Here’s A Nutritional Strategy For Type-2 Diabetes
An effective nutritional strategy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes
If you, or someone you know, is one of the millions of people living with type 2 diabetes, you know what a struggle it is to manage your diet and keep your blood sugar level in check.
What you may not know is that it is possible to reduce your blood sugar levels to a normal count, even reversing the progress of this dangerous condition to the extent that you never develop diabetic retinopathy or suffer an amputation due to the nerve damage induced by the diabetic condition. Here are some sound nutritional strategies for the treatment of type 2 diabetes that can make you a former diabetic! You'll always need to maintain good eating habits, but you can prevent many complications and live a normal life.
Many Sufferers Are Older
Many people with type 2 diabetes are older and this presents problems in maintaining adequate nutrition. As we age, we are less able to absorb certain vitamins and minerals necessary to good health. All of the nutrients we need work in concert, to some degree and there are inter-dependencies. If you are deficient in one nutrient, other nutrients may not be able to do the job they should be doing. Ask your physician to do the lab work to determine any nutritional deficiencies you now have, and get a recommendation on any supplements you need to correct these deficiencies. Being fully stocked up on all the vitamins and minerals necessary is a huge step forward in the effective treatment of type 2 diabetes.
More Frequent, Smaller Meals Are Better
If you are eating the recommended three squares, try eating six small meals each day. This allows your body to metabolize foods in a more measured way, helping to keep your blood sugar more stable, without taxing your pancreas.
Switch To Sugar Substitutes
You know that sugar is just plain bad for you. This is because it goes straight to your blood, with no intermediate process of metabolizing. This is why a candy bar gives the non-diabetic an instant rush of energy. It's so important to avoid sugar like the plague. Many products, from soda to canned fruit, are now being made with Splenda(TM). Splenda(TM) truly does satisfy the sweet urges and is highly recommended in the treatment of type 2 diabetes patients.
Stay Away From "Bad" Carbs
Carbohydrates are one of the most puzzling parts of good nutrition to the type 2 diabetic patient. Doctors typically tell diabetes patients to limit their intake of carbohydrates to a certain number per day. What's puzzling is knowing which to choose. Here are some guidelines on specific carbohydrate foods which are of especial use in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
You know you've got to watch the bread! It's just that all breads are not created equal. While two slices of regular white bread may contain about 30 carbs, this is a poor choice when compared with a whole grain bread which may have 40 carbs in an equal amount. It turns out that there are "good" carbs and "bad" carbs. You need to avoid the bad carbs, which generally are white, while the good carbs are brown.This is the basic rule of thumb. Although the whole grain bread contains more carbs, it also contains more fiber and nutrients that you, as a diabetic, need. Also know that, to correctly determine the number of carbs in any food, you must subtract the grams of fiber from the total number of carbs. The high fiber content also helps your body to 'sweep' your digestive system and flush out toxins. Removing toxins is an important component in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Eat The Right Vegetables
With vegetable choices, be smart. Eat onions and garlic in abundance, adding them in to salads, soups and meat dishes. Both are rich in inulin, which mimics insulin. The same is true of parsley. Load up on any of the cruciferous veggies, like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. Kim-Chee is a pickled cabbage, a Korean specialty, in a very spicy brine which contains hot peppers. The hot peppers are excellent for vascular health, so you get double your value in this food. Indian cuisine includes many cauliflower dishes in combination with a curry seasoning, which includes a healthy dose of turmeric. Turmeric is known to lower blood sugar levels. In fact, diabetes is virtually unknown in the non-Westernized, traditional Indian populations.
Treatment of type 2 diabetes must always include a regimen that protects the heart and kidneys, in order to avoid some of the complications diabetes can bring. The omega-3 fatty acids present in cold water fish are so valuable to the diabetic patient, you can hardly eat too much. These fatty acids regulate cholesterol levels, reduce high blood pressure and relieves psoriasis, probably due to the selenium content. Psoriasis is a common problem in diabetics, who are typically deficient in selenium.
While all nutrients are important in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, there are a few to which you should pay close attention. The B vitamins become more difficult to absorb as we age. Nerve damage is characteristic of type 2 diabetes and an adequate supply of vitamin B6 is essential to controlling this damage. Zinc plays an important role in good health and nutritional treatment of type 2 diabetes. Chromium is a trace mineral which facilitates the use of insulin and suppresses cravings for sugar. Each of these nutrients may be taken as supplements.
Eating smart, avoiding sugar,managing your carbohydrate intake, and a regular program of exercise can help you beat diabetes! A wonderful prospect, wouldn't you agree?
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Tags: Diet, Exercise, insulin, Natural Foods, nutritional strategy, treatment of diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes
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