A diabetic diet can not only help lessen the effects of diabetes, but in some cases can reverse the disease. Here is more on this type of diet which cuts fat and carbohydrates.
Both types of diabetes can benefit from the diabetic diet. Type I, called juvenile diabetes, is often diagnosed in children while type II usually starts in adulthood and is more common. Type I diabetics suffer because their bodies don’t produce insulin, while Type II diabetics suffer because their cells don’t absorb insulin. It is type II diabetes that can be reduced by a diabetic diet, although type I also responds well to the diet.
In general the diabetic diet is geared towards attaining ideal body weight for controlling and managing diabetes. There is a simple formula for calculating the estimated ideal bodyweight for any person. In women add five pounds to 100 for every inch above five feet, and subtract five pounds from 100 for every inch under five feet. For example a 5’2″ woman would ideally weigh 110 pounds. Men add 6 pounds to 106 for every inch over 5 feet tall. A 5’11″ man would ideally weigh 172 pounds.
Many people have different opinions on the perfect diabetic diet, however some general elements are in common. For type I diabetics, the ideal diet includes about 16 calories per pound. As an example, someone who weighs 170 pounds would eat 2720 calories daily. Type II diabetics eat about 1500 calories per day to lose weight, then differing amounts of calories to maintain ideal weight.
Carbohydrates account for about 50% of the calories consumed in a diabetic diet. Some argue that less carbohydrates are better, but there are advantages to cutting down the fat. People who avoid saturated fats, even if they take in overall more mono and poly unsaturated fats, also do well.
