Type 2 Diabetes Diets
Copyright (c) 2009 Stephen Smith
Type 2 diabetes is a disease that is becoming more common in today’s society. It results mainly from poor lifestyle choices and dietary habits and results in a range of health problems including increased risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and obesity.
To make matters worse, the type 2 diabetes diets that are recommended by most nutritionists and dieticians are completely wrong! The sample diabetic menus they provide their clients will NOT help to improve the diabetic condition. In fact, what they provide as a diabetes control diet will actually make the diabetes condition worse!
One of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance, which is characterised by an inability of body cells to bind insulin and allow nutrients to flow into cells.
One of the causes of insulin resistance is an excess consumption of carbohydrates over many years which then results in the insulin receptors on cell membranes becoming ‘down-regulated’ to the action of insulin.
Insulin gets produced in response to an increase in the blood sugar level and in healthy people insulin will then bind to insulin receptors on cell membranes and allow glucose and other nutrients to get into the cell.
When a person with insulin resistance consumes a diet high in carbohydrates, as is generally recommended, the insulin resistance becomes worse!
People with insulin resistance (type 2 diabetics and women with poly-cystic ovarian syndrome) should consume a low-carbohydrate diet! By following this approach, over time, the insulin receptors will be forced to ‘re-open’ and allow nutrients to flow into the cells again.
This means the ideal menu for diabetics is one that contains less than 50 grams of carbohydrates per day. This equates to less than 10 grams of carbohydrates per meal. Plus, it is best if these carbohydrates come from medium or low-density sources as well as low GI sources.
By following this approach, the carbohydrates they do eat will have minimal impact on their blood sugar levels and therefore, insulin response.
Over time, depending on the severity of the insulin resistance and depending on what other strategies they use to help overcome the condition, i.e. exercise and the use of glucose disposal agents, the insulin resistance may be reversed. This also means that many of the problems that are associated with type 2 diabetes may be overcome as well.
Once the person’s blood sugar levels have normalised it may then be possible to re-introduce more carbohydrates back into their diet. If they maintain healthy meal options, keep their portions sizes small and perform some exercise, they should be able to maintain healthy blood glucose levels with ease.
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