10/26/12

rediff.com

Diet dos and don'ts for diabetics! - Rediff.com Get Ahead

Sign in | Create a Rediffmail account

News

Business

Movies

Sports

Get Ahead
Rediff News All News

Search Realtime

Rediff.com Getahead Diet dos and don'ts for diabetics!

Diet dos and don'ts for diabetics!

March 15, 2005 12:05 IST Share this Ask Users Write a Comment Print this article

MOST RECENT Hijack alarm: Passengers deny threatening lady pilot Mumbai-based engineer repatriated from Pak after 5 yrs Zee New s editors sought money for silence: Jindal ACB names Reddy in supplementary chargesheet Noida gang-rape: Victim identifies 10 accused in court

his is the concluding part of a two-part series on diet tips for the diabetics, by dietitians Priya Khanna and Seema Tarneja: Part I: Diabetics, heed these diet tips! Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder in which the body fails to convert sugars, starches and other foods into energy. Many of the foods you eat are normally converted into a type of sugar called glucose during digestion. The bloodstream then carries glucose through the body. The hormone, insulin, then turns glucose into quick energy or is stored for futher use. In diabetic people, the body either does not make enough insulin or it cannot use the insulin correctly. This is why too much glucose builds in the bloodstream. There are two major types of diabetes: 1. Type 1 This is popularly known as Juvenile Onset Diabetes. Here, the body produces little or no insulin. It occurs most often in childhood or in the teens and could be inherited. People with this type of diabetes need daily injections of insulin. They must balance their daily intake of food and activites carefully with their insulin shots to stay alive. 2. Type 2 Also known as Adult Onset Diabetes, this occurs around 35 to 40 years. The more common of the two types, it accounts for about 80 per cent of the diabetics. Here, though the pancreas produce adequate insulin, body cells show reduced sensitivity towards it. Type 2 diabetes is usually triggered by obesity. The best way to fight it is by weight loss, exercise and dietary control. Sometimes, oral medication or insulin injections are also needed. ~ Symptoms of diabetes Here are a few: Extreme thirst and hunger Frequent urination Sores or bruises that heal slowly Dry, itchy skin Unexplained weight loss Unusual tiredness or drowsiness Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet Whether Type 1 or 2, diabetics need a balance of diet and exercise. Here are some foods you can eat, and some foods you must avoid! Foods you must avoid! i. Salt Salt is the greatest culprit for diabetics. You get enough salt from vegetables in inorganic form, so reduce the intake of inorganic salt. ii. Sugar Sucrose, a table sugar, provides nothing but calories and carbohydrates. Also, you need calcium to digest sucrose. Insufficient sucrose intake might lead to calcium being leached off the bones. Substitute sucrose with natural sugar, like honey, jaggery (gur), etc. iii. Fat Excessive fat intake is definitely not a good habit. Try and exclude fried items from your diet totally. But, remember, you must have a small quantity of oil to absorb fat-soluble vitamins, especially vitamin E. iv. For non-vegetarians Available on

NewsApp (Free)
Read news as it happens

Stars spotted!

What's this?

Spotted: Tamil actress Sonia Agarwal in Bangalore Reader Ajay Anand has sent us a photograph.
More stars spotted

Met a celebrity? Email us photos & videos

www.rediff.com/getahead/2005/mar/15diab.htm

1/4

10/26/12

Diet dos and don'ts for diabetics! - Rediff.com Get Ahead

Try and stop the intake of red meat completely. Try to go in for a vegetarian diet. If you cannot, decrease the consumption of eggs and poultry. You can, however, eat lean fish two to three times a week. v. Whole milk and products Try to switch to low fat milk and its products like yogurt (curd). Replace high fat cheese with low fat cottage cheese. vi. Tea and coffee Do not have than two cups of the conventional tea or decaffeinated coffee every day. Try to switch to herbal teas.

vii. White flour and its products Replace these with whole grains, wholewheat or soya breads and unpolished rice. viii. Foods with a high glycemic index Avoid white rice, potatoes, carrots, breads and banana -- they increase the blood-sugar levels. Special food for diabetics i. Bitter gourd (karela) This vegetable contains a high dosage of 'plant insulin'. It lowers the blood-sugar levels effectively. Have the juice of three to four karelas early morning on an empty stomach. As a vegetable, too, it can be taken on a regular basis. Powder the seeds of karela (measuring 1 teaspoon), mix with water and drink it. ii. Fenugreek (methi) It is the most common food used to control diabetes. Gulp a teaspoonful of these seeds with a glass of water daily. Soak the seeds overnight. Have the water in which the seeds were soaked. You can make a chutney with methi seeds. You can also eat them sprouted, dried and powdered, or mix them in wheat flour to make chapattis. iii. Indian blackberry (jamun) This fruit is very effective in preventing and controlling diabetes. Powder the stone of the fruit and eat it -- it contains glucoside, which prevents the conversion of starch into sugars. iv. Garlic This is used to lower blood-sugar levels. Garlic is rich in potassium and replaces the potassium which gets lost in urine. It also contains zinc and sulphur, which are components of insulin. Take about three to four flakes of freshly crushed garlic daily. v. Onion Because of its diuretic and digestive properties, onion works against diabetes. Raw onion is more useful. vi. Flaxseed This is the richest source of Omega 3 fatty acids. It helps control diabetes because it maintains the sensitivity of the cell membrane, facilitates insulin, and thereby the uptake of glucose by the cells. vii. Fibre Soluble fibre, found in apples, kidney beans, oatmeal, soyabean, etc, help control diabetes. These aid slow digestion and absorption of nutrients, resulting in a slow and steady release of glucose. They soak up excess bile acids found in the intestinal tract, the same acids that are converted to blood cholesterol. They also help empty the stomach and trigger satiety that can help Type 2 diabetics to achieve weight loss goals. viii. Cinnamon solution Water extracts of cinnamon have been found to promote glucose metabolism and reduce cholesterol. You can boil cinnamon sticks in water and drink this water. ix. Antioxidants Diabetes is often associated with conditions like heart disease, diabetic retinopathy, immune deficiency and kidney disease. Many are caused by free radical damage. Therefore, make sure you include antioxidants, especially vitamin C (lemons), E, selenium, zinc and chromium (Brewer's yeast), in your diet, as they have been shown to control blood sugar levels. DON'T MISS!

www.rediff.com/getahead/2005/mar/15diab.htm

2/4

10/26/12
Part I: Diabetics, heed these diet tips! Priya Khanna, Seema Tarneja

Diet dos and don'ts for diabetics! - Rediff.com Get Ahead

Share this

Ask Users

Write a Comment

Print this article

Discussion Board
Write a message
Total 123 messages beginer of dibetic at 25th by Ritesh (View MyPage) on Oct 16, 2012 02:39 AM | Hide replies hi i am 25th years old .suggest me wat food should be taken when? to controm my diabetise.currently i have 149 units and doctor advised me too take injections every week and some of the medicines..will it work to control??? Pages | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 Older > >>

Reply

Forward | Report abuse Re: beginer of dibetic at 25th by nita cat (View MyPage) on Oct 25, 2012 11:05 AM pls follow d doc's advise n tk care

Reply

Forward | Report abuse

patient by vivek (View MyPage) on Sep 25, 2012 03:50 PM am 44 yrs old am diabetic patient tell me how the food items should be followed

Reply

Forward | Report abuse

blood suagr by megha (View MyPage) on Sep 15, 2012 10:09 PM i am taking Gemmer 500mg form today

Reply

Forward | Report abuse

blood sugar by megha (View MyPage) on Sep 15, 2012 10:06 PM | Hide replies i ma 33 yrs old, one week before wen i did my fating sugar it came ot 182, and then i chnaged my diet an dshifted to methi, karela, roti, apple, tea w/o sugar, wen i repeated the test today it was 271 fasting an dpsot meal 426, please advis eon diet

Reply

Forward | 'Report abuse' disabled by moderator

Message deleted by moderator

Continuation of tablets by Triveni (View MyPage) on Sep 08, 2012 03:39 PM | Hide replies Tell me if you eat proper food, strict diet, walking etc., do u still have to take the tablets regularly?

Reply

Forward | Report abuse Re: Continuation of tablets by nita cat (View MyPage) on Oct 25, 2012 11:11 AM walking n exercise is neway gd for every1 as is proper diet. in fact it is a healthy lifestyle barring sweets n carbs

Reply

Forward | Report abuse

diabetic medicine by radha krishnan (View MyPage) on Sep 02, 2012 05:50 PM i m 48 yr old man office goer i am taking RECLIDE 80 morning 1 night 1/2 tablet daily now iam with blood sugar fast 82 pp at 165

www.rediff.com/getahead/2005/mar/15diab.htm

3/4

10/26/12

Diet dos and don'ts for diabetics! - Rediff.com Get Ahead

now iam with blood sugar fast 82 pp at 165 can i continue the drug

Reply

Forward | Report abuse

high sugar by nisha singh (View MyPage) on Jul 18, 2012 07:54 PM my mother has recently discovered that she had high sugar levels... she s 60 years old.. she has high bp past 15yrs n she s on medication for d same... and she has problems in her eyes for which she s taking endoxan.. this medicine mite have side effects.. what can be the reason for this sudden high blood sugar...please suggest me a remedy.. her blood sugar(f)210 and post meal-286

Reply

Forward | Report abuse

high sugar and Bp by alami (View MyPage) on Jul 08, 2012 03:06 PM | Hide replies i am 47 yrs of age.i m suffering from diebetes since last 6 yrs.Four days ago i fall down in the market,i was taken to hospital.now sugar after foo is 360 and befor food was 270.i m taken insulin 4 unit thrice a day.please suggest.

Reply

Forward | Report abuse

Message deleted by moderator

Advise by Neetu Tembhurne (View MyPage) on Jun 24, 2012 11:01 PM My fasting blood sugar is 172.5 & post lunch blood sugar is 255.8. My age is 37 yrs. Pls advise me.

Reply

Forward | Report abuse

Fasting sugar level at 149 by RSINGH TOMER (View MyPage) on Jun 12, 2012 02:43 PM | Hide replies Hi Friends two days back i found that my fasting blood sugar level is 149. My age is 35 . Now its been a concern for me. What to do and what is the best way to reduce it to normal level. Thanks in Advance R Singh

Reply

Forward | Report abuse Re: Fasting sugar level at 149 by nita cat (View MyPage) on Oct 25, 2012 11:17 AM visit n diabetologist/endocrinologist

Reply

Forward | Report abuse

Total 123 messages

Pages: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 Older > >> Terms of use | Disclaimer

Write a message

News Rediffmail

Mobile

Blogs Domain registration

Books Cricket

SongBuzz

Money

Business email

iShare

Q&A

T20 Worldcup 2012

Online Shopping

Buzz

Slide Songs Deals

2012 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Careers - Feedback - Terms of use

www.rediff.com/getahead/2005/mar/15diab.htm

4/4