Foods To Avoid If You Have Diabetes
Author: Monica Nelson

Diabetes mellitus occurs when the cells of the human pancreas
no longer produce sufficient insulin. The hormone insulin aids
in breaking down sugar in the blood into a form that can be
better stored by the body and used for energy at a later time.

Organ systems and body tissues can be harmed or destroyed by
high blood sugar levels, and diabetics currently have to take
insulin to help break down blood glucose. They also still have
to go through painful procedures such as dialysis in order to
clean out organs and keep them running and intact.

If you are suffering from diabetes, your doctor might have
already told you to keep your feet clean, take your insulin
shots, have a lot of exercise, and eat a good balanced meal of
the right foods.

There are foods that you have to avoid if you have diabetes,
and your diet, in general, will be high in soluble fibers but
low in saturated fats. If you are suffering from diabetes, your
doctor may encourage you to eat lower amounts of carbohydrate
products that may have a high glycemic index.

Diabetes is also growing more widespread, a phenomenon that has
prompted food, beverage, and pharmaceutical companies to produce
products especially catered to meet the needs of diabetics.

However, many doctors also caution against the indiscriminate
purchase and use of such products, which are often very
expensive. Such diabetic-catered products can also have much
higher levels of fats, or they may actually have no real,
substantiated, or special benefits for people who are suffering
from diabetes.

Staying on a good diet and avoiding the right foods is still
the best way to keep your blood glucose levels down.

Scientists have found that the time you eat, the amount of food
that you eat, and the balance of nutrients in your food all
affect your metabolism and hence, your tendency to deal with or
succumb to the effects of diabetes.

If you have just been diagnosed with diabetes, you may be asked
to coordinate with a dietitian or nutritionist who will help you
formulate a meal and snack plan. You might be asked to count
your carbohydrates by keeping track of the sugary or starchy
foods that you consume.

You will then have to follow the food pyramid strictly. The
largest part of the pyramid, at the bottom, will consist of
whole grains and starchy vegetables, which should comprise a
large part of your meal. This means that you need to have at
least two servings of fresh fruits and vegetables each day.

The next step in the pyramid consists of proteins, which you
can get from lean meat, legumes, and cheese, all of which you
should eat in smaller quantities. Next, you can have a small
amount of non-fat or low-fat dairy. Fats and sugars are at the
top, and you can eat only very small amounts of these.

These rules, however, are only general, and they may not suit
your specific diabetic case. You will still need to talk to a
dietitian or nutritionist in order to find the best diet for
you. In addition to eating the right foods, you will also have
to avoid others, such as foods that are extremely salty.

This is because diabetes is often accompanied to high blood
pressure. High blood pressure is exacerbated not only by large
amounts of fats in the diet, but high amounts of sodium as well.
You will need to cut down on the salt in your food, or you may
need to purchase and use non-sodium or low sodium salt
substitutes.

You also need to stay away from foods that are high in sodium
and salt, such as crackers, chips, processed or preserved meet
products, or canned foods such as sardines or soups.

Although diabetes is linked to blood sugar levels, you do not
need to stay away from sugar altogether. You do need, however,
to stop adding sugar to foods, and to use sugar in low amounts.
For better results, eat sugar within a healthy meal, such as in
frozen yogurt, pudding, or fruit pies.

If you are not prone to caffeine-related tremors, you can also
drink diet colas and soft drinks: such drinks will use sugar
substitutes, but they are also higher in caffeine. Stay away
from processed foods, as these will have no nutrients, and will
only have larger amounts of sugars and fats to add flavor.

Most importantly, stay away from fats. Having diabetes also
puts you at greater risk for cardiovascular diseases, so stay
away from saturated fats, which you can find in dairy products,
solid vegetable fats, and butter. When cooking chicken, take the
skin off. Avoid butter and margarine, and use oils made from
canola or olive.

Stay away from full cream products: use skimmed, low-fat, or
non-fat milk, cheese, and yogurt. Instead of frying foods,
grill, boil, bake, or broil it instead.

Stay away from alcoholic beverages. Stick to your meal plan
even if you are eating out. Although all this may sound
inconvenient and difficult, you can avoid foods and have an
easier time managing your diabetes with a little practice and
patience.


About The Author: Monica Nelson writes for
http://www.womens-health-questions.com has more information
about diabetic foods on this page
http://www.womens-health-questions.com/1800-diabetic-diet.html.