Diabetic Diet for the Diabetics

A diabetic diet is a special diet made to people who are “diabetic”. It is important to understand what the disease called “Diabetes” means, and what goes on in the body of the person affected, to in turn, fully understand what diet should be followed, and why should these be strictly put into practice.

In medical terms, this disease is called “Diabetes Mellitus“. It is a metabolic disorder wherein our pancreas are affected. Pancreas secretes insulin, and insulin regulates the blood glucose or the “sugar levels” in our blood. Should there be an ineffective use of, or more frequently a decrease in the supply of this hormone “insulin”, a person may have high sugar levels, or may be called  a “diabetic”. There are two types of this condition, the Type I and Type II. The first type is present at birth or at a juvenile age, and the second one, the most common is present usually in late adults and elderlies. Since both of them have problems with the insulin levels and its effectiveness, their blood is said to be “sweet”, or has an abnormally high glucose levels. To treat these conditions, drugs that lower blood sugar or insulin injections may be recommended. Diabetic diet is strictly advised, to help decrease the sugar being absorbed, and then transferred into the bloodstream.



Diabetic diet is advised, as having a balanced nutritional plan is crucial to controlling the blood sugar increase, and its complications in different parts of the body. Basically, three meals and two snacks should be followed everyday. Meaning to say, take three full meals, and two small servings of snacks as one’s daily eating habits. Never skip a meal, more especiall y to those who are taking maintenance drugs, and/or insulin injections. With regards to the food to be avoided, the most basic is to avoid food that are rich in simple sugars such as sweetened food like ice cream, jams, cakes and jellies. It should be practiced to avoid adding profuse amount of sugar in coffee, cereals, milk, and other juice drinks, fruit shakes or beverages. A dietician oftentimes will provide a meal plan specifically designed for diabetics. As has been said, this diet should become the habitual eating manner. Be consistent with the amount, the distribution of nutrients and with the avoidance of the food listed in the diet plan. It is also advised to limit the intake of food rich in salt or those with “Sodium”,  food rich in saturated fats, as well as cholesterol.  Examples are the condiments that we use, fish sauce, soy sauce, table salt, “vetsin”, fatty portions of pork, beef and chicken, liver, brain, as well as seafoods like oysters.

Although controlling sugar through following the diabetic diet is not the only and may not be the best solution for these two types of diabetes, these are helpful area of the overall regimen of a person who wants to successfully combat one of the disability causing and leading lifestyle diseases called Diabetes.