Diabetes mellitus, or simply Diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases which causes high blood sugar. The common symptoms are polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger). The food that we eat is broken down into glucose, a form of sugar which the body cells use to provide for growth, repair and energy. A hormone Insulin, secreted from the pancreas helps the cells to use glucose for fuel. The most common diseases under diabetes mellitus are Type-1 diabetes and Type-2 diabetes.
There is a lot of controversy regarding the diet a diabetic person should follow. Many of the facts that are commonly heard about diabetic diets are probably not true. Let us now take a close look at the common myths surrounding diabetic diets.
Myth 1: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes
Type-1 diabetes is mainly caused by genetic factors while both lifestyle and genetics can cause Type-2 diabetes. Simply eating too much sugar is unlikely to cause diabetes. Instead, diabetes begins when the body cells are unable to use glucose, leading blood sugar levels to rise above normal.
Myth 2: Carbohydrates are bad for diabetes
The key is to have a balanced diet. To function properly, your body need carbohydrates, fats and proteins. As long as you make it a part of a healthy meal plan or combine it with exercises, you can have carbohydrates like bread,pasta and rice. Try to eat whole-grain carbohydrates which are a good source of fiber.
Myth 3: Give up sweets and chocolates if you have diabetes
As long as you follow a healthy diet and work out on a regular basis, you can have your favorite chocolates or sweets. It is of course advisable that you eat smaller portions of desserts. Using artificial sweeteners is a worthy option. While choosing your desserts, opt for the more nutritious ones.
Myth 4: Eat special diabetic meals
The only difference between the diet of a person with diabetes and someone without it is that the former has to monitor what he eats more closely. A diabetic person can easily eat with his family or friends. The only thing to remember is to eat in moderation.
Myth 5: Eat all the protein you want
Foods rich in protein such as meat, contain saturated fat which increase the risk of heart diseases. People with Type-2 diabetics should be more careful about consuming protein because they are already two to four times more likely to develop heart-diseases than the people without it. Also, some studies have shown that eating too much protein increases insulin resistance. For someone with diabetes, protein should account for 15-20 perrcent of the total calorie intake in a day.
Myth 6: Diet foods are the best choices for diabetics
Diabetic or diet foods don’t offer any extra benefits. These are no more healthy than the regular food that you get from your grocery store. These foods are expensive and can still raise your blood sugar levels. Certain ‘diet’ foods contain sugar alcohols which may have a laxative effect.
Myth7: Eat endless amounts of food that read “Sugar free”
Most of the ‘sugar-free’ foods that we come across contain carbohydrates. Some of these foods may have the same amount of carbohydrates as the foods with sugar. Thus, it is important to read the labels and find out the ingredients and amount of calories before buying.
Myth8: Artificial sweeteners are dangerous for people with diabetes
Since artificial sweeteners are much sweeter than an equivalent amount of sugar, you will need a lesser amount of them to get the same sweetness as using sugar. This will bring down the calorie count. You can use sweeteners like sachharin, sucralose, aspertame and acesulfame in your cooking, baking or other uses.
Myth9: Taking Insulin with cover up for whatever you eat
Although you can learn to adjust your medication to the amount of food you eat, it certainly isn’t advisable to do so. Diabetic medications work best when they are taken consistently. Always consult with your doctor before changing your dose to adjust it with the level of carbohydrates in your meal.
