Benefits of the Carbohydrate Counting Diet

The carbohydrate counting diet groups foods into three main groups:  carbohydrates,
proteins, and fats.  You dietician will provide you with the number of carbohydrates you
can have in a day and how that is divided up amongst your meals and snacks.  Your
dietician will also educate you on how you can determine the numbers of carbohydrates
are in some of your favorite foods by reading food labels.

The biggest benefit of the carbohydrate counting diet is that it does not eliminate any
foods.  A diabetic can choose any food they wish to eat as long as they only eat enough of
it to meet their carbohydrate needs.  The trick to this is to choose wholesome foods that
will fill you up longer.  The same amounts of carbohydrates that are in a small handful of
potato chips are not equal to the two slices of bread you can have instead.  But it is nice
to know that if you really want to – once in awhile – you can treat yourself.

Another benefit is keeping a consistent amount of carbohydrates in your body.  This can
help regulate your insulin needs and control.  If your body has the same amount of
carbohydrates to process at the same times each day it will be beneficial to your health
and blood glucose readings.

When you choose a carbohydrate counting diet it is important to make sure you are doing
it correctly.  If you don’t you can too much or too little and both situations can be
detrimental to your diabetes.  Have a dietician teach you how to properly count
carbohydrates and closely monitor your blood sugar levels to make sure the diet it
working for you.

As with any new diet, give it time for you to adjust and learn how to plan your meals
properly.

Benefits of a Healthy Diabetic Diet

Benefits of eating a healthy diet are for everyone but for a diabetic there can be even
more reasons to follow a nutritious meal plan.  Keeping a stable blood glucose level is the
biggest reason for a diabetic to follow a diabetic diet.  It takes commitment and patience
to stick with the diet and plan out all meals each week.  But the more that it is done the
easier it will become.

Another benefit of eating a healthy diabetic diet is reducing the amount of insulin that is
needed.  By eating good carbohydrate choices and lean meats you will lower the insulin
requirements for your body.  The foods you eat all affect on your blood sugars and when
you do not choose the best foods for your body it will need more insulin to process them.
In addition to extra insulin requirements, you will suffer from high blood sugars also
known as hyperglycemia.  This condition can have serious long-term effects on your
body and its organs.

By continuing with a healthy diet and combining it with regular exercise you can lose
excess body weight.  This too is good for your insulin requirements and blood glucose
levels.  By incorporating exercising into your daily routine you can give your body’s
metabolism a boost and help it process the foods you are eating.  When the foods you
take in are healthy choices your body is going to function better.

If you do not follow a healthy diet you can suffer from:

* Low blood sugar from not eating enough – hyperglycemia
* High blood sugar from eating too much or eating the wrong foods –
hypoglycemia
* Gain weigh and in turn increase your daily insulin requirement
* Lack the energy needed to exercise on a regular basis

Eating well can help control your diabetes and prolong your life expectancy.

A Diabetic Diet for Vegetarians

If you are a vegetarian who has been diagnosed with diabetes, you can still maintain your
diabetic diet.  In some cases a vegetarian diet may be a healthy way to keep your blood
glucose levels stable - that is if you are eating lean high-quality proteins and are
following other rules for eating as a diabetic.

As a lot of vegans and vegetarians eat a larger amount of fruits and vegetables in a day
than a non-vegetarian and their fiber intake is much higher too.  An increased amount of
fiber in a diabetic’s diet can help blood sugars because it slows down the process of the
body digesting carbohydrates.  A vegetarian’s diet is usually lower in cholesterol as well
and it can help ward off cardiovascular disease including heart attacks and strokes.

If you are diabetic and are considering a switch to a diabetic diet some of the benefits you
might derive include a higher rate of weight loss and better blood sugar readings.  This is
dependant on the types of vegetarian meals you choose as some meatless meals can be
just as fattening as ones that contain meat.

Speak to your doctor and dietician before making the switch.  You will need information
on how to transition yourself to your new diet.  You will also get a list of meat
alternatives you should eat in order to get enough protein in a day.  These can include
tofu, nuts, eggs, and seeds.

As with any change, once your switch to a vegetarian diet give yourself and your body
time to adjust.  There are many recipes and ideas for vegetarian dishes and you will find a
lot of variety and flexibility in the meals that you prepare.  Check your blood sugars
frequently to make sure your blood glucose levels remain stable during the change.