By Jenny H Jordan

A good diabetes diet is almost identical to that which most doctors would recommend to anyone worried about their general health, especially those concerned about conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease. High in fibre and whole grains but low in sugar and trans fats, it is a diet that, combined with proper stress management, can dramatically improve your chances of living a long and healthy life.

There is no need to rush out and invest in lots of special diabetic food. All you need to do is make informed choices from the standard food pyramid when meal planning, based in part on your understanding of the 'glycemic index' of various foods.

All carbohydrates are converted to glucose inside your body, but some make this change far more rapidly than others. The glycemic index is a measure of how quickly the carbohydrate in a particular food turns to sugar. This information is important because, as a diabetic, your body is unable to produce enough insulin to balance out a sudden influx of blood glucose. Eating too much of the wrong food during a meal can send your readings sky high in a matter of minutes. Long term, this can cause serious damage to your internal organs.

Carb counting, where you calculate the total amount of carbohydrates in each meal and ensure you do not go over a pre-determined daily limit, can be another useful tool when it comes to controlling your blood glucose, but it is important to remember that not all carbs behave the same way.

While the glycemic index measures the effect that 50 grams of carbohydrate in a particular food has on blood sugar, the picture it presents can sometimes be deceiving.

For example, the carbohydrate in watermelon turns to sugar extremely rapidly and the fruit therefore has a high glycemic index. However, the actual amount of carbohydrate in a typical serving of watermelon is very small so, in reality, eating a slice is unlikely to affect your blood sugar very much at all.

In such cases an additional measure known as the glycemic load can be extremely useful. This takes account of how much of the carb is actually present in a typical serving of a food and ranks them accordingly. Choosing foods that have both a low glycemic load and low glycemic index is the best way to prevent blood sugar levels from getting out of control.

Type 1 diabetics are able to control their blood sugar levels by adjusting the amount of insulin they inject, but they still need to be aware of how rapidly foods will affect them. It too much insulin is taken in response to a food with a low glycemic index, blood glucose levels can fall and you can develop hypoglycaemia.

The best way to check how well your body responds to certain foods is to invest in a home blood glucose testing meter. After using a spring-loaded needle to extract a drop of blood from the tips of one of your fingers, the device can give you an accurate reading of your blood sugar an hour or two after a meal.

Type 2 or adult onset diabetes is closely linked to obesity so as well as suggesting changes to your diet, your doctor will also want to look at your overall level of health and fitness to see if it can be improved. As well as helping your heart to stay strong and making it easier for you to fight off infection and disease, regular exercise also burns more calories, which can help to keep blood sugar levels stable.

Regardless of what type of diabetes you suffer from, it is vitally important that your diet be as varied as possible. This not only ensures that you receive a better balance of vitamins and minerals but also helps to prevent boredom. A diet that is routine and restrictive is hard to stick with and you are far more likely to fall off the wagon and return to your old eating habits.

Whole grain foods are rich in fibre which helps to fill you up more, reducing the urge to snack between meals. Alcohol needs to be treated with extreme care. It can lower blood sugar and if too much is taken along with insulin or diabetic medication, it too can lead to hypoglycaemia.

Meats and fish do not have to be restricted as they contain no carbohydrates and therefore have no effect on blood sugars. You should, however, try to cut down on the amount of fats in your diet, trimming red meat as much as possible and removing the skin from chicken. Although the body needs some of these fats to stay healthy - unlike trans fats which only raise your cholesterol and increase your risk of heart disease - the amount needed is quite small.

Sugar-free versions of popular soft drinks can help reduce the overall amount of sugar in your diet but remember that even if a product bears the label 'no added sugar' it could still be high in carbohydrates and cause your blood glucose levels to rise.

The internet is a wonderful place to find all sorts of tips and ticks for managing your disease and existing diabetics are almost always willing to share their experiences of what has worked for them.

The right choices from the food pyramid, along with other changes to your lifestyle and a regular regime of fitness training, can often help alleviate many symptoms of diabetes and dramatically slow down the progress of the disease. Everyone has to eat, so you may as well eat healthily.

By Jenny H Jordan

People who have pre-diabetes are also searching for food plans which can move them away from the onset of full-blown diabetes. There's not a lack of reduced sugar recipes, Splenda recipes -- or any other sugar substitute, or even international diabetic-friendly recipes. A wonderful salad or sugar-free dessert can be created by anyone who knows something, or a lot, about cooking and specific recipes. The question is -- how do you weed through all of the thousands of diabetes recipes and find several that work for you?

There are many ways that blood sugar levels can be made normal, and one of those methods is by diet. Glucose meters and medicines are several ways to reduce the risks that come with having diabetes. Through judicious use of diabetic recipes, an excellent meal schedule will be varied and interesting and help diabetics get over the overindulgence which sometimes happens at holiday & other family gatherings.

A good meal plan does not mean that any person has to deprive themselves. Along the way, a person who is diabetic is able to lose weight, and lower their chances of stroke, heart disease, & other diabetes caused conditions and problems. As you learn to handle your type 2 diabetes, picking healthy foods, with a little practice & study, may become second nature. Choosing meal plans for diabetics also means learning to eat the right quantities. Just because you create sugar-free recipes, does not mean you can eat an overly large amount of them.

We've got some tips and tricks: Eat a variety of colorful fruits and veggies. Non-starchy vegetables in diabetic menus may include carrots, broccoli, spinach & others. A good dish such as whole grain spaghetti along with stir-fried vegetables is often a favorite among recipes for diabetics. Reconstituted dried beans such as pinto and kidney beans, along with lentils, add protein to any diabetic dish. There are a lot of recipes which include beans. Eat fish entrees up to 3 weekly.

Baked fish along with a nice sauce is easy to make and creates a great meal for a diabetic. When you consider meat, think lean. Sirloin steak, beef tenderloin, pork loin, skinned chicken breasts or other types of poultry is very versatile and quick to prepare. Dairy, such as skim milk & low-fat cheese and nonfat yogurt may make some rich and creamy sauces. Water and calorie free waters and tea are much better than diet sodas.

Go for single ingredient products when you can, to make up your meals. Use light veggie or olive oil to cook with. Fat is fat, but these two are superior than others. Check out low caloric and good for you desserts. There are a ton of great tasting recipes out there. Watch portions, no matter what you create.

By Jenny H Jordan

People who have pre-diabetes are also searching for food plans which can move them away from the onset of full-blown diabetes. There's not a lack of reduced sugar recipes, Splenda recipes -- or any other sugar substitute, or even international diabetic-friendly recipes. A wonderful salad or sugar-free dessert can be created by anyone who knows something, or a lot, about cooking and specific recipes. The question is -- how do you weed through all of the thousands of diabetes recipes and find several that work for you?

There are many ways that blood sugar levels can be made normal, and one of those methods is by diet. Glucose meters and medicines are several ways to reduce the risks that come with having diabetes. Through judicious use of diabetic recipes, an excellent meal schedule will be varied and interesting and help diabetics get over the overindulgence which sometimes happens at holiday & other family gatherings.

A good meal plan does not mean that any person has to deprive themselves. Along the way, a person who is diabetic is able to lose weight, and lower their chances of stroke, heart disease, & other diabetes caused conditions and problems. As you learn to handle your type 2 diabetes, picking healthy foods, with a little practice & study, may become second nature. Choosing meal plans for diabetics also means learning to eat the right quantities. Just because you create sugar-free recipes, does not mean you can eat an overly large amount of them.

We've got some tips and tricks: Eat a variety of colorful fruits and veggies. Non-starchy vegetables in diabetic menus may include carrots, broccoli, spinach & others. A good dish such as whole grain spaghetti along with stir-fried vegetables is often a favorite among recipes for diabetics. Reconstituted dried beans such as pinto and kidney beans, along with lentils, add protein to any diabetic dish. There are a lot of recipes which include beans. Eat fish entrees up to 3 weekly.

Baked fish along with a nice sauce is easy to make and creates a great meal for a diabetic. When you consider meat, think lean. Sirloin steak, beef tenderloin, pork loin, skinned chicken breasts or other types of poultry is very versatile and quick to prepare. Dairy, such as skim milk & low-fat cheese and nonfat yogurt may make some rich and creamy sauces. Water and calorie free waters and tea are much better than diet sodas.

Go for single ingredient products when you can, to make up your meals. Use light veggie or olive oil to cook with. Fat is fat, but these two are superior than others. Check out low caloric and good for you desserts. There are a ton of great tasting recipes out there. Watch portions, no matter what you create.

By Djehuty Ma'at-Ra

Types Of Diabetes

There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes includes individuals dependent upon insulin to prevent ketosis (abnormal accumulation of ketones in the body as a result of a deficiency or inadequate utilization of carbohydrates). A keytone is an organic compound having the group -OH- linked to two hydrocarbon radicals.

This category (Type 1) of diabetes is also known as the insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) subclass and was previously called juvenile-onset diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes deals with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

These categories of diabetes were conveniently and strategically created by the National Diabetes Data Group of the National Institute of Health. When you see or have the word institute, you should see the connection to the word institution. When you want to perpetuate a thing, you institutionalize it. That's why the United States is full of institutes (research centers and foundations) for various degenerative diseases.

Diabetes is predicated upon lack of insulin secreted by the cells of the pancreas. Knowing this alone can help us to heal from diabetes. So, what is insulin? Insulin is a naturally occurring hormone secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas in response to increased levels of glucose in the blood. Now look at this truth hidden in the medical definition of insulin. Insulin is naturally occurring. Naturally pertains to Nature! So-called diabetics have deviated.

The following are the components to the disease called diabetes: 1. Insulin (a hormone) 2. Hormonal or endocrine system 3. Pancreas (gland, organ) 4. Digestion, 5. Digestive enzymes 6. Sugar in the blood (blood sugar level) 7. Conversion of sugar into heat and energy.

The major problem with diabetes pertains to the gland called the pancreas, which in so-called diabetics does not secrete insulin. This is a hormone secreted into the bloodstream along with digestive enzymes which regulates blood sugar levels and aids in digestion.

All internal glands that are secretory (function of secreting) in nature have a duct. That duct in so-called diabetics is clogged! Why? Because of the hardened mucus around it! The pancreatic duct is covered with dried and hardened boogers (mucus) that prevents secretion of insulin. So-called diabetics are eating things with sugar (unnatural, man-made sugar to be specific) or things that break down into sugar (i.e. complex carbohydrates). Because the pancreas is unable to secrete insulin into the bloodstream to regulate the sugar in the blood and it is also unable to convert the sugar into energy, the blood sugar levels go very high and the unconverted/unburned sugar converts into FAT. This explains the obesity factor in diabetes. What medical doctor with a college degree can or will elucidate diabetes to the degree as explained above? The word doctor derives from the Latin word docçre which means to teach.

Most medical doctors will never teach you what causes your health problem or pathology and how to fix it for fear of losing a good-paying client. Because the so-called diabetic cannot convert sugar into energy, they convert the sugar into fat causing obesity. This is linked to a nonfunctioning colon that is compacted with excessive fecal matter and waste that causes the colon to protrude, even to the point of now pressing against the already nonfunctioning pancreas. The problem is now exacerbated.

In addition, excess fat in the body greatly hampers bodily circulation, which is why so-called diabetics have poor circulation. The condition of poor circulation prevents blood, oxygen, and minerals from circulating throughout the body, mainly to the extremities (hands and feet), especially in the feet, which causes the legs of so-called diabetics to turn gangrene blue. And what does your beloved and entrusted doctor do for the poor circulation? He/she prescribes pharmaceutical grade drugs! And what do these drugs do? They make the body MORE acidic than it already is. These pharmaceutical drugs, especially the synthetic insulin these doctors prescribe, greatly inhibit circulation, even to the point of thinning the blood (i.e. the drug Coumadin) causing a STROKE!

I know what I'm talking about People because I have dealt with many so-called diabetics and when they began dealing with me, their condition got a lot better and most of them got off of drugs altogether and completely healing from diabetes in a matter of weeks. Yes, for me, it's that simple! Diabetes is easy to heal. Any disease is easy to heal when you know what the cause of the disease is.

When a so-called diabetic's circulation is cut-off to the legs and feet and the legs turn swollen blue, what does the doctor suggest for this situation? AMPUTATION! Amputate. n. To cut off (a part of the body), esp. by surgery. [Latin. Amputâre, cut around] SOURCE: American Heritage Dictionary, 4th edition

That's right! Instead of reviving the so-called diabetic's leg, the doctor will recommend amputation. Do you know why? Because amputation calls for surgery and surgery is BIG MONEY in America! This is the only reason for amputation. Doctors, most of them, don't care about "people" - God's children, who strayed and became sick (law of cause and effect). The motivation of money blinds a doctor's heart (4th Chakra, seat of love and compassion) and therefore NO allopathic doctor heals or will tell you that he/she healed (or assisted in healing) a person with diabetes or any other disease. Doctors don't heal or cure! They TREAT symptoms and MANAGE disease. That's all! Who wants to manage or treat genital herpes, AIDS, diabetes, or cancer instead of healing from it entirely?

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By Radhika Ganesan

Diabetes has become a major health threat to the whole world; indeed, the greatest increase will be contributed by India, which has already been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the country with the largest number of diabetics in the world. Diabetes is frequently not diagnosed until complications appear, and approximately one third of all people with diabetes may be undiagnosed, though diagnosed many people are not aware of their condition.

Late detection of diabetes often means that at the time of diagnosis complications have already damaging the eyes, kidneys and nerves. These complications are costly in the physical, financial and psychosocial sense. Early detection and treatment of diabetes may not only improve glycemic control, but also improves blood pressure and lipids.
Who should be screened? In general all adults should be screened at regular intervals
o Family history of diabetes (i.e., parents or siblings with diabetes)
o Overweight (Body Mass Index >25 kg/m2)
o Age >45 years
o Previously identified impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
o Hypertension (>140/90 mmHg)
o Hyperlipidemia (HDL - 250 mg/dL or both)
o History of gestational diabetes or delivery of a baby over 9 lb (4.1 kg) (ADA -Diabetes Care 2004)

What are the Screening test for Diabetes

Fasting Plasma Glucose: The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test is the standard test for diabetes. It is a simple blood test taken after eight hours of fasting. The FPG test is not always reliable, so a repeat test is recommended if the initial test suggests the presence of diabetes.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: The glucose tolerance test may be more accurate than the FPG in certain groups (e.g., women with a history of gestational diabetes). The test uses the following procedures: I) after an overnight fast Fasting Plasma Glucose test is performed. ii) After this test a person receives 75 g of glucose (100 g for pregnant women) blood samples are taken every half an hour {(fasting-30mts-60mts-90mts-120mts-(five times)} to measure the blood glucose. It not only helps in detecting diabetes but also help to detect the pre-diabetic status, Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) & Impaired Glucose
Tolerance (IGT))

Is it important to detect pre-diabetic stage? Yes! Because it is "preventable"
Criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus

Normal DIABETES

Symptoms of diabetes + Random plasma glucose o Blood pressure check up, regular at every visit for Hypertension (High blood pressure) - should be 40
o An electrocardiogram (ECG), that provides information about the status of heart
o Chest X ray, information about the lungs and shape of the heart and vascular system (aorta and blood vessels)
o Carotid Intima-media Thickness (IMT), marker of early atherosclerosis

Diabetic Nephropathy (Kidney Damage): Person with diabetes are several times more prone to kidney disease than the general population. The earliest manifestation of kidney damage is microalbuminuria, (tiny amounts of protein called albumin are found in the urine). Symptoms include Protein in the urine, High blood pressure, burning during urination, frequent urination, puffiness and swelling around the eyes, hand & feet, excessive itching, nausea, vomiting & weakness.

About 20% of type 2 patients show evidence of microalbuminuria upon diagnosis of diabetes, however, only a small percentage of type-2 diabetics eventually develops kidney disease. Microalbuminuria typically shows up in type 2 diabetics who have high blood pressure. Normal: 15yrs will develop diabetic retinopathy in their lifetime.
Who are more prone to Diabetic retinopathy? : Uncontrolled blood sugar, longstanding diabetes, Hypertension with diabetes & Genetic predisposition.

What are the stages of retinopathy? : Mild non proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), Moderate-non proliferative diabetic retinopathy, severe retinopathy, Maculopathy and Proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Treatment: Retinopathy can be treated through laser photocoagulation. Screening test: Patients with diabetes should have an initial dilated and comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist right from the day of diagnosis of diabetes and every year thereafter. Early detection, timely treatment, appropriate screening and care reduce the risk of vision loss & 90% of diabetes related blindness.

All patients should be regularly screened for risk factors and encouraged at each health care visit to pursue a healthy lifestyle that includes a healthy diet, adequate exercise, weight control and stress reduction. 'Try for good control to be sure, but don't try for perfection. Perfection lasts for a moment, and diabetes lasts a lifetime'. The main theme is to be focus on to 'live a Healthy Life Despite Diabetes'.

The five main diabetic complications!

As with any other disease, you may want as much as possible to learn about diabetes and the complications of diabetes. The more knowledge you have, the easier it will be overcome and manage diabetes.

Acquiring the Knowledge of diabetes is also useful for those do not suffer from diabetes because this knowledge could be used to prevent the onset of adult diabetes and hopefully avoid this chronic disease altogether.

In addition to knowledge of diabetes such as the diabetes symptoms, diagnosis of diabetes, causes and treatment of diabetes, it is also important to know about all the related diabetic complications. All this knowledge will help you prepare - emotionally and physically - with the possibilities of coping with having not only with your diabetes, but also with other complications that are related to it as well and the lifestyle changes that is necessary to deal with it effectively.

Some factors such as heredity, age and ethnicity can have an influence on people who are prone to diabetes. But regardless of the risk factors associated with diabetes the complications of diabetes will be the same. Below are some of the diabetic complications that people need to be aware susceptible to diabetes are:

DIABETIC NEUROPATHY - If you suffer from diabetes then there is an increased risk of suffering from severe diabetic complications of the nerves. Damage of the nerves in the body will cause poor circulation in the body especially the extremities like the hands and legs, and fingers and toes. Smoking or drinking alcohol only exuberate the problem so limiting these would be a good idea.

HEART DISEASE and STROKE - According to experts, people with diabetes have a much greater risk of developing coronary heart disease, and angina compared to those without diabetes. In fact, these complications are the leading cause of death in diabetics around the world.

Diabetics are prone to heart diseases and stroke because of deposits of fat deposits in the arteries and hardness of the arteries caused by the extra glucose in the blood. This will cause high blood pressure or hypertension to develop.

DIABETIC EYE DISEASE - people who suffer from diabetes have a higher instance of suffering from diabetic eye problems as a result their diabetes. These problems of the diabetic eye may lead to diabetic retinopathy, cataract, glaucoma, and optic nerve damage. If not treated immediately they could lead to irreversible damage of the eyes or even blindness.

DIABETIC KIDNEY DISEASE - Kidney disease is also a very common complication of diabetes, because the parts of the kidneys that filter the blood damage because of high glucose levels. The kidneys will eventually be damaged as a result of being over worked and will be unable get rid of toxic by-product from the blood
This diabetic kidney disease can be avoided by keeping blood sugar levels under control by following your diabetic diets closely and do regular physical activity to keep the blood sugar in check. Other useful things that you could do include: stop smoking and drinking alcohol.

GASTROPARESIS - This is somewhat related to diabetic nerve damage. The nerves in the stomach help the stomach to contract and relax thus allowing the food to pass down into the intestine. When these nerves are damage the food remains in the stomach for long periods causing bacteria to develop. The improper functioning of the stomach also cause the diabetic to struggle in controlling his or her blood glucose level because the organ that convert the food we eat into carbs cannot be predicted. Approximately 20-30 percent of diabetics with type 1 diabetes are vulnerable to suffer gastroparesis because the vagus nerve, which keeps the food moving through the digestive tract are damaged. While people can get type 2 diabetes only suffer from gastroparesis less frequently and only in the advance stages of diabetes.

By Jenny H Jordan

People who have pre-diabetes are also searching for food plans which can move them away from the onset of full-blown diabetes. There's not a lack of reduced sugar recipes, Splenda recipes -- or any other sugar substitute, or even international diabetic-friendly recipes. A wonderful salad or sugar-free dessert can be created by anyone who knows something, or a lot, about cooking and specific recipes. The question is -- how do you weed through all of the thousands of diabetes recipes and find several that work for you?

There are many ways that blood sugar levels can be made normal, and one of those methods is by diet. Glucose meters and medicines are several ways to reduce the risks that come with having diabetes. Through judicious use of diabetic recipes, an excellent meal schedule will be varied and interesting and help diabetics get over the overindulgence which sometimes happens at holiday & other family gatherings.

A good meal plan does not mean that any person has to deprive themselves. Along the way, a person who is diabetic is able to lose weight, and lower their chances of stroke, heart disease, & other diabetes caused conditions and problems. As you learn to handle your type 2 diabetes, picking healthy foods, with a little practice & study, may become second nature. Choosing meal plans for diabetics also means learning to eat the right quantities. Just because you create sugar-free recipes, does not mean you can eat an overly large amount of them.

We've got some tips and tricks: Eat a variety of colorful fruits and veggies. Non-starchy vegetables in diabetic menus may include carrots, broccoli, spinach & others. A good dish such as whole grain spaghetti along with stir-fried vegetables is often a favorite among recipes for diabetics. Reconstituted dried beans such as pinto and kidney beans, along with lentils, add protein to any diabetic dish. There are a lot of recipes which include beans. Eat fish entrees up to 3 weekly.

Baked fish along with a nice sauce is easy to make and creates a great meal for a diabetic. When you consider meat, think lean. Sirloin steak, beef tenderloin, pork loin, skinned chicken breasts or other types of poultry is very versatile and quick to prepare. Dairy, such as skim milk & low-fat cheese and nonfat yogurt may make some rich and creamy sauces. Water and calorie free waters and tea are much better than diet sodas.

Go for single ingredient products when you can, to make up your meals. Use light veggie or olive oil to cook with. Fat is fat, but these two are superior than others. Check out low caloric and good for you desserts. There are a ton of great tasting recipes out there. Watch portions, no matter what you create.

Diabetes is a disease that results from too much sugar (glucose) in the blood, which means that your body does not have sufficient insulin available to convert food into energy. Insulin is a hormone that helps sugar enter the body's cells and maintains the level of sugar in the blood.

The main concern while monitoring diabetes is to watch that the sugar level does not cross the normal range. This means that one requires cutting down on many types of food and consuming regularly those foods, which are fine at regulating diabetes.

People with diabetes should try to manage a healthy weight and consume a diabetic food that is:

1. Low in fat quantity
2. Low in sugar quantity
3. Low in salt quantity
4. High in fruit and vegetables
5. High in starchy carbohydrate foods, such as bread, chapatti, rice.

There is no such diabetic food that diabetes patients should never eat. In addition, there is no requirement to cut out all sugar. But, people with diabetes should aim and eat only small amounts of foods that are high in sugar, fat.

What foods to eat in Diabetes?

1. People with Diabetes must take lots of fruits and vegetables in which fiber content is very high. Such type of food lessens the need for insulin, the reason being it releases energy into the body cells slowly. A high fiber diet means more chromium, which is very cooperative in the treatment of diabetes.
2. As for vegetables, onion, garlic, ginger, radish, spinach, kale, cucumber, carrot, tomato, cabbage and cucumber are outstanding in the diabetes treatment. Mooing, kidney beans which have been sprouted, and unripe banana which is cooked, are also advisable.
3. Fenugreek seeds which have been soaked in water are almost fine for diabetic patients and should be included in diabetic food plan.
4. In fruits diet, you can take guava, Indian blackberry (also called jamun), fig, kiwi fruit, apples, citrus fruits and pomegranate juice. As, fruit juice is high in fructose (fruit sugar) and can cause blood sugar levels to rise rapidly, it’s excellent for diabetics to drink fruit juice with a meal and avoid having more than one small glass a day.
5. Substitute white sugar with palm sugar, dates and honey, if you desire to have something sweet.
6. Fats like olive oil and peanut oil should be included in diabetes food plan.
7. Eat non-fat dairy foodstuffs such as skim milk, non-fat yogurt and non-fat cheese, plain yoghurt.
8. Some herbs and vegetables are specially prescribed for diabetes, like Bitter Gourd and bitter melon juice.

What to avoid?

1. Processed foods, white sugar, white flour and junk food, must be completely avoided. Avoid sweets, glucose, fruit sugar, cakes, ice cream, chocolates and soft drinks.
2. Avoid smoking and alcohol as far as achievable.
3. Try to give up from sweets, ice-creams and chocolates, including the so-called sugar-free kinds.
4. Foods made from white flour, rye, corn, polished rice, bread, cakes, biscuits, pies.
5. Cottage cheese
6. Avoid commercially package foods such as fast foods, chips, ready-to-eat foods, snack foods and "health foods."

Some useful tips you should remember while eating out

• You should give preference to water and calorie-free "diet" drinks instead of regular soda, fruit mock tails, sweet tea and sugar-sweetened drinks
• You must avoid creamy toppings like mayonnaise as far as possible.
• Try to eat high-fat topping salads, dressings, cheeses, and croutons.
• Choose a thin-crust pizza with more vegetable toppings but limit yourself to one or two slices. Left the extra cheese, which add calories, fat, and sodium.
• Finish your meal with sugar-free, fat-free frozen simple yogurt or a little cone of fat-free yogurt.

Diabetes Foods and Nutritional Requirements for Diabetics
Diet plays an important role in managing diabetes. This article will help you know about the diabetes foods and nutritional requirements for diabetics.

Diabetes Foods
• Foods that can be eaten as much as one wants – Green leafy vegetables, fruits except banana, lemon; clear soups, onion, salads, mint, spices, plain coffee or tea, skimmed and butter milk.
• Foods that can be eaten in moderation – Fats, meat, egg, cereals and pulses
• Foods to be avoided – Simple sugars (glucose, syrup, sweets and honey), dried fruits, cake, fried foods, candy, alcohol and nuts


Nutritional Requirements for Diabetics

• Carbohydrates – High carbohydrate and high fiber diet improve insulin binding and increase in monocyte insulin receptor binding. High carbohydrate diet is likely to elevate serum triglyceride levels (endogenous cholesterol). Hence carbohydrate is maintained to about 50% of total calories. Most carbohydrates should be in form of polysaccharides such as bread, cereals, beans, etc. Rapidly absorbed mono and disaccharides such as sweets, chocolates and sweetened drink should be avoided.
• Proteins – A diet high in protein is good for the health of diabetics because it supplies the essential amino acids needed for tissue repair. In patients with NIDDM, consumption of protein along with carbohydrate will lower the blood glucose concentration due to amino acid stimulation of insulin secretion; this help to compensate for the defect in glucose mediated insulin secretion seen in so many of these patients. Protein also promotes satiety and helps both types of diabetic patients to adhere to the carbohydrate allowance.
• Fats – Low fat diet increases insulin binding and also reduces LDL and VLDL levels and lowers the incidence of atherosclerosis which is more common in diabetics. Fat content in the diet should be 15-25% of total calories and higher in polyunsaturated fatty acids.
• Dietary Fiber – Diets high in carbohydrate and fiber improve glucose metabolism without increasing insulin secretion. They lower fasting serum and peripheral insulin concentrations in response to oral glucose administration in both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. Fenugreek seeds which contain high fiber are useful to diabetics.
• Artificial Sweeteners - High content of sugar consumption is undesirable for diabetics and for obese individuals. Non-caloric and high intense sweeteners are available as sugar substitute. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of people in the U.S. alone. A simplified definition of diabetes is when your body does not produce enough insulin to properly use the right kind of sugar into your bloodstream. This can have devastating effects on the body, as the cells do not get all of the fuel they need for energy and growth. While all of the causes of diabetes are not fully understood, eating raw foods helps to reduce some of the currently known risk factors. Therefore, it makes sense to choose a diet of raw foods whether you have been diagnosed or not.

Dietary needs of diabetics
Diabetics still require the same levels of nutrition as everyone else, maybe even more so. Nutrition is one of the most important elements for controlling diabetes properly. As you will see, following a raw food menu will fit in with diabetic nutritional recommendations. Here are some basic tips on eating right.

Choose a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. (Diabetics may need to limit starchy vegetables)

• Avoid processed grains such as white flour, and white rice.
• Opt for whole grains instead.
• Add lentils and beans (like pinto, garbanzo, or kidney beans) to your diet.
• Eat fish a few times a week.
• Consume non-fat dairy products.
• Reduce high-calorie snacks and like cake, cookies, chips, and ice cream.

Raw foods for diabetes
Most of these recommendations fit in well with the raw food lifestyle. The main difference is that the food would not be cooked, as raw foodists eat raw, uncooked, unprocessed and organic food. Fish and dairy products may or may not be a part of your raw foods diet. People that eat raw foods are already reducing their risk for disease, including diabetes.

If you have diabetes and are thinking about a raw foods program, you can see how it is an ideal choice. A raw food diet helps those with diabetes by sticking to the current dietary guidelines. The reason raw foodists do eat uncooked food is because all of the naturally occurring enzymes. These enzymes promote optimum health and digestion. Diabetes is a serious disease, so be sure to check with doctor before switching to raw foods. Take some time to explain what the raw foods diet is all about. Be sure to continue monitoring your blood sugar level according to your doctor’s instructions. Some diabetics eating raw foods have seen remarkable improvements in their condition.

Eat to Beat Diabetes
When it comes to maintaining good blood sugar levels, a healthy diet is vital. People with diabetes have to take extra care to ensure their diet is properly balanced with their insulin and oral medications.

The right meal plan will help any diabetic improve blood glucose levels, blood pressure and cholesterol numbers.
All diabetics must control their refined carbohydrate intake. These types of carbohydrates increase blood glucose levels. While some promote health, others when eaten often and in large quantities, may increase the risk for diabetes.

Carbohydrates come from a wide array of foods including fruit, vegetables, beans, milk, popcorn, potatoes, cookies, spaghetti and corn. The most common and abundant ones refined in are sugars, fibers and starches. It is advised diabetics avoid white bread, rice and pasta, along with foods containing unnaturally added sugars.

The body will convert all types of refined carbohydrates into glucose. Eating extra servings of rice, pasta and bread will make blood sugar rise.

Diabetics should consume carbohydrate-rich foods close to their natural form. These items have greater vital nutrient density. Whenever possible, replace highly processed grains, cereals and sugars with natural whole-grain products.

Eating complex carbohydrates rich in fiber significantly lower blood sugar levels. It is capable of slowing down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates and increasing the sensitivity of tissues to insulin, thereby preventing rises in blood sugar.

It is recommended diabetics eat 13 fiber-rich servings of fruits, veggies, beans and grains daily. Soluble-fiber rich foods include orange and grapefruit segments, prunes, cantaloupes, papayas, raisins, lima beans, zucchini, oatmeal, oat bran and granola. Other foods high in soluble fiber include barley, peas and strawberries.

The glycemic index system, or GI, is a good guideline for diabetics to follow.
Invented in the early 1980s by University of Toronto researchers, the glycemic index ranks carbohydrate foods by their effects on blood sugar levels.

The GI assigns carbohydrate-containing foods a number based on how they affect blood sugars. The longer the body has to break an item down into glucose, the slower the rise in blood-sugar levels, and the lower the GI. Adding a half a teaspoon of cinnamon to any meal can stabilize blood sugar swings.

Many diabetics also supplement with vitamins, herbs and medicinal teas. Incorporating natural ginseng into a diet can produce positive affects. This herb, which is recognized throughout China to have healing properties, has been known to help improve fasting blood glucose levels and increase insulin secretion.

The easiest method to control diabetes is through proper diet. An eating plan high in fiber and low in refined carbohydrates will ensure the best strategy to beat the disease.

Diabetes is a disease that results from too much sugar (glucose) in the blood, which means that your body does not have sufficient insulin available to convert food into energy. Insulin is a hormone that helps sugar enter the body's cells and maintains the level of sugar in the blood.

The main concern while monitoring diabetes is to watch that the sugar level does not cross the normal range. This means that one requires cutting down on many types of food and consuming regularly those foods, which are fine at regulating diabetes.

People with diabetes should try to manage a healthy weight and consume a diabetic food that is:
1) Low in fat quantity
2) Low in sugar quantity
3) Low in salt quantity
4) High in fruit and vegetables
5) High in starchy carbohydrate foods, such as bread, chapatti, rice.

There is no such diabetic food that diabetes patients should never eat. In addition, there is no requirement to cut out all sugar. But, people with diabetes should aim and eat only small amounts of foods that are high in sugar, fat.

What foods to eat in Diabetes?
1) People with Diabetes must take lots of fruits and vegetables in which fiber content is very high. Such type of food lessens the need for insulin, the reason being it releases energy into the body cells slowly. A high fiber diet means more chromium, which is very cooperative in the treatment of diabetes.
2) As for vegetables, onion, garlic, ginger, radish, spinach, kale, cucumber, carrot, tomato, cabbage and cucumber are outstanding in the diabetes treatment. Moony, kidney beans which have been sprouted, and unripe banana which is cooked, are also advisable.
3) Fenugreek seeds which have been soaked in water are almost fine for diabetic patients and should be included in diabetic food plan.
4) In fruits diet, you can take guava, Indian blackberry (also called jaunt), fig, kiwi fruit, apples, citrus fruits and pomegranate juice. As, fruit juice is high in fructose (fruit sugar) and can cause blood sugar levels to rise rapidly, it’s excellent for diabetics to drink fruit juice with a meal and avoid having more than one small glass a day.
5) Substitute white sugar with palm sugar, dates and honey, if you desire to have something sweet.
6) Fats like olive oil and peanut oil should be included in diabetes food plan.
10) Eat non-fat dairy foodstuffs such as skim milk, non-fat yogurt and non-fat cheese, plain yoghurt.
11) Some herbs and vegetables are specially prescribed for diabetes, like Bitter Gourd and bitter melon juice.

What to avoid?
1) Processed foods, white sugar, white flour and junk food, must be completely avoided. Avoid sweets, glucose, fruit sugar, cakes, ice cream, chocolates and soft drinks.
2) Avoid smoking and alcohol as far as achievable.
3) Try to give up from sweets, ice-creams and chocolates, including the so-called sugar-free kinds.
4) Foods made from white flour, rye, corn, polished rice, bread, cakes, biscuits, pies.
5) Cottage cheese
6) Avoid commercially package foods such as fast foods, chips, ready-to-eat foods, snack foods and "health foods."

Some useful tips you should remember while eating out
• You should give preference to water and calorie-free "diet" drinks instead of regular soda, fruit mock tails, sweet tea and sugar-sweetened drinks
• You must avoid creamy toppings like mayonnaise as far as possible.
• Try to eat high-fat topping salads, dressings, cheeses, and croutons.
• Choose a thin-crust pizza with more vegetable toppings but limit yourself to one or two slices. Left the extra cheese, which add calories, fat, and sodium.
• Finish your meal with sugar-free, fat-free frozen simple yogurt or a little cone of fat-free yogurt.

Diabetes Foods and Nutritional Requirements for Diabetics
Diet plays an important role in managing diabetes. This article will help you know about the diabetes foods and nutritional requirements for diabetics.

Diabetes Foods
Foods that can be eaten as much as one wants – Green leafy vegetables, fruits except banana, lemon; clear soups, onion, salads, mint, spices, plain coffee or tea, skimmed and butter milk
Foods that can be eaten in moderation – Fats, meat, egg, cereals and pulses
Foods to be avoided – Simple sugars (glucose, syrup, sweets and honey), dried fruits, cake, fried foods, candy, alcohol and nuts

Nutritional Requirements for Diabetics
Carbohydrates – High carbohydrate and high fiber diet improve insulin binding and increase in monocyte insulin receptor binding. High carbohydrate diet is likely to elevate serum triglyceride levels (endogenous cholesterol). Hence carbohydrate is maintained to about 50% of total calories. Most carbohydrates should be in form of polysaccharides such as bread, cereals, beans, etc. Rapidly absorbed mono and disaccharides such as sweets, chocolates and sweetened drink should be avoided.

Proteins – A diet high in protein is good for the health of diabetics because it supplies the essential amino acids needed for tissue repair. In patients with NIDDM, consumption of protein along with carbohydrate will lower the blood glucose concentration due to amino acid stimulation of insulin secretion; this help to compensate for the defect in glucose mediated insulin secretion seen in so many of these patients. Protein also promotes satiety and helps both types of diabetic patients to adhere to the carbohydrate allowance.

Fats – Low fat diet increases insulin binding and also reduces LDL and VLDL levels and lowers the incidence of atherosclerosis which is more common in diabetics. Fat content in the diet should be 15-25% of total calories and higher in polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Dietary Fiber – Diets high in carbohydrate and fiber improve glucose metabolism without increasing insulin secretion. They lower fasting serum and peripheral insulin concentrations in response to oral glucose administration in both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. Fenugreek seeds which contain high fiber are useful to diabetics.

Artificial Sweeteners - High content of sugar consumption is undesirable for diabetics and for obese individuals. Non-caloric and high intense sweeteners are available as sugar substitute. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.