Type 2 Diabetes Diet - Useful Tips for Diabetic Patients

Type 2 Diabetes is most commonly found in people who are overweight and if one does not take appropriate care of diet the medical problem can cause damage to heart and other body parts. Diabetes can cause high blood pressure and it can cause blockage which can lead to stroke and heart attack. Everyday exercise, morning walk and certain medications may be needed to keep check on the blood pressure. Diabetic patients are at a higher risk of contracting certain disease as their immunity level reduces; therefore, the patients should take special care of feet, teeth and eyes.

Avoid smoking and keep a control on alcohol. Try to reduce stress and calculate the number of calories you take in a day. In extreme cases, the condition can become life threatening and to avoid risk, a proper management of diet is required.

Tips to Plan Type 2 Diabetes Diet

1. A proper spacing should be there between the meals and the medications. The food intake should be dependent on the way the food is digested. A starchy diet can take five minutes to two to three hours to digest and fat can take more than eight hours to digest.

2. The fiber intake should be more tha
5 grams.

3. The diet should have a balanced amount of carbohydrate which should be in betwee
40% to 70% of the total calorie intake and the carbohydrate amount should be equally divided in the meals and snacks. The intake of carbohydrate depends on the lifestyle. For sedentary lifestyle calorie intake should be less. Carbohydrates are found in sugars, dairy products, vegetables such as potatoes, fruits, meat and fish based dishes and vegetables.

4. About 20% to 40% of the calories should come from fats and saturated fat intake should be less tha
7%. A restricted diet should be taken to prevent intake of saturated or trans-fats. Food products containing butter, cheeses and margarine contains good amount of fats and egg yolks, whole milk and meat contains a good amount of cholesterol. The cholesterol intake should be less tha
200 mg.

5. Protein should account for 15% to 20% of calories and it is found in pulses, milk and beans. Some diabetes patients suffer from chronic kidney diseases and in such conditions the protein content should be very low.

6. Generally, the artificial sweeteners or products marked fat free and sugar free is considered safe for use but it may not reduce the blood sugar level. Natural insulin is found in certain green vegetables and one can take it in the diet regularly.

7. Soluble fibers are considered good for diabetic patient such as legumes, beans and fibrous fruits and vegetables. Carrots helps in maintaining healthy blood sugar, and insoluble fibers in grains and nuts are considered to be intestinal scrubbers. Taking cooked black beans, salads, casseroles and corn is considered good in breakfast. It helps in cleaning the digestive tract.

Overall a diet chart based on one's personality and lifestyle, should be managed by diabetes patients which should includes a good amount of starch such as cold cereal and non fat milk.