Karen's Diabetic Diet Tips

The Hidden Dangers of Diabetes - reprinted for you by Karen

Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose (sugar) for our bodies to burn to create energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, produces a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes large amounts of sugar to build up in your blood.

The actual cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity appear to play major roles. Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations. According to the Center for Disease Control, diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. As of 2002, 18.2 million people in the U.S.--6.3 percent of the population--had diabetes, with 1.3 million new cases being diagnosed each year. The National Institutes of Health also estimate that an additional 5.2 million people have diabetes without actually being aware of it.

There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, which was previously called insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile-onset diabetes, accounts for about 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, which was called non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset diabetes, accounts for the remaining 90%. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that only pregnant women get. If not treated, it can cause problems for both the baby and the mother. Gestational diabetes develops in 2% to 5% of all pregnancies, but usually disappears when the pregnancy is over.

Diabetes is a serious disease and phrases such as "a touch of diabetes" or "your blood sugar is a little high" tend to dismiss the fact that diabetes is a major killer of Americans. In addition to the lives that are lost, diabetes has a tremendous economic impact in the United States. The National Diabetes Education Program estimates the cost of diabetes in 2002 was $132 billion. Of this amount, $92 billion was due to direct medical costs and $40 billion due to indirect costs such as lost workdays, restricted activity, and disability due to diabetes. The average medical expenditure for a person with diabetes was $13,243, or 5.2 times greater than the cost for a person without diabetes. In addition, 11 percent of national health care expenditures went to diabetes care.

In response to this growing health burden of diabetes, the diabetes community has three choices: prevent diabetes; cure diabetes; and improve the quality of care of people with diabetes to prevent devastating complications. All three approaches are being actively pursued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Many government agencies, at all levels, are involved in educational campaigns in an attempt to prevent diabetes, especially type 2. Several approaches to "cure" diabetes are also being pursued: pancreas transplantation, islet cell transplantation (islet cells in the pancreas produce insulin), the development of an artificial pancreas, and genetic manipulation where fat or muscle cells that do not normally make insulin have a human insulin gene inserted and are then transplanted into people with type 1 diabetes.

While there is yet no cure for diabetes, healthy eating, physical activity, and insulin injections are the basic therapies for type 1 diabetes. For those with type 2 diabetes, treatment includes healthy eating, physical activity, and blood glucose testing. Many people with type 2 may require oral medication to control their glucose levels. People with diabetes must take personal responsibility for their day-to-day care, and keep blood glucose levels from going too low or too high. The key to living a long and healthy life with diabetes is to learn about the disease, exercise daily, follow a diabetes food plan (right portions of healthy foods, less salt and fat), stop smoking, take prescribed medications, get routine medical care, brush your teeth and floss every day, monitor your blood glucose the way the doctor tells you to and remain positive. Using the correct routines, thousands of people with diabetes have lived long, happy and productive lives.

==> DO take your medicines at the same times each day, so that they'll work in concert with your food intake to keep your blood glucose levels in a healthy range.

==> It IS OK to eat sweets if you have diabetes, but remember that moderation is the key. Try not to go overboard.

==> Make sure the largest part of your calories come from complex carbohydrates, such as breads, grains, pasta, rice, beans, and fruit.

==> Keep serving sizes of meat, poultry, and fish to no more than 3 ounces, which is about the size of a deck of cards.

The exact times you eat don't really matter. But—to keep your blood glucose levels as stable as you can—it can help to eat your meals at about the same time each day.

So whether you schedule your main meals at 7 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 5:00 p.m. or 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 7 p.m. is not important. Just stick with the schedule once you set it!

People with diabetes also benefit from eating snacks between meals. This also helps you to maintain a more constant level of blood glucose. So it's better to eat 3 smaller meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can use the food you don't eat at those meals to make up snacks at midmorning, midafternoon, and in the evening. But remember … snacks should be healthy foods, not empty sweets calories!

Never skip meals, or your blood glucose levels may fall too low, a condition called hypoglycemia or insulin shock. This can make you feel weak and shaky. It can even make you pass out. Eating at the same times each day will help keep your blood glucose from getting either too high or too low.

YES, YOU CAN STILL EAT OUT AT RESTAURANTS—EVEN FAST FOOD TYPES—WHEN YOU HAVE DIABETES, IF YOU USE A LITTLE COMMON SENSE.

There is no reason why you cannot make the same healthy eating choices in a restaurant that you make each day at home. And there is no reason why you need to think of eating out as “going off” your usual eating plan.

Most restaurants today—even fast food ones—offer at least a few healthy alternatives on their menus.

The first step you can take is to plan ahead. Know what food groups you need to include in your meal out and the serving sizes for each. Try to stick to your regular eating schedule too, at least as closely as you can.

** Eat the same serving sizes as you would at home. Restaurants often serve large portions. Take the rest home; it can make a nice treat the next day!

** Ask that high-fat sauces and salad dressings be served on the side. Then you can use just the amount you choose.

** Try to stick with foods that are broiled, poached, grilled, or sautéed with no extra butter added. Avoid deep-fried, breaded, or creamed foods.

** If you can, avoid high-fat ingredients, such as cheese, butter, cream, avocado, and sausage.

** Ask if you can make a substitution for unhealthy foods. For instance, ask for a baked potato or more vegetables in lieu of French fries.

** It is OK to ask for what you want. Don't be afraid to tell your server to leave the potato chips off the plate or ask for whole wheat bread instead of a croissant.

Do you know 18 million Americans were diagnosed with diabetes last year...and by the year 2030 that number will rocket up to 30 million?

The reason....the average American is getting fatter and fatter. That's nothing you haven't heard before.

It really starts with losing weight....9 out of 10 newly diagnosed diabetics are as a result of being overweight.

The good news is that we can do something about it. Even a moderate weight loss of 10 to
20 pounds can have tremendous effects on our blood sugar control.

It starts from within. To be successful, you have to believe you can make a lifestyle change. It is so easy to blame other people, things in our past, our work environment for why we are the way we are. Believe me, as a nurse I've heard them all!

But don't just listen to me...I actually think pressuring people to lose weight can have a negative effect.

No, as an experiment, I want you to write down everything you will eat over the next week. And I mean everything. Look at it. Share it with friends. Share it with your doctor. Studies show that when we put pen to paper and become accountable and start recording what we eat, it allows us to be in control.

Disclaimer: Any information given should be confirmed by your doctor. It should not be construed as medical advice and should be substantiated by a health care provider. This is for information purposes only..

KAREN'S DIABETIC DIET TIPSOvercome Diabetes Today!

KAREN'S DIABETIC DIET TIPS
Overcome Diabetes Today!