Diabetes - Foods for Diabetic People

Diabetes is one of those diseases that can be controlled and held in check through the right diet and through increased physical activity. This does not mean that the diet will be monotonous - there are plenty of foods diabetic people can eat. In fact, there are recipes specially designed to make diabetes-friendly foods without sacrificing taste.

While Type I Diabetes is usually diagnosed in children, now we know that it does not affect only them. Type I diabetes, unlike Type II diabetes, is an autoimmune disease. When the beta cells, which produce insulin, in the pancreas, are damaged, the individual suffers from Type I diabetes. When the body becomes resistant to insulin, the patient suffers from Type II diabetes. Both can be combated through proper eating, which includes a varied diet consisting of foods like fat-free, sugar-free and fibrous food items.

Diabetes is, unfortunately, hereditary. However, if you watch what you eat and exercise properly, you can stave off diabetes, even if there are people in your family who have it. Once you do have diabetes, though, you will have to regularly take medicine that regulates the insulin level of your body. One other way to control diabetes that doctors frequently recommend is that you should be careful to eat foods that are highly nutritious and watch your diet.

Just making sure that you eat foods diabetic people can eat is not enough, though - you have to stay active, and do some sort of exercise, whether it is jogging or dancing or walking or swimming, for minimum half an hour every day. The diet is important, though - it should be full of non-fat and unsweetened foods and completely without with sweets, alcohol and high-fat foods, including whole milk products.

There are plenty of foods for the diabetic person and these must be included in their daily diet. The nutritional requirements of the body must be met - proteins, minerals, vitamins, fibrous carbohydrates and lots of water are essential. The fibrous carbs can come from excellent sources like wholemeal bread, whole grains and oats. Lean meat, legumes, seeds, nuts and fish are great sources of protein, and minerals and vitamins are both taken care of by fresh fruits and green, leafy vegetables. Plenty of water, at least eight glasses a day, is also necessary.

Most recipes for diabetic diet plans are prepared without creams and sauces, because these are often heavily loaded with sugar and fat. Sweet and sour, teriyaki and barbecue sauces are to be avoided at all costs.

There are other favorites that you will have to steer clear of now - eggs, mayonnaise, red meat, butter, cheese, carbonated drinks - and foods that you must accept as staple, such as those with unsaturated fat and are unsweetened. Since it is your responsibility to stay healthy, to understand more about foods diabetic people can eat, you must talk to your nutritionist or your doctor, and come up with a diet plan you will be comfortable with for the rest of your life. credit:articlesnatch