What kind of food will be necessary for the normal functioning of body processes?

Different kinds of food materials are necessary for the normal functioning of body processes. Proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and others. All these will not be gained from a single food item. It is possible to get required nutrients from balanced diet. When treatment and medicines are taken for diabetes problem diet plan should also be in accordance with it.

Food to be taken by a patient will depend on sugar levels in his blood, exercise and physical work done by him daily, weight and others aspects. By considering all these aspects, nutritionists prepare diet chart for the patient. But by following general tips, it is possible to keep sugar levels under control.

Food to control diabetes…….

Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates like wheat and rice give highest energy. One gram carbohydrate gives nearly 4 calories of energy. Hence by taking carbohydrates, glucose levels in the blood increase abruptly. Diabetes people are advised to take less food that contain high amount of carbohydrates. If carbohydrates are to be taken, they should take brown rice for which outer layer is not removed. These foods contain more fiber and it is useful in lowering the glucose levels in the blood. Fiber food can also prevent heart attack, intestinal cancer and other diseases.

Foods that contain more fiber content is lady’s finger, brinjal, tomato, pumpkin, leafy vegetables, fruits like papaya, guava, and other cereals like barley, finger miller, bajra and others.

Proteins: Proteins are needed for wear and tear of the cells. Proteins also help in providing acids that prevent the rise of glucose levels in the blood. Hence milk, milk products, pulses, beans and others have to be taken since they contain high levels of proteins. Meat also gives required levels of proteins. But there is chance for rise of fat levels also. Hence non vegetarians can take chicken and fish which contain less fats rather than red meat and others.

Fats:

Fats are necessary for body processes. So, it is not correct to completely quit taking fats. But fats produce highest energy than any other food material. Hence there is chance of accumulation of fats in the blood vessels when diabetic patients take fat containing substances like ghee, utter, vanaspathi, meat and others. Diabetic patients need to take care regarding their heart as like heart patients and should lower the intake of fat containing food substances. But when there is need to use oils in the food, it is advised to go for poly unsaturated oils like sunflower and safflower oils in the morning times and should use mono unsaturated oils like soya oil, olive oil and others. It is not only good for diabetic people but also for everyone to use poly and mono unsaturated oils one by one in alternative months. It helps in preventing accumulation of fats in the blood vessels and heart. Everyone should take oil not more than 50grams daily in order to be in limit. That means, monthly 450grams or nearly half a liter. For a family of four members, two liters of oil is enough.

Points to be remembered by diabetic people

• Taking sprouts is healthy for diabetic people.
• Taking underground vegetative parts like potato, sweet  potato and others should be avoided by diabetic people. But radish has an exemption for this rule.
• Diabetic people should quit smoking and drinking.
• Along with taking balanced diet, one should also do exercises regularly and should prevent weight gaining,  in order to stay away from negative effects of diabetes.

Food material that should be avoided by the diabetic people are sugar and items prepared using sugar, honey, jams, jellies, cakes, pastries, fruit juices and alcohol. Rather than taking fruits in the form of juices, it is better to take guava, orange, papaya and other fruits in raw form.

Total number of diabetic people in the world is one billion.  Of them, 3% are villagers and 10% are cities and town people. It is more worrying to note that there is increase in the number of diabetic people in villages.