Abstract
Diabetes management using the diet model has been considered the best procedure for people diagnosed with ether type 1 or 2 diabetes. It important to mind your diet in order to avoid food related health risks (Nutrition at Center of Diabetes Management, 2013). Eating plans are not easy to keep, but are important in the management of diabetes. Scientific research has failed to provide the backing to the ancient assertion that, eating sugary foods causes the blood sugar to rise higher than starchy foods. However, carbohydrate management, alongside other matters is important in the management of diabetes. This paper investigates the importance of diet in the management of diabetes and provides the best precautions to take after a diagnosis. The paper concludes that apart from diet monitoring, physical exercise is also important in the management of diabetes, which has been considered behaviorally instigated through lifestyles.
Introduction
Food provides human beings with the energy to live. It is vital for the wellbeing of the body. Food affects both the body and the mind since its availability or lack of thereof would lead to physical and psychological torture. The enjoyment of food with family and friends forms an important part of human interaction. In almost all celebrations of achievement and life in the human society such as birthdays, christenings, and weddings among many others, people enjoy food together. However, the fair understanding of the healthy portions of food to eat relative to different people. Some people understand their healthy portions of food while others do not understand. The healthy portions do not only include the quantities, but also the qualities of foods we take into our bodies such as meat with low or full fat or with the skin on or off. Making the healthy choice when faced with a range of options is very difficult, especially considering the health needs of different people in the society.
Finding a balance between health foods to eat everyday and occasional foods is every important in developing a sustainable eating plan, which promotes both good health and the enjoyment of food. The foods that we take in everyday provide us with the balanced diet, which provides us with the protein, energy, fiber, antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins, and carbohydrates. There are mandatory foods that human beings need to take in so that they develop healthy bones, skin, and teeth, and keep a strong immune system. Achieving a healthy diet entails making the eating plan to incorporate these foods in the everyday life. This paper successfully provides a fact sheet of the ideas and information required to help people with diabetes on the matters of diet.
Weight management, diet, food, and body image are very critical parts of the management of diabetes for all its types. These factors also lead to anxiety, stress, and well being as well as the mental health problems in the society. On the other hand, living with anxiety and depression can determine the food choices and motivation and ability to stay active. Regular physical activity and a healthy diet are equally important parts of management of diabetes as well as ensuring the well being of the members of the society. Through physical exercise people become active. Additionally, choosing a healthy diet coupled with the former assist in managing body weight and blood glucose levels.
Type 1 diabetes, blood glucose and food
The management of the blood glucose levels for individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at times becomes complex. The amounts and types of foods to eat as well as the timings of snacks and meals are some of the basic elements of daily management of this diabetes. The management of blood glucose level for individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes revolves around matching the insulin doses to the carbohydrate in the food the individual eats (Van Duyn, Leo, McIvor, Behall, Michnowski, & Mendeloff, 1986). There are various regimes, types of insulin, and ways of delivering it to the individuals.
The constant carbohydrate diet, which is entirely based on the carbohydrate exchanges, has been widely accepted in the dietary treatment of diabetes mellitus (Diabetes Australia, 2014). This assertion has been based on accurate scientific principles as well as in simple design. The carbohydrate diet is appropriate for all the individuals diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, despite their age differences. Different researches have indicated that controlling diet for children and the older members of the society is an uphill task since children are not easy to control for their desire for constant feeding (Maffeis & Morandi et al, 2012). The older members of the society might also lose the taste for food, leading to eating disorders.
Type 2 Diabetes and Food
Research studies reveal that, diabetes is a hereditary disease, which can be transferred along blood lines. However, other researches also consider diabetes a behaviorally contracted though the human lifestyles such as eating habits. Healthy eating is advisable as part of the routine activities in the family. Therefore, parents or elderly members of the family should strive to ensure that young members of the family do not contract this disease through healthy lifestyles. Healthy eating is not only advisable for diabetes patients, but also for all members of the society who are at the risk of developing the disease through unhealthy lifestyles. However, changing the eating styles is never an easy task, since it might imply foregoing or minimizing a person’s favorite food for health purposes. Additionally, developing and sticking to a specific eating plan is never easy, and most people have at times deviated from their routine meal programs. The most common phrase used when individuals are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is that “just lose some weight” and the diabetes will “settle down.” While developing a healthy eating habit, counseling is equally important as well as entering an activity program.
Carbohydrates, Blood Sugar, Fiber, and Diabetes
Maintaining the blood sugar levels in the body infers watching the foods that people eat as well as taking prescribed medicines such as insulin. Keeping track of how many carbohydrates we eat is equally important for diabetes patients and other members of the society. The foods we take into our bodies contain nutrients, which provide matters such as carbohydrates among several others such as energy. The two major forms of carbohydrate include sugars such as lactose, fructose, and glucose, and starches found in foods such as grains, starchy vegetables, bread, rice, and cereals (Johnson, 2012). The carbohydrates are broken down and converted into glucose, which is absorbed into the bloodstream, and travels into the cells with the help of the insulin hormone. However, people with diabetes have problems with insulin, which causes the blood glucose levels to rise. The pancreas in diabetes type 1 patients does not produce enough insulin. On the other hand, the type 2 diabetes patients have a problem in the response of their bodies to insulin that is produced.
In a healthy diet, carbohydrates constitute between 45 percent and 65 percent of the calories. Choosing the spacing and the kind of carbohydrates you eat can keep the blood sugar from rising. Maximization of the intake of the right carbohydrates is important for diabetes patients. For the people with diabetes, the ancient belief that eating sugary foods causes the blood sugar to rise higher than starchy foods has not received scientific backing. Carbohydrates have the most immediate effects on the blood sugar because they are broken down into sugar during digestion.
Fiber refers to the indigestible parts of plant foods. The fiber plays a crucial role in the digestive process for every individual, whether diagnosed with any type of diabetes or not. The fiber is important on moving foods along the digestive tract and adding bulk to stool to speed up the passage through the bowel as well as promoting regular bowel movements (Health.com., 2008). Fiber is also important in the delays of sugar absorption, which in turn helps to control better the blood sugar levels. Additionally, the fiber binds with the cholesterols, which may reduce the risk of certain disorders of the intestine.
Diabetes and Food
Apart from carbohydrates, other healthy matters of diet for people with diabetes include fat, saturated fat, sugar, polyunsaturated and monosaturated fats, alternative sweeteners, healthy fats, proteins, and other foods, drinks, and condiments. These other matters are as represented in the table below.
Conclusion
Lifestyles determine our eating habits. However, children and the elderly members of the society rely on the guidance of the middle aged members of the society for their eating plans. Diabetes management can be effected through the development of healthy eating plans and lifestyles including engagement in physical activity. The most important diet component to manage for people with diabetes is carbohydrate intake because it is broken down faster than other food components into blood sugar. Maintaining the blood glucose level is very important in planning or constructing an eating plan. Other matters such as protein, fats, and sugars are equally important to regulate. Additionally, fiber, which constitutes the indigestible part of plant foods, is equally important for people with diabetes. Generally, regulating the amounts and timing of the carbohydrates taken every day is important in the management of diabetes.
References:
Diabetes Australia. (6/01/2014). Diabetes and Food - What Should I Eat? http://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/Living-with-Diabetes/Eating-Well/Food-What-Should-I-Eat/
Diabetes Counseling Online. Food and Weight Matters. http://www.diabetescounselling.com.au/programmes/nutrition-and-weight-matters-type-1-weight-matters-food-matters/
Johnson K. (June 15, 2012). Carbohydrates, Fiber, and Diabetes. Diabetes Health Center. http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/understanding-carbohydrates-fiber.
Carbohydrate Controlled Diets. Diabetes.co.uk. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.co.uk/Diabetes-and-Carbohydrate-diets.html
Why Carbohydrates Are So Important in Diabetes. Health.com. (May 19, 2008) http://www.health.com/health/condition-article/0,,20188651,00.html
Carbs and Blood Sugar. Teens Health. http://kidshealth.org/teen/diabetes_center/nutrition/carbs_diabetes.html
Maffeis, C., Morandi, A., Ventura, E., Sabbion, A., Contreas, G., Tomasselli, F., & Pinelli, L. (2012). Diet, physical, and biochemical characteristics of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: relationship between dietary fat and glucose control. Pediatric Diabetes, 13(2), 137-146. doi:10.1111/j.1399-5448.2011.00781.x
Nutrition at Center of Diabetes Management. (2013). Chain Drug Review, 35(19), 66.
Dyson, P., Beatty, S., & Matthews, D. (2007). A low-carbohydrate diet is more effective in reducing body weight than healthy eating in both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. Diabetic Medicine: A Journal Of The British Diabetic Association, 24(12), 1430-1435.
Van Duyn, M., Leo, T., McIvor, M., Behall, K., Michnowski, J., & Mendeloff, A. (1986). Nutritional risk of high-carbohydrate, guar gum dietary supplementation in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care, 9(5), 497-503
