Diabetes 1, also known as Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin, a hormone needed to remove glucose, a type of sugar… from your bloodstream and move it into your cells where it can be used for energy. This means that any foods that a Diabetes 1 patient consumes that break down into sugar will stay in your bloodstream where it can cause many health conditions. Yes, we’re talking about carbohydrates. It’s not just added sugar Type 1 Diabetes patients need to be concerned about, it’s all carbohydrates, because they break down into glucose. My definition of carbohydrates is ….ANY food that is not a protein, fat, oil, nut or butter. Since Type 1 Diabetes cannot be controlled by diet alone, in most cases Type 1 diabetes patients take insulin. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could reduce the amount of insulin you need and weren’t facing the real possibility of a lifetime of increased dosages….because the insulin is no longer as effective as it once was? The diet recommended by the American Diabetes Assoc. will make sure of that path for a Diabetes 1 patient ….and it does not prevent the development of heart disease. But, if a Type 1 Diabetes patient ignores the American Diabetes Associations recommendations, your health will be dramatically different and your need for insulin will not necessarily increase, if fact, it may decrease. The improper advice recommended by the American Diabetes Association revolves around a Diabetes 1 patient eating only 4-6 ounces of animal protein each day and minimal fat intake that includes using low fat or non fat dairy products. With so few calories coming from meat and fats, that leaves you with only one option. To make up the lack of calories , they will need to come from….you guessed it….carbohydrates….and what do carbs do? They break down into sugar! Remember our definition: Anything that is not a protein, fat, oil, nut or butter is a carbohydrate and contains glucose, a type of sugar. Yes, the American Diabetes Association rightly suggests you eat whole grains and complex starchier carbohydrates…which break down into sugar more slowly, but not slowly enough to help make a difference with your need for insulin. The key to maintaining healthier blood sugar levels is to lower…I didn’t say eliminate, I said lower the amount of carbohydrates in your diet. Yes, I’m talking about Dr. Atkin’s, The Zone Diet, The South Beach Diet, Suzanne Sommers, or a basic Mediterranean diet because in those countries, blood sugar problems and heart disease are less frequent than in the US. You don’t necessarily need to be as drastic as Dr. Atkins or completely follow the advice of any of these books, just cut back on your carbs. You don’t need a diet plan, recipes or exact details about what foods you should eat. It’s really this simple, just cut back on the carbohydrates you’re eating and check your blood sugar with a glucose monitor a couple times each day. If a Diabetes 1 patient has weight to loose, they’ll need to cut back on carbohydrates more than someone who doesn’t need to lose weight and only as long as they are trying to lose the weight. It’s that simple. If you consistently find your blood sugar levels to be in the range you are looking for, with the help of your physician, you can try to cut back on your insulin and see if you can continue to control the blood sugar levels. This is how a Type 1 Diabetes patient figures out exactly what dosage they need. The advice the American Diabetes Association suggests about eliminating fats is because there is a misplaced emphasis that fats cause heart disease….they don’t. There has never been a study done that has proven that a high fat, low carb diet caused heart disease. Only a high fat, high carb diet causes heart disease. All studies about fats linked to heart disease did not take into account the amount of carbohydrates eaten by the participants because who would ever think that apples, whole wheat breads, potatoes or those cute little Bugs Bunny carrots could in any way be linked to heart disease. Well, if you eat too many carbohydrates they can….. So, if a Diabetes patient follows the American Diabetes Association advice of limited animal protein and low fat, they will eat more carbs and balancing your blood sugar will require higher doses of insulin. Because a high carb diet contributes to heart disease by creating an inflammatory response within the body and arteries, heart disease is on your horizon and then you will soon be taking medications for it on top of your insulin. And what is your downside risk of a Diabetes 1 patient following my advice? By monitoring your blood sugar and keeping track of your readings as you reduce the amount of carbs you are eating each day you can determine your own optimal level of carbohydrates based on those readings. If you’re readings are normal but you want to lose weight and you aren’t …cut your carbs even further. Your blood sugar can be controlled more effectively on a low carb diet. For video explanations: Click here to view a video about Type 1 Diabetes and diet
Click here to view a video about Type 2 Diabetes and diet
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