Eating healthily is an important part of managing diabetes
Diet & Diabetes
A balanced
diet contains:
Carbohydrates
- Protein
- Fats
- Minerals
- Vitamins
The most important nutrient in managing diabetes
CARBOHYDRATES
Carbs are the only nutrients that can have an impact on your blood sugar
The food we take contains carbohydrates in various forms (Poly-saccharides, Di-saccharides and mono-saccharides).
In the intestines, the complex sugars are digested with the help of enzymes into simple sugars.
All simple sugars are then converted into glucose, the absorbable form of carbohydrates.
This glucose is absorbed & enters the blood stream, causing a rise in blood glucose levels.
It is therefore very important to consider the amount of carbs that you eat.
Carbs are of 3 types
STARCH
SUGAR
FIBER
Not all foods contain carbohydrates
Some types of food products are free from carbohydrates, including the following:
Proteins: meat, poultry, eggs, fish, cheese
Fats: avocado, nuts, seeds, oils, butter, margarine, mayonnaise
Sugar-free items: sugar-free gum, sugar-free gelatin
Non-starchy vegetables contain very less carbs carrot, tomato, lettuce, green beans, summer squash