Diabetes Diet
People with diabetes can exercise substantial control over their
symptoms through their choice of diet. Eating well and exercising
regularly can help to achieve good blood sugar control. A healthy
diabetic diet avoids saturated fats, refined sugars (which can cause
hyperglycemia) and too much salt.
In addition to focusing on what the diabetic eats, it is also
important to focus on when one eats. Consistent meal and snack
times help to keep your blood sugar level balanced. If you must skip
a meal, substitute a snack as soon as possible.
Monitor your blood sugar regularly to
ensure that it does not get too high or too low.
Finally, regular exercise has a number of positive effects for
people with diabetes:
- Exercise helps the body to burn insulin more efficiently.
- Exercise helps to increase the body's sensitivity to insulin.
- Since you burn calories, you are able to follow a less
restrictive diet.
- Reduces the risk of heart disease by lowering your cholesterol levels.
Exercising 25 - 30 minutes a day, four or more days a week is an
excellent way to start.
Medical Studies
A systematic review of 27 studies in 2001 reported that reducing
dietary fat can have a dramatic effect on heart disease
(16% reduction in heart risks found) and mortality rates
(9% decline).
