Diabetes type 1 and 2 are two of the most common health conditions around the world and are becoming more common day by day. With the rising number of patients, there is a debate on the appropriate diabetic diet, which can help manage the disease and avoid further complications.
In the past decade, the number of cases of both types of diabetes, specifically type 2 has increased dramatically. Although there is also more research on the development and management of the health condition, there are no specific guidelines on a detailed diet for the disease.
Overall, the medical community has only suggested consuming a balanced diet, making lifestyle changes, having physical activity in the daily routine as well as avoiding certain habits or food along with regularly monitoring blood sugar levels and visiting a doctor.
Now, the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has specifically advised people with either type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes to consume a diet based majorly on carbohydrates.
By doing so, a diabetic person can avoid high blood sugar levels and related complications and live a healthier and more active lifestyle.
The CDC specifically recommends maintaining a forty-five percent carbohydrate diet which is 45-75 g of carbs each day. For men, each meal should consist of at least four to five servings of carbs. On the other hand, women should consume at least three to four servings of carbs with each meal.
However, it should also be kept in mind that other lifestyle factors can also impact a specific diet a person with diabetes type 1 or 2 chooses to follow. For instance, age, gender, and weight are some of the factors which should be considered before changing diets.
In addition, diabetes medicines, physical activity level, and other habits can also impact whether a diet suits a person or not.
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For instance, many of the patients of type 2 diabetes are also diagnosed with obesity. Having a higher body count or being overweight or obese has been known to impact the body’s ability to effectively use insulin to digest and breakdown sugars from food.
Therefore, people with diabetes who also suffer from obesity are recommended to stick to a low carb diet to avoid high blood sugar.
Ideally, the aforementioned diet will suit a diabetic person. However, before trying out any diet, it is better for a person to consult with a doctor and analyze the condition of his or her health to see whether there are any complications that make the diet unsuitable.
People with prediabetes are often treated differently than diabetes patients and are recommended to stick to a low carb diet to delay the onset of the health condition.
Do not consume carbohydrates in an increased amount without consulting a doctor as it can cause complications including Hyperglycemia, which can further lead to a potentially fatal issue known as ketoacidosis.
In a similar way, not consuming enough carbs can also cause Hypoglycemia which can also be life-threatening if not treated on time.
There is a need for maintaining a certain balance in carbohydrate-intake. While increasing or decreasing carbs in the diet, the American Diabetes Association recommends sticking to healthy carbohydrates.
A balanced diabetic diet should consist of carbs coming from unprocessed foods including vegetables or whole grains as they are healthier and less likely to cause complications.
