Following a low carb diabetic diet is sometimes recommended to those that suffer from this illness. But is it healthy? Well it really depends on how the individual interprets low carb. The British Dietetic Association and the Food Standards Agency have expressed concern that people following low carb diets may be putting themselves at further risk.
People have tended to ignore the research as these low carb diets can result in very fast weight loss especially in the short term. Protein foods are very filling thus helping you to eat less. But eating too much protein can result in the over manufacturer of ketones, your body’s response to starvation. It is these ketones that are linked to bad breath, nausea and dizziness often associated with these diets.
It is more sensible to follow a long term method of losing weight by eating all of the food groups in moderation. It is not easy to stick to a diet that eliminates whole food groups as it can become very monotonous eating the same food day in and day out.
Carbohydrates are an essential component of our diet. We need to eat some every day in order to maintain health. Not all carbohydrates are created equal though and most people think of white bread, rice and potatoes when they think of carbs. While it would make sense to reduce your consumption of these foods, you should not cut out carbohydrates completely.
Type 2 diabetes, also known as late onset diabetes, is caused either when the insulin the body produces fails to control blood sugar properly or when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin. Having too much sugar in your blood causes excessive thirst, fainting and can lead to stroke and an increased risk of heart disease.
Eating carbohydrates that release a lot of glucose (natural sugar) very quickly into your bloodstream makes diabetes more difficult to control. When eating carbohydrates, you should choose whole grain high fiber varieties. Not only will these help to fill you up and provide the nutrients you need, but you may also gain added protection from certain forms of cancer.
If you want to eat potatoes then eat jacket potatoes or those boiled in their skins. Avoid chips and roasted and try not to add butter or other fats as a dressing.
In order to lose weight, you need to combine more exercise with eating less. Exercise is beneficial in the treatment of diabetes. Just make sure you take your doctor’s advice before starting a new program. Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week. The more gradual your weight loss the less likely you are to put it all back on again. Don’t put any particular food off limits as that will only cause you to crave it more. Obviously you cannot eat cakes and biscuits every day, but having the odd diabetic chocolate won’t hurt.
Follow a low carb diabetic diet to kick start your weight loss but consider switching to a long term weight management program as soon as you can.