Macronutrients & Diabetes

Advanced Nutrition: Macronutrients, Micronutrients, and Metabolism

The macronutrients referred to in human diets are the three food groups that provide us with energy, namely carbohydrates, fat and protein. These three major nutrients are more than simply providers of fuel for our bodies.Fats and protein are both vital for building cells and helping the cells carry out their duties.

Carbohydrate can be stored as fat,that is why a lot of people who eat a lot of carbohydrate foods have a lot of extra fat around their abdomen!

Carbohydrate rich foods should be avoided as much as possible especially for diabetics as they cause blood sugar levels to rise!

Also it is very important for diabetics to take stock of how much carbohydrate they eat at each meal,for more information on this Click Here!

All meats should be avoided as they are high in fat especially red meat such as Irish Black Angus Ribeye!

There is just as much unhealthy fat as protein in red meat!

Most vegetables have no carbohydrate ,the only vegetables that have a little carbohydrate are legumes such as peas,sweetcorn,beans and also parsnips!

So everyone should be eating a lot of vegetables and staying away from all meat especially red meat!

Why Carbohydrates Are So Important in Diabetes

Counting carbohydrates at meals and snack time is one method used to control blood sugar levels as explained Here!

How you eat can affect Blood Sugar

Diabetes Diet: 7 Day Well-Balanced Diabetes Diet Meal Plan At 1600 Calorie Level-Choose Healthy Foods And Understand How Different Foods And The Amounts Affect Your Blood Sugar

Choosing the right kind of carbohydrates and spacing them out evenly throughout the day can keep blood sugar from rising too high, too fast (90% of the carbohydrate calories you digest end up as glucose, so they have a much bigger impact on blood sugar than fat or protein).

The goal is to take in enough carbohydrates to nourish ourselves, but never so much that it causes high blood sugar levels!

People with diabetes should never eat foods that contain so-called “simple” sugars,those found in cakes and candy and instead eat “complex” carbohydrates, those with longer chains of glucose molecules such as fruit, vegetables, and wholegrains!

All carbohydrates can cause a rise in blood sugar level! Pasta, potatoes and all processed foods will cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels!

Vegetables cause very little rise in blood sugar levels so people should be eating a lot more vegetables especially vegetables with no carbohydrate in them!

The best vegetables to eat that have no carbohydrate in them are lettuce,cucumber,courgettes,tomatoes,beetroot,carrots,cabbage,broccoli and all different types of herbs!

I think people should not be eating meat at all,I have written a section on this in another article Click Here!

Some carbs are better than others

The goal for everyone should be to maximise intake of the good stuff,vitamins, minerals, and fiber and minimize carbohydrates that boost blood sugar levels too much, offer few nutritional benefits, or are packed with fat and calories!

A health professional will help you develop a meal plan to get a good balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat, and an appropriate amount of calories. They’ll teach you how to manage carbohydrate intake by carbohydrate counting Click Here.

You’ll need to fine-tune your meal plan by testing blood sugar before and after meals.

Also it is very important to test your blood sugar levels at least eight times a day using your Blood Tester when you are an insulin dependent diabetic!

It is also important to test your blood sugar levels when you are a Type 2 diabetic,I think about six times a day would be adequate!

Carbohydrates generally have their peak effect on blood sugar levels about two hours after eating!

For more great Health and Nutrition Tips refer to the websitePositivehealthwellness.com

Glycemic Index Diet (GI Diet) and Diabetes

http://The Glycemic Load Diabetes Solution: Six Steps to Optimal Control of Your Adult-Onset (Type 2) Diabetes

A low Glycemic index diet can be particularly effective for people with Diabetes!

Low GI diets are diets which incorporate foods like fruit and vegetables which are more slowly converted into energy by the body.

Low GI diets can be a suitable option for people with diabetes as they can help to make blood glucose levels more stable than diets based around high GI foods.

What does Low and High GI mean?

The Glycemic Index ranks food depending on the rate at which the body breaks it down to form glucose.

High GI foods are those that are quickly broken down into glucose. Typical examples of high GI foods include white bread, sweetened drinks, biscuits, potatoes and processed foods!

Low GI foods are those that are broken down more slowly by the body. Typical examples of low GI foods include whole grain bread, beans, all vegetables and fruit!

What do Low GI foods do in relation to Diabetes?

Choosing low GI foods over high GI foods leaves you feeling more satisfied over a longer period of time, and less likely to feel hungry before the next meal!

What do High GI foods do in relation to Diabetes?

High GI foods break down very quickly causing blood glucose levels to rise sharply. People with diabetes refer to sharp rises in blood sugar levels as ‘spikes’ in blood sugar levels!

High GI foods can force the body to try to produce a surge of insulin to counteract the quick acting carbohydrates and a common consequence of this is a feeling of hunger within an hour!

For people with diabetes High GI foods can be detrimental to their health!

For this reason, people with diabetes have to be careful when it comes to eating High GI foods!

 

Glycemic Index Range

GI & GL Counter

Should Diabetics eat a Glycemic Index Diet?

For people with diabetes striving to keep their blood sugar stable, a GI diet can make all the difference!

It is very important to eat Low GI foods and stay away from High GI foods!

Is there any advice about the Glycemic Index Diet?

The general advice for people with diabetes is to consider the Glycemic index as a very important diet!

As with all dietary changes, people with diabetes should discuss everything with their healthcare professionals!

To get a good understanding of  the GI diet there are many resources available see below some consumer recommended: