Diabetic Diet Vs. Hypoglycemic Diet

If you are diabetic or hypoglycemic, you would know that the keys to successful treatment of these illnesses are maintaining an ideal weight, following a regular suitable exercise, strict adherence to medication, if necessary, and an appropriate diet. Since food is where your body gets the energy it burns, it is important that your diet must take into account your intake of foods that may aggravate or improve your blood sugar levels.

Guidelines for Diabetics

• Healthy eating for diabetic patients includes eating fewer sweets; being conscious about your carbohydrate intake; eating plenty of whole-grain foods, vegetables and fruits that are rich sources of healthy carbohydrates; eating frequently; limiting fat, and limiting your alcohol intake.

  Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits. Not only are they carbohydrate-rich, they are also fibrous.

  Prefer whole grains over processed foods. Processing reduces, if not eliminates, the important vitamins and minerals in the food.

  Add lentils and dried beans to your diet. These are rich sources of protein for energy.

  Add fish two to three times a week.

  Prefer lean meats such as sirloin and pork loin instead of the fatty portions to limit the fat intake.

  Take skim milk or non-fat yogurt for your dairy requirements.

  Prefer water or diet drinks over sweetened drinks.

  Prefer liquid cooking oil over solid fats.

  Eat small meals. Avoid cookies, chips, cakes and ice cream.

  Patients with type1 diabetes need a diet with approximately 35 calories for every kilo of body weight per day (or 16 calories/pound). Patients with type 2 diabetes needs 1,500 to 1,800 calories per day to promote weight loss and maintain an ideal body weight. This can still be adjusted depending on the patient's age, activity level, sex, body style and current weight. Heavier individuals need more initial calories until they achieve the desired weight.

  Generally, the amount of carbohydrate intake should be about 50 percent of the total calories for the day (acceptable range 40 to 60 percent).

Guidelines for Hypoglycemics

• Take smaller meals more often, 4 to 6 times every day.

  Hypoglycemic patients get better results on a diet of protein with fiber.

  For energy, in place of sugar, take complex carbohydrates such as oatmeal and whole grains.

  Add fiber to your diet. Fiber will help your digestive system become more efficient. Foods rich in fiber help to lessen hypoglycemic symptoms. Good examples of fiber are fruits and whole grains.

  Reduce intake of sugars and simple carbohydrates.

  Lessen your fat intake. Limit fat to 30 percent of your daily consumption. Choose the good fats: olive oil, avocados and foods with omega-3 fatty acids.

  Give up alcohol. Too much of it can trigger hypoglycemia.

  Avoid caffeine. Caffeine will stimulate the body’s metabolism causing the body to activate. Caffeine aggravates hypoglycemic symptoms.