Diabetic Food Myths Busted 

Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when you have too much sugar in your blood. There are 2 main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Both can be managed through diet and exercise.

For people with diabetes, managing the condition is no cakewalk. Even the smallest of mistakes can have major consequences. That's why it's important to get your facts straight when it comes to managing diabetes. 

Here’s the thing about diabetes diet myths, they are everywhere. You could be reading a blog post or an article. Even worse, you could be learning it from somebody else, who learned it from somebody else. It’s basically misinformation that has been passed down. 

Diabetes food myths are very powerful, powerful enough to keep you spending money on something that may not really help. Diabetes is a disease that you should be aware of, but it shouldn’t take over your whole life.

6 Food Myths About Diabetes

Many people with diabetes are confused about the foods they eat, often making unhealthy food choices because they rely on myths rather than facts. Here are 6 common food myths to help correct this problem:

Myth 1: A Person With Diabetes Should Avoid Sweets At Any Cost

The key is to enjoy small amounts of sweets in moderation or so to say, at one time. Consider limiting other carbs in your diet to make up for any cheat day. You may also consult your doctor about how much sugar can fit into your meal plan.

Myth 2: A Person With Diabetes Must Follow Strict Diet

Following a healthy and balanced diet should be the priority rather than making a strict diet plan. Eating healthy foods from all food groups is the key to successfully managing diabetes. Eating diabetes-friendly food and working out regularly to stay physically active may help you control your blood sugar levels, blood pressure and even cholesterol.

Myth 3: Eating Sugary Foods Cause Diabetes

Diabetes occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or does not use it properly. Eating too many sweets or sugary foods may lead to weight gain and obesity has been linked to triggering type 2 diabetes. Diabetes can also be caused by genetic or poor lifestyle habits.

Myth 4: People With Diabetes Can Eat Starchy Foods

Most carbs come from starchy foods like pasta, lentils, rice, corn and bread. Foods with high carbs can trigger blood sugar levels. So, aim for a quarter of your plate to be starchy foods or grains and half your plate to be non-starchy vegetables. High-protein foods like chicken, fish, meat, etc should fill out the remaining quarter of your plate.

Myth 5: People With Diabetes Should Avoid Fruits

While most fruits contain carbs, they are also full of vitamins, fiber, minerals and flavours. The trick is to eat fruits raw or cooked, as they can provide sufficient fiber. You can also drink fruit juices without adding sugar.

Myth 6: People With Diabetes Should Eat Bitter-Tasting Food to Lower Blood Glucose Levels

The fact is, bitter-tasting foods such as bitter gourd will not help you lower your blood sugar levels because the glucose levels in your blood are driven by the number of carbs consumed. The key to managing diabetes is to have a better understanding of your individual carbohydrate requirements and making a diet plan according to it.

Healthcare Tips For Diabetic Patients

Diabetes is a nutrition disorder in which the body is not able to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood. Insulin is a hormone that helps in the transport of sugar from the blood to the cells in the body.

When someone has diabetes, there is a problem with the production of insulin or its transport to the body cells. This causes blood sugar levels to rise and, when it does, it is not able to enter the cells and causes blood glucose levels to be high.

Diabetes is a chronic disease and the world's fastest-growing health problem among adults and its rate of prevalence are increasing at a rapid rate.

Treating this disease is a lifetime commitment and is not an easy task. It requires the involvement of the patient and the doctor, to be on top of it all the time. 

Here are some quick tips that you can follow to stay healthy and take control of your health:

1. Diet - A proper diet with the right combination is essential to keep diabetes under control. Include healthy carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits and vegetables and lean proteins like chicken and fish. 

If you like meat, go for red meat in small portions, once or twice a week. Maintain a diet plan that has 5% carbs, 15% protein and an 80% low-fat diet. Follow this for a few weeks and consult your doctor about it as well as if any medications need to be altered.

2. Watch your salt intake - Increased salt intake can take a serious toll on your blood pressure levels, which is then linked to a higher risk of heart diseases. And when you have diabetes, the risk is even more. Almost all packaged foods contain high amounts of salt, so remember to check the labels before buying and try to limit your salt intake to one or two tablespoons per day.

3. Limit your alcohol consumption: Moderate amounts of alcohol can trigger blood sugar levels to increase rapidly and excess alcohol can sometimes decrease it to a dangerous level. Hence, it is highly recommended to keep a check on your alcohol consumption.

Take Away

Diabetes is a life-long condition that occurs when you have too much glucose in your blood as a result of the pancreas not producing enough insulin, or resisting the insulin that is produced. Glucose is a form of sugar that comes from what you eat and it’s an important fuel for the cells in our body. Insulin helps glucose get into cells where it’s used as a source of energy.

Diabetes is one of the most common illnesses in India. A large number of people are living with diabetes. They must understand the importance of maintaining good health.