Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Just Some Diabetic Diet Guidelines

By Lindelwa Maseko

If you suffer from diabetes you may feel that you cannot eat good food but that is not the case, there are many excellent diabetic recipes nowadays. Being in control of your diet is imperative in reducing the effects of diabetes and can also help lower the chances of you contracting it. It is not difficult; by sticking to your diabetic diet the chances are you will have a much more normal life.

Weight is generally a problem when you are a diabetic and the goal is to get that weight off and keep it off. Another important thing to remember is to eat a healthily from all four food groups and keeping to you diabetic diet.

Heart disease and strokes are two complications often associated with diabetes but the risk of these can be reduced if the sufferer sticks to a healthy diabetic diet. The diabetic diet plan is after all, low-fat and has been formulated to increase energy and at the same time ease the symptoms of tiredness, thirst and blurred vision.

A healthy eating plan incorporates a wide range of foods including, lean meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruit, whole grains, non-fat dairy products and beans. A low-carb option may be something you are restricted to where foods such as meat, poultry, fish, cheese, eggs are ok and certain vegetables like kidney beans, carrots and avocados for instance. The diabetic diet has been designed to reduce the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol you consume and ensure that your poultry is skinless as well as eating fresh fruit and vegetables.

It is important not just to know what foods you are supposed to eat on you diabetic diet but also weighing them out do the correct amount of calories are consumed. Food labels are very useful nowadays as they have intake figure based on a 2,000 calorie a day diet so it useful to study these when you shop.

For example, your breakfast on 2,000 calorie diabetic diet might consist of something like this, a cup of skimmed milk or sugar free yoghurt, a couple of slices of bread, rice cakes or pasta if you prefer, an egg prepared your favorite way and a serving of fruit. A breakfast on a 1,800 calorie diabetic diet would look something like this; a cup of skimmed milk with two slices of bread a serving of fruit (apple, banana or orange) and a tablespoon of cheese.

With your balanced diet you would be able to have an afternoon snack which could be some fruit and a couple of crackers washed down with a half cup of tea or coffee but only with artificial sweeteners. An alternative to this would be a cup of milk or yogurt in place of the tea. There is no reason for you to believe that you can no longer enjoy your food if you're restricted to a diabetic diet, there is plenty of variety if you know you plan and use your imagination.

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