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Reducing the Risk of Type-2 Diabetes Through Diet

  • Antonio Evans
  • January 7, 2011

Type 2 Diabetes is a metabolic disease wherein the patient experiences insulin resistance and high blood glucose.  Diabetes is a genetic disease but it can also develop from diet and lifestyle, and medical conditions such as obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol.  Managing type-2 diabetes requires exercise and a change in one’s diet, but medication is also introduced when the disorder progresses.

Diabetics normally change their diet as a means to lower blood sugar levels.  Type-2 diabetes requires stricter regimens in limiting and controlling glucose, in addition to a weight management plan.  Even though it seems simplistic that all type-2 diabetics need to do is stay away from sugars and foods that are high in glucose, reducing the level of the disease can be an arduous task.

Many dietary recommendations have emerged from many studies that determine how to best treat type-2 diabetes through diet.  One of these studies was initiated by the Duke University Medical Center wherein participants were subjected to a low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet or less than 20 grams of carbohydrates per day, and a reduced calorie diet which means 500 calories per day.  The study monitored the participants who were also taking nutritional supplements and exercise.

The study showed that the no-glycemic or low-carbohydrate diet showed improvements in blood sugar control.  It was also found that majority of the members under the low carbohydrate exhibited weight loss and reduced or eliminated medication.

It should be kept in mind that eliminating or dramatically reducing carbohydrates in one’s diet is not an advisable approach.  Doctors, dieticians and nutritionists should make their input on the modified diet plan for type-2 diabetes patients.  Hence, it is important to be informed on how to use dietary changes effectively in combating type-2 diabetes and at the same time, prevent any risks to one’s health.

There are many low-carb diet plans in the market today.  The most popular is the Atkins diet which slowly eliminates carbohydrates in one’s eating habits.  Generally, the low-carb diet has been both popular and infamous for its food selections which basically takes out pasta, bread, rice and alcohol and increase meat and fat intake in replace of the energy needs normally provided by carbohydrate food sources.

In this case, type-2 diabetes patients are encouraged to eat more meat and dairy.  However, a meat- and dairy-packed diet is not necessarily very healthy.  In this case, it is important for these patients to source their limited 20 grams of carbohydrates from other sources.  There are also other foods that are “fake”carb foods such as faux rice and faux pasta.  Regular flour is also replaced with soy flour and almond flour.  Vegetables are also highly recommended but starchy vegetables such as potatoes should be avoided.

Reducing the Risk of Type-2 Diabetes Through DietThere are techniques to still enjoy the tastiness of carbohydrate-filled regular dishes and the main approach is to use substitutes and replacements.  For example, a mashed potato does not have to use potatoes but to use boiled and roasted cauliflower instead.  There are also low-carb versions of many ingredients such as low-carb pancake mix which can be also used in making crepes, and even low-carb brownie mix.

Generally, it is important for type-2 diabetes patients to be well informed of the carbohydrate content of food ingredients.  But life has been made easier today with the availability of low-carb substitutes and replacements, and supplements should there are nutrients that will be jeopardized by the diet.  Again, it is important to be guided by medical doctors and health professionals when it comes to putting together the type-2 diabetes-friendly best diet plan.

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