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Diabetes Nutrition & Metabolism

Living with diabetes is a lifelong struggle, but it can be made easier through adoption of a targeted nutritional approach designed to curb the symptoms of this disease. A low-carb dietary approach can help to control insulin levels without excessive reliance on prescription medications, allowing you to regain some measure of control over your life.

  1. Diabetes

    • Diabetes is a disease which occurs when the body becomes unable to produce or properly utilize the storage hormone insulin. As insulin is used to remove excess sugar from the blood, individuals with diabetes are subject to extreme hyperglycemia (abnormally high levels of blood sugar), which if left unchecked can lead to conditions like diabetic coma.

    Insulin and Nutrition

    • Insulin is a storage hormone that is produced by the pancreas in response to elevated blood sugar levels. As blood sugar is primarily elevated through consumption and digestion of carbohydrates--with faster-digesting carbs causing a greater spike in blood sugar levels--avoiding carb intake is an easy and relatively pain-free way to keep insulin levels in check. The speed at which carbs digest is measured in a table called the Glycemic Index.

    Low-Carb Nutrition

    • According to a six-month study conducted at Duke University and published in the online journal Nutrition and Metabolism, diabetics who consumed a low-carb diet consisting of only low-glycemic-index carbs were often able to reduce their medication levels or even completely remove themselves from medication altogether. This indicates that self-regulation of insulin levels can be just as powerful for controlling diabetes as prescription medications.

    Fruits, Vegetables

    • The items with the lowest score on the glycemic index are largely fruits and vegetables. Thus, while dieting to cope with diabetes, the vast majority of your carb intake should be from these two groups. Sample items with exceptionally low glycemic index scores include broccoli, spinach, lettuce, kale, cherries, apples and pears. Try to consume both a fruit and a vegetable with each meal to ensure that your body receives adequate vitamins and minerals.

    Metabolism

    • Keeping your metabolism high while eating for diabetes is important, as keeping your weight under control can provide another level of defense against this disease--and many others. According to Michèle Turcotte, a registered nurse writing for TheDietChannel.com, small, frequent feedings are the key to keeping metabolism high. Thus, aim for five to six smaller meals throughout the day to keep your metabolism up while dieting for diabetes.

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