Simple Diet Plans

Posted on November 08, 2011 by Admin
Simple Diet Plans

Simple Diet Plans

According to the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) publication of the 2007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 23.6 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, and an additional 57 million people are in a pre-diabetes state. Individuals with Type I, Type II, Gestational, or pre-diabetes can benefit from a diabetic diet, as well as non-diabetic individuals wishing to limit their sugar intake and follow a more balanced meal plan.

A diabetic diet plan is not a diet in the conventional, commercial use of the term which implies weight loss, but is an overall eating plan that includes balance and healthy food choices. Individuals with diabetes have difficulty metabolizing sugar, or blood glucose. Glucose is found in most of the foods we eat, and is not limited to refined sugar. Carbohydrates, fats, and the sugar found in milk (lactose) and fruit (fructose), all affect blood glucose levels, so it is important for diabetics to understand that blood glucose levels must be closely monitored even if refined sugar is not consumed.

Complex Carbohydrates Versus Simple Carbohydrates in the Diabetic Diet

Carbohydrates are found in three main types of food: starch, sugar, and fiber. Simple carbohydrates are easily broken down by the body and are a source of quick energy that is often followed by what is commonly refer to as a sugar crash. Simple carbohydrates are found in refined sugar, fruit, honey, and white flour. Simple carbohydrates cause spikes in blood glucose that can make diabetes more difficult to manage, so foods containing complex carbohydrates should be consumed instead when possible. However, the total amount of carbohydrate consumed is more important than the type of carbohydrate consumed.