By Meegan Follock | www.quora.com
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Nutrition is a critical part of diabetes care. Balancing the right amount of carbohydrates, fat, protein along with fibre, vitamins and minerals helps us to maintain a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Reference: How To Normalize Type 2 Diabetes In 3 Weeks
Getting the balance right can help the body to stay in prime condition, but what is the right balance of nutrients? People have been arguing over the ideal mix for generations and the discussion still rages today.
For people with diabetes, there is at least one extra consideration for our nutritional needs and that is the question of how our blood sugar levels will respond to different diets.
The macronutrients referred to in human diets are the three food groups that provide us with energy, namely: carbohydrates, fat and protein. The three major nutrients are more than simply providers of fuel for our bodies.
Fats and protein are both vital for building cells and helping the cells carry out their duties. Each of the macronutrients are versatile allowing the body to break them down into a number of uses.
Last but not least, theres also fibre which helps to move food through our digestive system, can help to delay the absorption of carbohydrate and also help us to feel full.
Is type 2 diabetes predominatly self-inflicted?
By Lynn Alessio, 4th generation diabetic
In many cases yes; but not all. My maternal great grandmother was a type II diabetic as was her daughter, my grandmother. As is her daughter, my mother. I was being monitored from my early 30’s by my doctor and despite my best efforts in staying “underweight” and eating low carb….. I developed it as well by my mid 40’s.
All these women regardless of amount of weight (normal, a little overweight and one very overweight-non morbidly obese) have a lousy abdominal feature of carrying any and almost all excess fat in the abdominal cavity. I have a great winning rate at carnival guess your weight games.
They are always WAY UNDER my true weight as I am slender everywhere except the “gut”. No exercise ( I work out 3x a week, two with licensed experienced trainers) ever fully gets the tummy firm and flat. I even spoke with a plastic surgeon about surgery to remove fat and tighten the muscle wall.
He felt it would get rid of the physical belly poof, but that most likely the fat which surrounds my abdominal organs would at some point return unless I was extreme in my weight control. Life is too short to deny oneself the pleasure of any small occasional indulgences. Hence I am of reasonable, not malnourished or anorexic weight, work out reasonably, and take oral medications to keep my A1C in check (currently running at a happy 5.9)
Think of insulin like money in a bank account. The intrinsic design of our bodies has a built in affinity for sweets. This is intended for seeking out important nourishment from sweet foods found in nature, like fruit. In modern times, we have “short-circuited” this process with junk foods saturated in carbohydrates and refined sugar.
And yes, the likes of Dunkin Doughnuts can eventually drain your “funds of insulin” in your “over-taxed” pancreas bank account. Hence the scourge of diabetes. There are various other factors that affect this problem, insulin resistance being just one of many.
The good news is that a well controlled diabetic, who effectively manages his or her diet, monitors blood glucose levels, exercises and sees their MD often, has a longer life expectancy than the general population. So, there you have it. Your work on the road ahead is cut out for you.
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