Diabetes Diet Plan

The name “fenugreek” or foenum-graecum is Latin name for “Greek hay”. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a plant in the family Fabaceae. It is cultivated worldwide as a semi-arid crop and is frequently used in preparing curry. Fenugreek has a history of being used for medicinal purpose and can even treat diabetes.

Several human intervention trials demonstrated that the antidiabetic effects of fenugreek seeds ameliorate most metabolic symptoms associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in humans by reducing serum glucose and improving glucose tolerance. Fenugreek is currently available commercially in encapsulated forms and is being prescribed as dietary supplements for the control of hypercholesterolemia and diabetes by practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine.

Fenugreek seeds contain alkaloids, including trigonelline and gentianine. The mechanism is thought to delay gastric emptying, slow carbohydrate absorption and inhibit glucose transport. Fenugreek may also increase the number of insulin receptors in red blood cells and improve glucose utilization in peripheral tissues, thus demonstrating potential anti-diabetes effects both in the pancreas and other sites. The amino acid 4- hydroxyisoleucine, contained in the seeds, may also directly stimulate insulin secretion.

Working in a similar way to the common antidiabetic drug glibenclamide, fenugreek lowers cellular insulin resistance and controls blood glucose homeostasis. It has been shown to lower blood glucose levels of Type II diabetics by as much as 46 percent. It also increases the levels of several important antioxidants and reduces the damaging oxidation of lipids associated with diabetes.

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Unlike many articles, this article mentions about the non vegetarian food that a diabetic can eat and still remain healthy.

1)     All meat – lamb, beef, pork, bacon, etc

2)     Include the organ meats: liver, kidneys, heart, as these contain the widest range of the vitamins and minerals your body needs (liver has 4 times as much Vitamin C as apples and pears, for example)

3)     All poultry: chicken (with the skin on), goose, duck, turkey, etc. But be aware that turkey is very low in fat, so fat needs to be added.

4)     Continental sausage (beware of British sausage which usually has a high cereal content)

5)     All animal and meat fats – without restriction – never cut the fat off meat.

6)     Fish and seafood of all types

Eggs (no limit, but avoid “omega-3 eggs” as these have been artificially fed which upsets the natural fatty acid profile)

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1)      Sugar and artificial sweeteners, including honey. The only allowed sweetener is stevia. (sugar is a problem as it is addictive. It is suggested that you cut down gradually until you can do without. The other option is to go ‘cold turkey’ and stop it altogether. This will give you withdrawal symptoms, just like stopping any other addictive drug. But this will wear off within about two weeks.)

2)      Sweets and chocolates, including so-called sugar-free types. (If you want a chocolate treat, say once a week, then eat Continental dark chocolate with 70% or more cocoa solids, not the British stuff where sugar is the first named ingredient)

3)      “Diet” and “sugar-free” foods (except sugar-free jelly)

4)      Grains and foods made from them: wheat, rye, barley, corn, rice, bread, pasta, pastry, cakes, biscuits, pies, tarts, breakfast cereals, et cetera.

5)      Starchy vegetables: potatoes and parsnips in particular; and go easy with beet, carrots, peas, beans, et cetera and packets of mixed vegetables which might contain them.

6)      Beans with the exception of runner beans

7)      Milk and Cottage cheese (except in small quantities)

8)      Sweetened, fruit and low-fat yogurts

9)      Beware of commercially packaged foods such as TV dinners, “lean” or “light” in particular, and fast foods, snack foods and “health foods”.

10)  Fruit juices, as these are much higher in carbs than fresh fruit. (If you like fruit juices as a drink, dilute about 1 part fruit juice with 2-4 parts water.)

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Diabetes affects different people in different ways depending on their degree of diabetic complication. But, while different amounts of carbs may be eaten for this reason, the type of foods to eat and to avoid is almost the same for all.

Diabetics often ask whether it is safe for them to eat large quantities of fruit. Many people suffering from diabetes avoid eating fruits because they are worried about the high sugar content present in most of the fruits. However, fortunately, there are many fruits a diabetic can enjoy which do not significantly affect blood glucose levels.

Fibre rich foods are generally safe for diabetics to eat because they do not spike blood sugar levels to the same extent as other fruits do. This is because fibre slows down the absorption of sugar into the blood stream. Fibre rich fruits tend to be fruits with edible skins and seeds as it are these parts of the fruit that are highest in fibre. Fruits high in fibre include (fibre content in brackets): apples (2.5%), pears (2.1%), apricots (2.1%), blueberries (2.7%), kiwifruit (2.1%), pomegranates (3.4%), and avocados (6.7%).

The avocado is not only high in fibre, but is also a rich source of monounsaturated fat. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends a diet high in monounsaturated fat as it can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease which is more common in diabetics than the general population. There is also some evidence that a diet rich in monounsaturated fat can improve glycaemic control.

These fruits help to control blood sugar, levels. Due to their law glycaemic index, they promote a gradual increase in the blood sugar level which is highly beneficial to diabetics. Fresh lime also helps a lot by providing vitamins and minerals to the diabetic, person.

Fruits high in fructose, and those with high fructose to glucose ratios are also beneficial to diabetics because fructose does not require insulin to metabolize and therefore can be enjoyed by insulin resistant diabetics. High fructose fruits include apples, pears, guavas, and mangoes, – all of which have fructose to glucose ratios greater than 2.

Along with high fibre and fructose levels, apples have added benefits for people with diabetes. Raw apples contain high amounts of pectin which has been shown to improve glycaemic control in diabetics, reducing insulin requirements by up to 50% in some cases.

Grapefruit is another fruit which may be beneficial for diabetics. Grapefruit can promote weight loss which in turn helps reduce insulin resistance. According to the Scripps institute, grapefruit may also help control insulin levels when consumed during meal times.

By keeping this mind, you can control the diabetes, enjoy the fruits and live a happy life.

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