a nutritionist or to your doctor, understand the foods you can eat, and design a diet you can follow as a long-term plan.
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