Blog Post #8aa: Diabetes
Now that we have discussed carbohydrates, let’s do a quick dive into diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic disease state, described in two different types. Type 1 is when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin. Type 2 is when the body is unable to use the insulin it produces effectively. There are other types of diabetes, like pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes. Pre-diabetes is when one has an elevated blood glucose, but it is not high enough to diagnose type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes is when one’s blood glucose is elevated during pregnancy. Diabetes can be diagnosed by an elevated glucose lab value, or an elevated A1C value. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to help regulate blood glucose.
Type 1 is classified as an auto-immune disorder, with no known reason as to why it is caused. The main causes of type 2 diabetes include physical inactivity, obesity, and diet. The main type of diabetes that people see in society is type 2, so we will mainly be talking about type 2 diabetes today.
As a Dietitian, I meet many people with type 2 diabetes. Some people have been living with diabetes for years, while others are newly diagnosed. Some people often let their diabetes run wild, while others try to control it. For example, I once met a lady in the hospital who had lost both of her legs to diabetes. However, she was happy (grateful even) that she lost both of her legs. She told me that she was happy because she was no longer in any pain, and that she would rather give up her legs than change her ways. I just stood there dumbfounded, but it was an eye-opening experience. Some people want to take the necessary steps to change and be healthy, while others would rather not. Again, it’s your choice and your health journey, but it makes me very sad to hear these kinds of stories.
Enough personal story time, let’s get back to diabetes! Many people with diabetes will try to avoid eating carbohydrates in an attempt to keep their diabetes in control, however, this is not a preferred method. Not to mention, it is very hard to do! See our last post about carbohydrates to catch up on why. With diabetes, it is better to select carbohydrates that are full of nutrients and minimally processed. Think whole foods, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. It is also better to space out your meals or snacks, to make sure your blood glucose is stable throughout the day.
Now, people’s dietary intake will vary based on their person, but normally people would get recommended to eat about 60 grams of carbohydrates per meal, or about four servings of carbohydrates per meal. You can go down to three servings (45 grams), or you can go up to five servings (75 grams), but four servings seem to be a good middle ground. If you want more information on diabetes, make sure to seek out a Registered Dietitian, or find a Diabetes clinic in your area.
Practical Ways Toward “Peachy” Living:
1) Make sure to talk to a health professional, like a Dietitian or a Diabetes specialist, if you have this disease state
2) See if there are foods or recipes you can swap foods or ingredients for healthier ones (example: use 1% milk instead of whole).
