It delays carbohydrate absorption, slows down
the rise of blood sugar and so reduces the drug requirement An intake of about 40 g dietary
fibre is
beneficial for diabetics. Some high fiber foods are whole cereals like buck
wheat (kootu), barley, ragey and oats, leafy vegetables, beans, whole
pulses and legumes. Refined
foods like
Maida, Suji, Arrowroot, Sago, Juices etc are low in fibre and should
therefore be avoided
Fenugreek Seeds contain
an alkaloid called trigonelline which has been shown to lower blood
sugar and prevent diabetes induced cataract. It also lowers
cholesterol and triglycerides. Bitter gourd (Karela)
juice is a popular remedy for the diabetics in the tropics. 50 ml raw
karela juice daily improves blood glucose tolerance in non insulin
dependent diabetics.
Glycemic
Index or the blood
glucose response of certain foods is important in deciding whether to
include them or not in the meals of a person with diabetes.
Foods with high glycemic index must be avoided in the diets of diabetic
individuals.
Foods cooked by dry and short time methods like roasting have lesser
glycemic effect as compared to foods cooked by boiling and long cooking
processes which reduce particle size.
Preparations like roasted chanas, chapattis, sprouted dals, and whole
fruits are more suitable than boiled rice, khichri, washed dals and fruit
juices.
Glycemic Index of
certain foods
Defeat
Diabetes
Diabetes Mellitus
is a metabolic
disorder characterized by the decreased ability or complete inability of
the tissues to utilize carbohydrates, accompanied by changes in the
metabolism of fat, protein, water and electrolytes. The disorder is due to
a deficiency or diminished effectiveness of the hormone insulin.
There are two common types of diabetes
mellitus:
Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)
or type I: It usually occurs before the age of 40 years. The disease
usually has an abrupt onset and the abnormality of carbohydrate
metabolism is severe due to lack of endogenous insulin to control
blood glucose levels. These diabetics require high doses of insulin.
Non-Insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus
(NIDDM) or Type II: This type usually occurs in middle life or beyond
the age of 40 years, although it may also occur in the younger age
group. The patients are most often obese. The onset is gradual and
there is some amount though limited, of endogenous
insulin.
General instruction
for patients suffering from diabetes;
Keep strictly to your
diet if any change is required then consult the dietician
If you do not feel
well or if you are in difficulty about your medicine, consult the
doctor.
If you are gaining or
losing weight, inform your doctor
Test your urine
regularly and get your blood examined once a month
Walk at least a mile
daily.
Keep your skin clean
and feet dry. Avoid wearing tight shoes and socks. Consult your
doctor on any skin problems.
If you have any injury
or you are going for an operation, declare to your doctor that you
are a diabetic.
If any other problem
worrying you, see the social worker / counselor.
Instructions to
patients taking Insulin
Do not alter the dose
of Insulin without consulting the doctor.
Do not allow more than
an hour to elapse between a injection of Insulin and your food.
If you get a cold,
sore throat or feverish illness, do not stop taking Insulin. Take
plenty of milky food instead of solids, if it is difficult to
swallow.
Norms for sugar level
of Urine and blood
Urine - Blue
reduction with benedict solution
Blood - Fasting
and two hours after meal below 120 mg per 100 ml
Prohibited
Foods
Glucose, sugar , honey and
all sweets, jaggery, ice-cream, pastries, cake, jam, jelly, squash, canned
fruit juice, sugarcane juice, chocolates, bourn vita, all aerated waters
except soda.
Foods to avoid
Potatoes, Yam (zimikand),
Arbi, Mangoes, Grapes, Cheeku and Bananas, Dried food stuffs, Dried fruits
and Nuts e.g. peanuts, almonds, cashew nuts, raising and coconut etc., all
alcoholic drinks.
Green leafy vegetables,
tomatoes, cucumber, radish, lime, clear soups, black coffee without milk
and sugar, butter milk (lassie), sour chatnis and pickles without oil,
pepper and zeera water, jamun fruit and karela juice.
Foods
that help diabetics bring down sugar levels
Diabetics should fill up on
leafy vegetables, bitter gourd (karela), papaya, oranges, lentils and
legumes with strings and skin intact, whole grain cereals, bran, pulses,
sprouted mung, and 10 to 20 grams of guar gum (from cluster beans)
Suffering from Diabetes! Get
your Diet Plan
customized for US$ 20 only >>
DIET FOR DIABETIC Dietary Management
Therapeutic diet plays an important role in the treatment of
diabetes.
Nothing helps a Diabetic
more than a Diet, custom-made by his Dietician. The general principle is
to control body fat means less sensitivity to Insulin, which keeps the
blood sugar level in check.
A Proper diabetic diet
includes a balance of high proteins, low fat and complex carbohydrates,
( Whole grain cereals, whole wheat flour, vegetables) which are digested
more slowly and therefore don't cause a rapid rise in blood sugar.
The most important
consideration in diet is the total amount of calories ingested for an
average diabetic, about 60% of calories are derived from carbohydrates,
25 to 30% from fats, and 12 to 15% from proteins.
The Diet plan of an
individual is based on height, weight, age, sex, physical activity and
nature of diabetes.
Following are the essential
considerations in planning a diabetic diet-
Determining energy
requirements
Distribution of energy
in terms of carbohydrates, fat and protein.
Determining the type of
carbohydrate, fiber and the type of preparation.
Distribution of
carbohydrate
Stage of diabetes with
the absence or presence of any complication.
Supplementation of cereals with
gram (pulse) is beneficial. For example:
3 parts of whole
wheat flour with one part of gram flour in making chapattis or
One part rice with one
part whole pulse to make Idli, dosa, khichri, or
2 parts suji
with 1 part of pulse to make Upma
In all diabetics the
amount and time of food intake particularly the carbohydrate, should be
controlled to prevent the fluctuations of blood glucose beyond the
normal range.
Sample Diet Plan >>
Mr. Khanduja, a middle
aged businessmen is 5 ft 6 inches tall and weighs 75 kgs. He is suffering
from Non Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. A days sample diet is
planned below
Approx 1800 calories
240 g of carbohydrate
60 g of protein
60 g of fat
Early Morning Tea without sugar
1cup with 1 desert spoon milk (20 ml) or lime juice.
Breakfast
Whole wheat porridge (25 g) with milk (170 ml)
Paneer (25 g) on toast (1 slice)
Apple ( 100 g)
Lunch
Pulse:
Chana curry or lobia curry - 1/2 bowl (25 g) Veg: Beans or Capsicum or spinach
vegetable or any desirable green vegetable; good helping Curd: Ghia raita - 1/2 bowl (100 g) Salad: Cucumber + Tomato + Onion Chapatti: 2 to 3 without butter (75 g). Make dough from 3 parts of whole
wheat flour with one part of gram flour for making chapattis Oil for cooking: 3 teaspoons (15 g) Fruits: Papaya (100 g)
Evening Tea Tea without
sugar: 1 cup with 1 desert spoon milk (20 ml) Salty biscuits: Qtty 4 or roasted chana (20g)
Dinner
Veg: Tinda
vegetable Salad: Onion + tomato Pulse: Sprouted Mung mixed with onion and tomato Curd: 1/2 bowl (100 g) Chapatti: Missi roti (75g) Fruits: Fruit custard without sugar Oil: 2 teaspoonfuls
Note: If fish or chicken or
paneer is to be taken the quantity should be 25 g and pulse should be
omitted from the meal.
Before bed 1 cup skimmed milk (170 ml) without sugar
Note: 10 g butter
in lieu of 10 g oil may be used
Saccharine, sucaryl or sweeten may be used instead of sugar
Food Alternatives
Instead of 25 g of wheat flour one of the following may be taken
# Brown bread: 1.5 slices
# Wheat porridge: 1/2 bowl cooked
# Dosa: 1 small plate
# Cream cracker biscuits: Qtty 4
Caution: The
above diabetic diet plan is only a sample one. Calorie, protein, fat and
carbohydrate requirements will vary from individual to individual as per
his/her height, weight, age, sex, physical activity and type of diabetes.
Those who want a
diet plan tailored as per their specific requirements by renowned
Nutritionist Ms Shubi Husain, just log into our
Tailored
Diets section
Alternately Download a Diabetic Diet Plan Now for just USD 7.81
It delays carbohydrate absorption, slows down
the rise of blood sugar and so reduces the drug requirement
Diabetes Mellitus
is a metabolic
disorder characterized by the decreased ability or complete inability of
the tissues to utilize carbohydrates, accompanied by changes in the
metabolism of fat, protein, water and electrolytes. The disorder is due to
a deficiency or diminished effectiveness of the hormone insulin.
