The most popular diet for diabetics has made
its way into the weight loss arena and is proving to be quite
successful. For years, the Low Glycemic Index Diet has been used as a
tool to help diabetics manage their blood glucose levels. Once it was
discovered that this diet for diabetics could also aid in weight loss
it became popular with a host of individuals.
One of the reasons that this diet for diabetics works so well is the
strong correlation between improper weight management and the presence
of diabetes. While not everyone who suffers from diabetes developed the
disease due to weight problems a large majority have been discovered to
have developed diabetes as a
result of obesity. This is because certain foods tend to raise the
blood sugar levels in the body higher and faster than other foods. When
that happens the body has a built in check system to return the blood
glucose levels to their normal state.
In order to do this the pancreas must release insulin which transports
excess blood sugar or blood glucose into storage. Everything is find as
long as we work off or use of those stores of blood sugar and this is
not required too often. Problems arise; however, when we do not burn
off the stored blood sugar and we force our pancreas to overwork by
consuming too many foods that cause our blood sugar to skyrocket.
When the body is not able to burn off the stores of blood sugar it
turns to fat and that results in being overweight. That is not the end
of the problem; however. When we frequently maintain a diet that is
high in foods that raise our blood sugar, over time, the pancreas
becomes overworked and may shut down. This is when diabetes steps into
the picture. Often diabetes and obesity go hand in hand.
The low GI diet was developed as a way to aid diabetics in selecting
foods which would not raise their blood sugar levels too high after
consuming them. It was hoped that this would remove the drain on the
pancreas. This diet for diabetics was found to be quite successful in
this regard and was also determined to have the added benefit of
helping individuals who followed it lose weight.
The basis of the diet is the glycemic index, which ranks carbohydrates
according to how quickly the body is able to digest them. Foods which
can be easily digested by the body rank higher on the index and tend to
raise the body's blood glucose levels higher than other foods.
According to the diet, these foods should be consumed sparingly. Other
foods are not broken down the body so easily and therefore do not have
as much of an effect on the body's blood sugar levels. Some foods even
have no effect at all and can be eaten without fear of any
restrictions.
High processed and refined foods tend to rank high on the glycemic
index most frequently. Individuals following the diet for diabetics are
encouraged to avoid or minimize their intake of these foods.
It should be understood that unlike many other diets that may sound
similar in nature, the diet for diabetics does not require total
exclusion of carbohydrates. Some carbs are actually good and can be
eaten. Ideally, adults are recommended to stick with a diet that
includes at least 130 grams of carbs per day to provide fuel for the
body. This, of course, assumes that you are maintaining an otherwise
healthy and active lifestyle. If, for some, reason you are unable to be
active, you may need a lower daily intake of carbs. |
