Type 2 Diabetes: How diet and exercise could save your life (PART 2)
Posted December 6th, 2006 at 7:00 AM by Megan Hueter
Section: Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Health & Fitness, Exercise, Weight Loss
This is the second installment of a four part series. Part 2 is entitled: “Type 2 Diabetes and Nutrition”. To check out Part 1: “Understanding Type 2 Diabetes”, please click here.
Attention Type 2 diabetics: recent studies show that a nutritional diet combined with physical can restore the body’s sugar levels to a non-diabetic level. Understanding the importance of the nutritional diet could save your life.
When diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, patients are commonly prescribed an immediate change in lifestyle which includes a very strict nutritional diet. The purpose of this diet is to maintain a quality level of glycemic control. This means that a carefully monitored diet can manage the amount of sugar in the blood. Because obesity is very common with those suffering from type 2 diabetes, the most important component of diet therapy is weight loss.
The importance of controlling body weight in reducing risks related to diabetes is of great importance. Therefore, nutrition recommendations start by considering energy balance (food intake) and weight loss strategies. Recommendations will be different for each person, based upon how much weight needs to be lost and the sugar levels in the blood.
The American Diabetic Association recommends a structured, intensive lifestyle program involving patient education on nutrition and diabetes, counseling, reduced fat in the diet (~30%), regular physical activity, and frequent doctor-patient communication.
The most important component to weight loss in a type 2 diabetic is keeping the weight off for the long-term. Standard weight loss diets include 500-1,000 fewer calories per day, which would result in losing 1-2 lbs per week. Due to the amount of diets which have the “roller-coaster effect” (weight is lost initially, but gained back later on), fad diets such as low carbohydrate diets, liquid meal replacements, and very low calorie diets are not recommended for type 2 diabetics.
For those who are significantly obese, oral weight loss medications are effective and may be prescribed by clinicians. For those who are extremely obese, gastric reduction surgery (i.e. bariatric surgery) is effective and may be recommended by a clinician.
The American Diabetic Association has recently determined specific recommendations for foods in the diet. These include carbohydrates, fiber, dietary fat/cholesterol, protein and alcohol.
Carbohydrates: Patients should consume at least 130 grams per day of carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and low-fat milk Monitoring carbohydrates through counseling or carb counting is a key strategy in improving glycemic control. Carbohydrates that are low in the glycemic index (oats, barley, bulgur, beans, lentils, pasta, pumpernickel, apples, oranges, milk, yogurt and ice cream) are recommended. Sugar alcohols and sweeteners are safe when consumed in the proper levels.
Fiber: People with diabetes are encouraged to consume a variety of fiber-containing foods such as legumes, fiber-rich cereals ( ≥ 5 grams per serving), fruits, vegetables and whole-grain products. Many studies show that consuming ~ 50g of fiber per day reduces abnormal blood sugar levels. It is highly recommended that patients consume 14g of fiber per 1000 calories.
Dietary Fat/Cholesterol: It is recommended that individuals with diabetes limit their dietary fat to less than 7% of the diet. Intake of saturated and trans fat (for example, fried foods) should also be limited. Patients with diabetes should limit their cholesterol intake to less than 200mg per day. 2-3 servings of fish per week provide polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are beneficial to the diet (with the exception of fried fish fillets).
Protein: For type 2 diabetics with normal renal (kidney) functioning, protein intake should be maintained at the usual 15-20% of the diet intake. The recommended dietary allowance is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight each day. Good-quality protein includes meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, and soy. Diets extremely high in protein are not recommended.
Alcohol: If type 2 diabetic patients choose to drink alcohol, it should be very limited. Patients with a history of excessive drinking should strongly consider alcohol abstinence. Women should drink no more than 1 drink per day. Men should drink no more than 2 drinks per day. To reduce the risk for hypoglycemia (body is low in blood sugar), alcohol should be consumed with food. Mixed drinks should be consumed carefully due to sugar levels.
A nutritional diet is extremely important to ensuring successful outcomes for type 2 diabetic patients. Studies show that a nutritional diet combined with physical exercise can restore the body’s sugar levels to a non-diabetic level. Understanding, implementing and monitoring a nutritional diet could save your life.
Tune in next week for: “Part 3: Type 2 Diabetes and Aerobic Exercise”.
For more information, please visit the American Diabetes Association where you can find daily recipes, recommended cookbooks and meal planners.
Source: American Diabetes Association. Nutrition recommendations and interventions for diabetes (Position Stand). Diabetes Care, 2006. 29: 2140-2157.
***Note: We encourage EVERYONE to see a doctor before altering their diet, taking a supplement and/or performing athletic, fitness or other strenuous physical activity. It is your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any information, instruction, opinion or advice contained in the content. Please also see our complete disclaimer.***
***Note: We encourage EVERYONE to see a doctor before altering their diet, taking a supplement and/or performing athletic, fitness or other strenuous physical activity. It is your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any information, instruction, opinion or advice contained in the content. Please also see our complete disclaimer.***
Tags: adult onset diabetes, alcohol, blood sugar, carbohydrates, cholesterol, diabetes, dietary fat, energy balance, exercise, fiber, food intake, nutrition, obesity, overweight, protein, sugar, Type 2 Diabetes
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The Final Sprint
[…] Type 2 Diabetes: How diet and exercise could save your life (PART 2)This is the second installment of a four part series. Part 2 is entitled: “Type 2 Diabetes and Nutrition”. To check out Part 1: “Understanding Type 2 Diabetes”, please click here. Attention Type 2 diabetics: recent studies show that a nutritional diet combined with physical can restore the body’s sugar levels to a non-diabetic […] […]
December 12th, 2006 at 11:31 pm[…] Part 2: “Type 2 Diabetes and Nutrition” […]
December 21st, 2006 at 2:27 am