Nutrition Feature: Diabetes Meal Patterns: It is essential to divide the total food intake of a diabetic in as many meals and snacks as possible and as compatible with the patient's life and work style.This maneuver itself can help achieve control of diabetes in many patients.Diabetics taking insulin should space their meals to cover the peaks and basal effects of insulin.In a majority of patients mid-afternoon and bedtime snacks should be provided.If the gap between 2 meals is long, it is advisable to have a small snack in between.If there is delay in eating hypogycemia is likely to occur.The number of meals eaten each day and the time at which the meals are eaten each day will vary from person to person.The patient should thus consult his physician and dietician for proper guidance.In the case of insulin dependent diabetics, change in meal timings, for example due to changing shift work is undesirable. Basic Plan Of Diabetic Diets:
Based on the above principles, it is very easy for a diabetic to modify his own diet and transform it into a diabetic diet.He can proceed stepwise as follows: 1.Omit all concentrated carbohydrates like sugar and sweets.Small amounts of sugars and sweets maybe rarely allowed to certain types of diabetics under good control.
2.Minimise consumption of processed, refined grain products( including white breads and the other refined cereal products) and potatoes.
3.Eat plenty of green-leafy vegetables, other green vegetables( as raw and fresh salad) and a wide variety of fruits.
4.Eat pulses and legumes in the diet and also include a small amount of nuts.
5.Eat a diet of high fibre- content by including whole grain cereals and its products, vegetables, legumes and fruits.
6.A normal weight diabetic, whose weight is steady at the same level for the last 3 months, does not need to alter the total amount of food(calories) that he is eating at present.If he is overweight, he should reduce his calorie intake by 400-800 calories per day.If he is underweight , he should increase his calorie intake by 400-800 calories per day.If he wants to avoid the rigmarole of calculating the calories, he simply can increase or decrease his food intake by 25% (1/4)depending whether he is underweight or overweight.
7.Select healthy drinks like water, lemon juice (without sugar), plain soda and herbal teas over colas, juices and alcohol.
8.Divide the food intake into as many meals and snacks as possible.
9.Divide the fat intake equally between saturated, monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
10.Omit foods high in saturated fats and cholesterol. ********************************************* Diet Watch |
