In order to achieve normal metabolism in diabetic patients, some form of dietary measures are always recommended. A well balanced diabetic diet is just one part of a balanced natural diabetes treatment plot.

The main aims of diet control are listed below:

1.            Avoid hyperglycemia

2.            Minimize fluctuations in blood glucose levels and reduce overall blood glucose

3.            Achieve weight reduction in obese patients to reduce insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia

4.            Avoid hypoglycemia and weight gains that are commonly associated with drugs such as insulin

5.            Avoid diets that may aggravate diabetic symptoms. For example, diabetic nephropathy may become acute in case of a high protein diet. These diets are known as atherogenic diets in medical parlance.

Two broad classifications of diet used in the treatment of diabetes are low energy weight reducing diets and weight maintenance diets. In the case of obese patients, a diet with low refined carbohydrate, high unrefined carbohydrate and less total energy content would result in increased insulin sensitivity and consequent decline in blood glucose.

Low energy weight reducing diets:

These are diets used for obese diabetic patients. These diets would provide a 500kcal reduction in daily intake and can cause a weight loss of around 0.5 kg per week. In obese diabetic patients it is often advised to skip snacks in between meals.

Weight maintenance diets:

These are for diabetic patients with a normal BMI. These are ideally high in carbohydrate and low in stout. The total calorie intake is not reduced in these diets.

Diets for Insulin Treated Diabetes

Diabetic patients should take care to follow a regular diet pattern and eat meals and snacks at approximately the same time every day. One useful way in which meals can be plotted is to encourage the use of carbohydrates along with vegetables and reduce the consumption of proteins. It is recommended to include at least five parts of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. Children, pregnant women and lactating mothers suffering from diabetes need special dietary advice in consultation with their physician.

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