For quite sometime, diabetes has been-and continues to be-the bane of a good percentage of the population of most countries. It affects about 20 million Americans alone, with another 40 million having prediabetes, an early affliction of Type 2 diabetes. After the digestive organs have absorbed glucose or sugar into the bloodstream, insulin from the pancreas transfers glucose to the fats, muscle and the liver for fuel. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not make enough insulin, the liver, muscles and fat do not use insulin the normal way, or a combination of both.
There are two general classifications of diabetes, with another specifically afflicting women. Type 1 affects the individual from childhood, though most are diagnosed only when they are aged about 20 years old. For this type there is less or no insulin produced by the pancreas so that insulin injections are required everyday. The causes are largely unknown although genetics is believed to play a great part.
The most prevalent, however, is Type 2, or adult onset, diabetes which is also beginning to afflict younger individuals. Here the body fails to produce sufficient insulin to regulate blood sugar, so that maintenance medicine is often required. Many type 2 diabetics do not know they are affected. Then there is gestational diabetes that occurs only in pregnant or lactating women. Usually transitory, it opens the individual to higher risks of contracting Type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms
Type 1 diabetes manifests in a short time and is mostly diagnosed during an emergency situation, the symptoms normally mistaken for that of other illnesses. They include fatigue, inordinate thirst and urination, vomiting and nausea and decrease in weight despite good eating. Type 2 diabetics may additionally suffer from blurry vision and numbness in the extremities like toes. However, this type develops so gradually many diabetics do not feel any symptoms until complications arise, because diabetes damage the blood vessels and nerves as well as the autoimmunity capabilities.
What foods are appropriate
If you are a diabetic, you should collaborate with your doctor and dietitian in the amounts of fat, protein and carbohydrates you must eat to control your levels of glucose. In general, however, your diet should be low fat and low in carbohydrates, since both contribute much to the production of blood sugar. Diabetics should, generally, follow the recommendations of the Diabetes Food Pyramid, which groups food according to their protein and carbohydrates contents, and eat food in the bottom list as much as possible.
Foods high in fiber are particularly advised for diabetics, such as grains, fruits, and vegetables. Juices or yogurt that contain sugar or syrup should be avoided, and whole fruits, nonfat or low-fat milk be eaten instead. Eschew fatty foods like bacon, cheese, hamburgfers or butter. Establish what amounts of alcohol you can take and limit it to that, taking it with food.
Poultry such as chicken and turkey is advised though the skin should not be eaten. They contain much cholesterol. Trim off all fats from beef, wild game, pork or veal to get the lean meats. Bake, Broil, grill or roast the meat; avoid frying it.
Diabetes is controllable. All you need are correct diet and lots of determination to refuse the foods you crave.
