subject: Factors To Consider When Constructing A Diabetic Menu Plan [print this page] There are 2 main types of diabetes, which are Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease that results when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to properly control blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease marked by high levels of glucose in the blood and is the most common form of diabetes.
For people with Type 1 diabetes, grasping the knowledge of calculating carbohydrate grams and account for other important food factors, such as fiber intake, is imperative to good blood glucose control. These patients who are using one standard insulin therapy need to consume the same approximate number of carbohydrate grams daily to avoid blood sugar highs and lows. It is generally quite simple for people on standard insulin therapy to determine their daily dose of carbohydrate grams by using simple carbohydrate counting, which sets a fix number of insulin units for every 15 grams of carbohydrates eaten. However, for people who are overweight or obese, they would have weight loss issues to be taken into account when developing diabetic menu plans. On the other hand, patients with Type 1 diabetes who are using flexible insulin therapy to control their diabetes are able to adjust the amount of insulin taken before a meal to counteract the grams of carbohydrates that are about to be consumed. This flexible insulin therapy allows them to vary their carbohydrate intake each day. Insulin to carbohydrate ratio is used to determine insulin dose and each ratio varies from person to person, thus, it is important to work with your doctor.
For Type 2 diabetic patients, medical nutrition therapy is mainly used as a treatment. It helps to develop diabetic menu plans by adjusting dietary intake to minimize dramatic highs and lows in blood glucose and keep levels within a safe range. Moreover, when weight and body mass decreases, so does insulin resistance. Therefore, medication regimen for these diabetic patients should be constantly re-evaluated.
It is crucial for people with these 2 types of diabetes to be careful of their diet, cooperate with their doctors and constantly re-evaluate their medication regime. They should also eat at about the same time each day and try to be consistent with the types of food they choose.
