Diet and Diabetes
More than 16 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. This chronic disease is serious and can make cause the body to have a difficult time converting sugar into energy. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes affects almost one million Americans. This type if diabetes is insulin dependent and is also called juvenile onset diabetes because it commonly develops during childhood and in young adults. Most often this diabetes occurs after an infection such as chicken pox or a cold and continues to attack body tissues resulting in the destruction of cells that produce insulin in the pancreas.
More than 15 million Americans have type II diabetes, otherwise known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. This diabetes occurs in adults that are typically overweight and middle-aged. People with this type of diabetes usually have enough insulin but their bodies have a difficult time using the insulin properly.
Diabetics must carefully monitor their diets and exercise. As a registered dietician you can help people to learn about preventative measures that can be taken. People with type II diabetes can manage their diabetes with diet and exercise alone. In some less common cases, people have needed oral medications and insulin injections. People with type I diabetes generally need insulin injections daily. Without daily insulin injections, a person with type I diabetes could die.
A healthy diet can help to stabilize blood sugar and stop diabetic symptoms. A registered dietician is an excellent resource for diabetics. Most dieticians can help to create individual diets that are designed around a patient's individual needs and tastes. A dietician can help to balance the ratio of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in a diabetic's diet and can show a diabetic how to reduce fat, cholesterol, and protein in order to protect the heart and kidneys from disease.
Complex carbohydrates, like vegetables, breads, cereals and pasta are better choices than processed and refined carbohydrates. This is primarily because the fiber content of complex carbohydrates helps to slow down the release of glucose into the blood stream, thereby preventing an increase in blood sugar after a high-carbohydrate meal.
