Diabetic Diet
Diabetics who follow a diabetic diet can greatly increase their quality of life, and in certain cases even reverse the disease. Here is more on this type of diet which cuts fat and carbohydrates.
The diabetic diet can help people who suffer from both major types of diabetes. There is the more common type II, or adult onset diabetes, as well as Type I or juvenile diabetes. With type I diabetes the body produces overly low levels of insulin, while with type II the problem is with cells that don’t absorb insulin. A diabetic diet addresses both types, but type II can actually be avoided or reversed with the proper diet.
Ideal body weight is a key of the diabetic diet. There is a simple rule of thumb to establish this ideal body weight. In women add five pounds to 100 for every inch above five feet, and subtract five pounds from 100 for every inch under five feet. At 5′6 a woman’s ideal body weight is 130. For men start with 106 pounds for a height of 5 feet than add 6 pounds for every inch about 5 feet. At 5′6 a man’s ideal weight is 142 pounds.
The ideal formula for a diabetic diet varies, but there are some common basics. For type I diabetics, the ideal diet includes about 16 calories per pound. As an example, someone who weighs 170 pounds would eat 2720 calories daily. Type II diabetics eat about 1500 calories per day to lose weight, then differing amounts of calories to maintain ideal weight.
Carbohydrates account for about 50% of the calories consumed in a diabetic diet. Some argue that less carbohydrates are better, but there are advantages to cutting down the fat. Sometimes this can be offset by substituting mono unsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats in the place of saturated fats.
