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Managing your diet |
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Although there are differences in treatment for Type 1 and
Type 2 diabetes, the dietary advice for managing both types
is the same. Much has been written on what type of diet is
best for diabetes, to the extent that it can all seem a bit
daunting. Although a carbohydrate-controlled diet used to be
suggested, there is now no special diabetes diet. Instead
your diet should be based on the same principles of healthy
eating that everyone should follow. |
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Why was there a special diet for diabetes? |
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Glucose (sugar) is a carbohydrate. Because controlling blood
sugar controls diabetes, a lot of dietary advice used to be
given on the amount and timing of carbohydrate intake.
Carbohydrate foods were allocated a value per portion,
called the exchange. A diabetic diet was constructed around
the number of exchanges of carbohydrate a food contained.
For example, a thin slice of wholemeal bread contains 10g
carbohydrate and is one portion or exchange. An individual
might be on 200g carbohydrate, which would contain 20
exchanges in the whole day. |
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Although diabetes means you'll always need to take that
little extra care about what you eat, modern thinking has
moved away from this type of diet.
This is because all foods have an energy value, not just
carbohydrate. Protein and fat are partly converted to
glucose in the body, so their effect on the blood sugar
level needs to be taken into account.
And different carbohydrates affect the blood glucose level
at different rates:
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Pure glucose is absorbed
very quickly and causes blood sugar to rise within
minutes.
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Starchy foods are
carbohydrate, but are absorbed far more slowly and raise
blood sugar over a longer period of time.
A
healthy diet is a balanced diet - focusing on carbohydrates
alone skews that balance. |
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Are calories important? |
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There
is a common myth that people with diabetes people need to
watch their calories more than the average person.
This is only partly correct. Everyone’s calorie intake
should be appropriate for their level of activity,
regardless of whether diabetes is present.
The difference is that people who don't have diabetes still
have the capacity to overcome excesses in their diet by
producing extra insulin to maintain blood sugar at a normal
level.
So your calorie intake only needs reducing if you need to
lose weight - if your BMI is higher than 25.
Even so, weight-loss should be at a steady rate of 0.5kg
(1-2lb) per week. This means you need to reduce your calorie
intake by 3500 calories overall - 500 calories a day.
A good rule of thumb is to burn an extra 250 calories a day
through exercise, and eat 250 calories less per day by
reducing the amount of fat and sugary foods in your diet. |
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How can I make sure I have a good diet? |
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If you
have diabetes, you should have access to a qualified
dietician through your GP or diabetes clinic.
Your dietician will help you work out your daily calorie
needs, taking into account your age, lifestyle, work and
activity levels.
Your dietician will identify any problems with your diet and
is there to help if you're having difficulties.
Most of all, your dietician will help you understand the
relationship between what you eat and what you need - once
you understand this, the diet aspect of diabetes will fall
into place. |
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