Diabetes
Blood Sugar Control
A
high-fat diet causes glucose intolerance and insulin resistance (JAMA
262(3):398-99,1989)
Priorities
for an
Insulin-Dependent Diabetes
Mellitus (IDDM)
1. The patient must consume
adequate calories to maintain desirable weight.
2. Meal times and the composition of the diet must be consistent from day to
day, with the carbohydrate content fairly evenly divided from meal to meal.
3. Simple carbohydrates must be limited to 10% to 15% of total calories.
4. Depending upon the insulin regimen, a bedtime snack may help prevent
nocturnal hypoglycemia; midmorning and mid-afternoon snacks must be taken if
needed, to match the food intake to the peak insulin action.
5. Food must be taken to correct hypoglycemic episodes.
6. Food and fluids must be taken for periods of increased physical activity and
during illness.
Non–Insulin-Dependent
Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM): This can be controlled by diet, and it is not as
important to be consistent with timing of meals and carbohydrate.
The
American Diabetes Association recommends that 12% to 20% of all calories be
protein, 20% to 30% of all calories be fat and 55% to 60% of calories be
carbohydrate. The amount of protein in the diet meets or exceeds the recommended
dietary allowance (RDA) of 0.8 g/kg of body weight. The percentage of calories
from protein may be as much as 20% in diets of 1200 calories or less and may
decrease to 12% at higher caloric levels. There is no advantage to a high
protein diet, in fact diabetics are vulnerable to renal complications. For the
person who has only a slight elevation of creatine levels, it is prudent to keep
the protein level at approximately the RDA. Reduction of fat intake is
recommended because of the high incidence of arteriosclerosis. Cholesterol
consumption should be less than 300 mg/day.
Lifestyle
Sleep at least 8 hours a night
Fresh air
Sunshine
Drink Fresh water
Yoga to reduce stress
Review medications to insure they are not the underlying cause
Eat a balanced diet
Supplements that may help:
Supplements
Property of Supplements
| Bilberries |
Protect against
macular degeneration |
| Chromium |
Stabilize blood
sugar |
| Vitamin
B Complex |
Involved in proper
control of blood sugar |
| Fiber |
Stabilize blood
sugar |
| Jamal |
Support for the pancreas |
| Gymnema Sylvestre |
May stabilize blood
sugar |
| Fennel |
May stabilize blood
sugar |
| Return to Spring |
Formula for
balancing the body. |
| Carnitine |
Promotes
energy production by enhancing fat oxidation in the cell mitochondria |
|
| 
