Diabetes is a disorder where the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to cover the consumption of food that a person intakes, causing the blood sugar levels to rise. A lot of food, when the body breaks it down for storage, turns into a form of sugar. This is why the diet of a diabetic person is very important. A person who is diabetic needs to watch what they are eating in order to help regulate their blood sugar levels as much as possible, no matter if they are Type 1 or Type 2.

This does not mean that a person cannot eat what they want or that they have to stick to a diet that is basically all vegetables or fruits. As a diabetic, one needs to eat a variety of different foods and in the right proportions to help maintain as healthy of a diet as possible, just like someone who is not diabetic. Proteins are just as important to a diabetic diet as vegetables, fruits, carbohydrates and so on.

Proteins help to maintain steady blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates, when the body breaks it down, turns into a sugar. This is why it is recommended for a person who has hypoglycemia to eat a carbohydrate and a protein to help cause the blood sugar level to rise. The sugar causes it to rise while the protein helps keep the blood sugar level there, instead of dropping again. Now, you can see how the proper diet is very important for a diabetic.

Diabetic Menu

The menu for a diabetic can be flexible. It does not have to be “set”. The diabetic menu should be low in sugar, of course, and contain plenty of proteins and vitamins. Do take into consideration that sugar can hide in different forms. You will want to learn how to read the nutritional label of all foods and if they do not have one, there are books that will aid you in learning the nutritional guidelines for that particular food. Just because something says that it is sugar free, does not mean that it is. If it is sugar free and still has carbohydrates listed on the label, then technically, it has sugar.

The best way to learn how to prepare a diabetic menu is to purchase a diabetic cookbook or to consult with a dietician. They can help to teach you what to look for, what to avoid and what you can have plenty of. For example: meat (non-breaded), cheese and eggs are virtually carbohydrate free, so if you are looking for a snack, then these are perfect as they will not affect your blood sugar levels. (Eggs do have 1 gram of carbohydrates, so only eat less than four, otherwise, it will affect your blood sugar levels.)

Don’t forget the Condiments

Yes, condiments do affect blood sugar levels. When deciding on your menu, take into consideration the condiments that you will be using. Spices don’t count; however, ketchup, steak sauce and so on should be used sparingly. Also, flour causes blood sugar levels to rise, so anything that is breaded should be consumed sparingly.

There is a lot to learn about diabetic diets and how to prepare a diabetic menu; however, once you start doing it, it will just become natural. You will automatically know that one piece of white bread is around 11-16 grams of carbohydrates and then you will learn which brand to purchase (the lower carbohydrate total) so that you are allowed to consume more.

To help learn how to prepare a diabetic menu, you can find diabetic menu samples all over the internet, as well as from a dietitian, from your endocrinologist etc. The information is easily available and all you have to do is search for it.

Diabetes is a serious disease and should be taken seriously. A diabetic menu should not be very different than what you were supposed to be eating, prior to the diagnosis, if you were eating healthy. Make sure to consult with your endocrinologist to determine how they recommend for you to control your diet. Some endocrinologists do want you to count fats, proteins and so on and others only want you to count your carbohydrate intake. Your diabetic diet and menu sample should be developed after you find out this information.

A Sample Menu

Whenever you change your diet you should notify your physician so that they know what it is that you are changing, and they can account for the changes in your health/blood sugar levels. To begin with, a diabetic diet should be low in sugar, of course. This does not mean that you cannot eat a candy bar, you can only allow yourself to have one every so often and make sure to account for it in your daily intake. Your diabetic menu should also be high in proteins and proteins help your body to maintain its blood sugar levels.

A diabetic menu sample would normally consist of 1800 calories per day and when divided out will be 50% starches, 30% proteins and 20% fat. Obviously you will need to learn how to read nutrition labels and how to measure proportions properly so that your count will be accurate. By following this diet, you will help to keep your blood sugar levels more under control and in turn, your health will become better.

With breakfast include: one meat, 2 fruits, two breads, two fats, one milk and one free food. A sample would be: one slice of toast, one egg (soft cooked), 2/3 cup of juice, ? cup of oatmeal, one cup of skimmed milk and tea or coffee.

With lunch include: two meats, two breads, one vegetable, two fruits, two fats and a free food. For example you could have: two pieces of bread, ? cup of tuna, 1 cup of mixed fruit, ? cup of tomatoes, a tsp of margarine and a cup of tea with lemon.

With supper include: three meats, two breads, two fats and one raw vegetable. For example, this could be something like: 3 ounces of oven baked chicken, a slice of bread, ? cup of mashed potatoes and a tossed salad with 1 tsp of salad dressing.

Just remember to keep your caloric intake at 1800 per day. To get some different ideas about what you can eat, consult a dietician, a diabetic cookbook or simply do a search on the internet. This is just a diabetic menu sample; so remember, that you can adjust to suit your needs as long as you follow the basic guidelines.

Blood glucose levels are very important to a diabetic and their physician. This is a way of determining how much insulin or medication one should take, how their diet needs to be adjusted and how their body is reacting to the changes. As a diabetic, you will monitor your blood glucose levels on a regular basis so that you are able to maintain a healthy life.

A majority of the time, it is said that normal blood glucose levels are between 80 and 120, depending upon where you look. Other guides state between 70 and 110 or 90 and 130. Listen to your physician as they will tell you what your specific target range is. With children, usually physicians will give a leeway for a specific target range and then work towards the above listed blood glucose levels.

Your diet helps you to maintain your blood glucose levels. If you eat excessive amounts, your blood glucose levels will rise. If you don’t eat enough, your blood glucose levels will fall. They will also fall because of exercise or activity and even because of heat in the summer time. You will want to keep accurate records of your blood glucose levels so that you will learn how your body reacts to different foods, exercise, environments and learn to adjust accordingly. Blood sugar levels will rise usually when you are sick; have an infection. Now you can see why it is so important to monitor your blood glucose levels on a regular basis.

Hyperglycemia

When blood sugar levels are high, it is considered hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is a serious condition that if not taken care of can lead to a Diabetic coma, diabetic retinopathy, ketones in the urine and so on. These are just some of the very serious conditions that can result from hyperglycemia.

To get your blood sugar levels to drop, usually insulin is required. It also helps to drink plenty of water which will also flush out ketones if present. You do not want to drop your blood sugar levels too fast; a slow, steady fall is preferred. Taking small insulin dosages every few hours until the levels have returned to normal, is preferred.

Hypoglycemia

When blood sugar levels are low, it is considered hypoglycemia. This is also extremely dangerous. One can pass out from hypoglycemia and if not corrected promptly, they could pass away. There are many different signs of hypoglycemia and as you begin to learn how your own body reacts, you will see that maybe how you are affected is not the same as another diabetic. This is why regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is extremely important.

As a diabetic, it would be extremely advisable to carry around some sort of “low blood sugar kit”. This could be a tube of gel glucose which can be purchased at the pharmacy or glucagon pen (has to prescribed), a candy bar or so on. Teach loved ones how to administer and/or use and where it is located, just in case you do pass out and cannot administer the sugar yourself.