Importance of Diet in Each Type of Diabetes

UNDERSTANDING DIABETES AND THE ROLE OF DIET IN EACH TYPE OF DIABETES

In the “good old days” before medicines for diabetes and insulin were available, physicians would control diabetes by diet and exercise alone. In this generation both patients and physicians seek instant gratification and quick fixes, so medication has become the primary treatment modality. The diet advice offered is many times too generalized and emphasis on the importance of diet is not enough. So unfortunately the patients aren’t aware and motivated enough to take control of diabetes through diet.

The role of diet in different types of diabetes is varied. Understanding diabetes and the types of diabetes will give us clarity in knowing what diet can be offered in each.

WHAT IS DIABETES?

We eat food to provide energy and nutrition to the cells. Cells can receive energy only in the form of glucose so all food is broken down into glucose for utilization by the cells. The hormone insulin, secreted by the pancreas is needed for the utilization of glucose by the cells. In diabetes there is lack of insulin or the cells stop responding to insulin or both hence the cells are starving in a pool of glucose. This causes damage and destruction of the cells and also excess glucose in blood causes many complications.

TYPES OF DIABETES

1. INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITIS (IDDM)

In this type, the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin are destroyed and so no insulin is produced in the body. The insulin required has to be supplied from outside for life.

Diet can never replace the need for insulin in these patients. It is often noted that the need for insulin keeps on progressively increasing in these patients and despite daily insulin injections they do not manage to keep their diabetes effectively under control and this leads to serious complications. Diet can keep the insulin requirement to minimum, prevent complications of the disease and help the person feel active and energetic.

Like diet can never replace the need for insulin in IDDMs, so also only insulin can never replace the benefits of a balanced, customised diet.

2. NON INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITIS(NIDDM)

This was called ‘maturity onset diabetes’ till a decade ago but today we see so many children with this type of diabetes that it has been renamed as ‘type 2 diabetes’.This is an acquired problem due to poor nutrition and obesity.

The cells become resistant to the insulin and do not respond to the insulin in the blood and also many times the insulin secretion is reduced. Here insulin does not have to necessarily supplied from outside ,the cells should be made sensitive to the available insulin.

This type of diabetes can be completely controlled by proper diet and exercise. The dependency on medicines can be completely eliminated gradually and all complications can be prevented.

3. GESTATIONAL DIABETES

This type of diabetes is seen during pregnancy and is also due to insulin resistance. Diet can completely control the sugar levels in these cases. In most cases the sugar levels are back to normal after delivery yet this is a warning bell to indicate that these women have greater chances of developing diabetes in future.

Even after the sugar levels return to normal these women should use diet to manage their weight and maintain nutrition levels and should annually get tested for diabetes.

4. PREDIABETICS AND FAMILY HISTORY OF DIABETES

These patients are the ones who are at greater risk of developing diabetes in the future. As of now they do not have any symptoms of diabetes.They have a fasting blood sugar level of between 100 and 125 mg/dl and are labeled prediabetics or borderline diabetics.

Studies show that even 7% reduction in total body weight can cut down the risk of diabetes by half. These patients can say no to develop into diabetics by managing their weight and nutrition by customised diet.

Today’s fast paced life, fast food habits, irregular meal and sleep timings, stress make us all high risk candidates for diabetes. Unfortunately we have accepted diabetes as a part of mordernisation and and are doing nothing to fight it. All it takes is awareness, discipline and dedication to prove that we are stronger than diabetes. Read more about Importance of Diet in Each Type of Diabetes