Diet Plan for Diabetes — What to Eat and Avoid With Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus, also referred to as diabetes, is a group of diseases that occurs when the body's blood glucose levels are too high. Blood glucose, commonly known as blood sugar, comes from the food we eat and is the primary source of energy in the body. Insulin, secreted by the pancreas, facilitates the sugar from the blood to get into your cells, to be stored or used as energy. For someone with diabetes, their body cannot produce sufficient insulin or can't use it effectively. If the diabetes is left untreated, it can result in permanent damage to your kidneys, nerves, eyes, and other organs.

Symptoms

Symptoms of diabetes can be triggered by rising blood sugar levels.

General Symptoms

Given below are some of the symptoms of diabetes:

• Extreme fatigue
• Weight loss
• Increased hunger
• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Sores that do not heal
• Blurry vision

Symptoms in Men

Along with the general symptoms, men with diabetes may suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED), poor muscle strength, and decreased sex drive.

Symptoms in Women

Women living with diabetes can experience symptoms such as dry, itchy skin, yeast infections, and UTIs.

Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms

Given below are the symptoms for Type 1 diabetes:

• Weight loss
• Tiredness
• Extreme hunger
• Blurry vision
• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination

Type 1 diabetes may also result in mood changes in some people.

Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes may include the following:

• Tiredness
• Increased urination
• Increased hunger
• Sores that are slow to heal
• Increased thirst
• Blurry vision

In some cases, it may also result in recurring infections as higher glucose levels make it difficult for the body to heal.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes in women does not cause any symptoms. The only way to detect it is during a routine blood sugar test or oral glucose tolerance test that is mostly undertaken between the 24th and 28th weeks of gestation.

In some cases, women with this condition will also experience frequent urination or increased thirst.

Causes

Different causes are linked to different types of diabetes. 

Type 1 Diabetes

Doctors are uncertain what causes type 1 diabetes. For some reason, the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Genes also play a significant role in some people. IN some cases, a virus triggers the immune system attack.

Type 2 Diabetes

This type of diabetes stems from a blend of genetics and lifestyle factors. Obesity increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Carrying additional weight, particularly in your belly, makes your cells more defiant to the effects of insulin on your blood sugar.

In some cases, people may even get it hereditarily. Family members share certain genes that make them more likely to develop this condition and to be overweight.

Gestational Diabetes

This condition stems from hormonal changes during pregnancy. The placenta releases hormones that make a pregnant woman’s cells less sensitive to the effects of insulin, thereby resulting in high blood sugar during pregnancy.

Women who are obese or who gain too much weight during their pregnancy have more chances of developing gestational diabetes.

Types

Diabetes can be of different types:

• Type 1 Diabetes: In individuals with this type of diabetes, the immune system makes it impossible for the pancreas to generate insulin by attacking and destroying the cells. Around 10% of individuals have this type of diabetes.
• Type 2 Diabetes: This diabetes type occurs when the body becomes opposed to insulin, and sugar starts building up in your blood.
• Prediabetes: Prediabetes, also known as Borderline Diabetes, occurs when the body's blood sugar levels are higher than usual, but isn't enough to diagnose type 2 diabetes.
• Gestational Diabetes: It occurs during pregnancy when the level of blood sugar is high. Gestational diabetes is caused when the placenta produces insulin-blocking hormones.

Diabetes insipidis is a rare condition that has a similar name but is not related to diabetes mellitus. It's a different chronic condition where the kidneys remove excess fluids from the body.

Treatments

Doctors treat diabetes with several medications. Some of these medicines are taken by mouth, while others are taken as injections.

Type 1 Diabetes

Insulin is the main treatment for type 1 diabetes. It replaces the hormone your body is not capable of producing. 

Four types of insulin are most commonly being used nowadays. These are differentiated by how quickly they start to work, and how soon their effects last:

• Rapid-acting insulin starts working within 15 minutes and its effect lasts for 3 to 4 hours.
• Short-acting insulin starts working within 30 minutes and lasts between 6 and 8 hours.
• Intermediate-acting insulin starts acting within 1 to 2 hours and lasts between 12 and 18 hours.
• Long-lasting insulin starts working within a few hours after injection and lasts for over a day.

Type 2 Diabetes

Dietary changes and exercise help some people to better manage type 2 diabetes. If dietary changes aren’t enough to decrease your blood sugar levels, you will need to take medication. Many people with type 2 diabetes also take insulin.

Gestational Diabetes

You will need to keep a proper check of your blood sugar levels several times a day during pregnancy. If it’s high, you may be required to take further steps alongside dietary changes and exercise.

A study by Mayo Clinic states that around 10 to 20 percent of women with gestational diabetes will need insulin to decrease their blood sugar levels. Insulin is considered safe for the growing baby.

Diet 

Eating healthy is the main focus of managing diabetes. In some cases, making a few changes to your diet may be enough to manage the condition.

Type 1 Diabetes

People with type 1 diabetes may experience changes in their blood sugar levels based on the types of food they consume. Foods containing sugar and excessive starch may rapidly increase your blood sugar levels. On the other hand, protein and fat result in more gradual increases.

Your doctor may ask you to limit your daily intake of carbohydrates. Moreover, you will also need to balance your carbohydrate intake with your insulin doses. Collaborate with a dietician who can help you design a diabetes meal plan. 

Getting a well-balanced diet consisting right amounts of protein, fat, and carbs can help you better manage your blood sugar levels.

Type 2 Diabetes

Eating the right food can both manage your blood sugar levels and help you lose excess weight. Carb counting is a crucial part of eating for type 2 diabetes. Collaborate with a dietician or nutritionist to figure out how many grams of carbohydrates it is healthy for you to eat at each meal.

To keep your blood sugar levels consistent, try eating small meals throughout the day. Focus on eating healthy foods such as:

• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Lean protein such as chicken and fish
• Olive oil and nuts
• Whole grains

Gestational Diabetes

Eating a healthy diet is crucial for both you and your baby during your pregnancy. Make the right food choices so that you can avoid diabetes medications.

Watch your portion sizes, and lower the intake of salty or sugary foods. Even though you require some sugar to feed your growing baby, you should not eat too much.

Consider making a diet plan with the help of a nutritionist or dietician. They can help you plan a diet with the right mix of macronutrients.

Grocare’s Natural Ayurvedic Treatment for Diabetes

Grocare aims to help control the blood sugar levels in a patient with its natural medicine called Diadoma®, without the harmful side-effects of traditional diabetes medication.

Made with the richness of natural herbs, Diadoma® is a potent bio-herb that works simultaneously to restore, correct, and rejuvenate the liver, kidneys, and pancreas to control the blood sugar levels, regulate insulin, and reduce its resistance. 

Diadoma® is entirely natural and highly-effective medicine. It helps increase the absorption of glucose in the body's cells and normalizes the insulin secretory function, which is the main reason behind hypoglycaemic episodes. Diadoma® is scientifically proven to be safe and does not lead to insulin resistance.

Proper Usage of this Medicine

• For Prediabetes: Two tablets of Diadoma® should be taken twice daily — post breakfast and dinner.
• For HbA1c between 7 and 8: Two tablets of Diadoma® should be taken thrice daily — post breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• For HbA1c of over 8: Patients are requested to contact our in-house doctors by email for personalized guidance.

Side-Effects Associated With this Medicine

Doctors recommend patients check their glucose levels every 4 to 6 weeks while taking Diadoma®. Besides, patients are advised to exercise regularly and eat healthy to manage the body's glucose levels alongside the treatment effectively. 

The tablet can be ingested safely by patients with diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure, and pregnant women. Diadoma® is not known to cause any harm or adverse effect in any of the above cases.