Diabetes

The Diet You Must Deal With
When carbohydrates are digested they are broken down into simple sugars and contained in the body as glucose, the sugar in the blood which supplies the cells with energy, and glycogen, the storage form of energy. In order to store blood sugar for energy, insulin, the hormone produced by the pancreas, must be present.
In Diabetes, where there is a lack of sufficient usable insulin, carbohydrates cannot be utilized in a normal fashion. As a result, sugar accumulates in the blood and urine rather than being converted into fuel for the body's use.
There are two types of Diabetes:
*Type 1-one that occurs in early childhood
* Type 2-one that generally occurs around middle-age
Childhood Diabetes is usually treated with insulin therapy, but both forms respond
favorably to, and must be accompanied by
dietary control.
In order to control this illness, the diabetic must be aware of the nutritional make-up of foods. Since the difficulty arises from a decreased tolerance for carbohydrates, some 
restrictions must be placed on this food component in the diet.
Protein metabolism provides an easily tolerated, slowly released source of glucose for the body, so while carbohydrates are kept to a minimum, protein is elevated to maintain 
even levels of blood sugar and prevent Insulin shock. (and low blood sugar)
These high levels of protein may also retard the development of future 
degenerative diseases associated with diabetes.
It may well be that the diabetic also has an impaired ability to utilize fats, 
for it now appears that atherosclerosis, or thickening of the arteries, occurs early and progresses faster in diabetics.
Therefore the diabetic must watch consumption of fats, as well as carbohydrates, 
and replace a large percentage of the saturated fats on the menu with unsaturated ones.
In all forms of diabetes, carbohydrates should be evenly distributed throughout the day. Carbohydrate tolerance is usually least in the morning; in order to increase 
the span, breakfast can contain smaller amounts of carbohydrates,
supplemented by another small meal at bedtime.
High concentrations of sugar in the blood promote growth of bacteria.
to increase resistance to infection, the diabetic should include foods rich in 
Vitamin A and Vitamin C in the daily diet.


 
                   Terrific Links You Must See 
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 Diabetic Recipes
Over 800 diabetic and heart-healthy recipes~ more than
200 menu's for every occassion~ Cooking Tips- Ways to cook
with more flavor, using less fat, salt and sugar.
"Do Your Level Best"
Great information site, if you have just learned you have Diabetes, or wish to know how to control it, or how to take insulin, 
how to eat, and where to get help...you'll find it all here !

 
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