In this article, we will explore some of the most popular diets that are recommended for and followed by diabetic patients.
First, let us understand the meaning of diet.
The term diet usually refers to the consumption of nutritious food with a focus on either managing health or weight.
The diet for Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease linked to the regulation of blood glucose levels. So, it becomes crucial to consume a diet that does not cause an immediate spike in blood sugar or that does not override the blood glucose levels.
Hence, patients suffering from Diabetes, mainly focus on controlling their blood glucose levels and devise a diet regime knowing that it will directly influence the amount of insulin administered.
When composing a diet, factors to be kept in mind –
- It is balanced and supplies the body with all essential nutrients.
- It is sustainable and can be followed long-term
- Is not a “crash diet” that puts the body in a state of rapid weight loss due to extreme deficiency in calories or nutrition
In order to structure our diet, let us know the minimum caloric requirements recommended by the Department of Health and Human Services
| Person | Calorie requirements |
| Sedentary children: 2–8 years | 1,000–1,400 |
| Active children: 2–8 years | 1,000–2,000 |
| Females: 9–13 years | 1,400–2,200 |
| Males: 9–13 years | 1,600–2,600 |
| Active females: 14–30 years | 2,400 |
| Sedentary females: 14–30 years | 1,800–2,000 |
| Active males: 14–30 years | 2,800–3,200 |
| Sedentary males: 14–30 years | 2,000–2,600 |
| Active people: 30 years and over | 2,000–3,000 |
| Sedentary people: 30 years and over | 1,600–2,400 |
The 6 essential nutrients to incorporate in your diet include –
- Proteins
- Carbohydrates
- Fats
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Water
Some of the most popular diets followed to manage diabetes are –
- The low-carb diet
- Keto-diet
- Vegetarian diet
- Whole-food plant-based diet
- The low-carb diet
This is the most common diet followed by diabetic patients since a low-carb diet helps in keeping the blood glucose levels under control. Before insulin was discovered for the treatment of diabetes, people were kept on strict diet controls and recommended a low-carb diet to keep their blood glucose levels in check. However, consuming a diet that is deficient in carbohydrates may not be a replacement for insulin administration but it will surely decrease the dosage.
- The Keto diet
In a ketogenic diet or a low-carb high-fat diet, nutritional ketone production is the goal through decreased carbohydrate or protein intake. A keto diet mainly consists of fats from plant or animal sources. A person following a keto-diet, essentially keeps himself supplemented only with dietary sources rich in fat. It is important to remember that although a keto diet is low in carbohydrates, it is not the same as a low-carb diet since fat-rich foods are a prerequisite to fall under the keto criteria.
- A vegetarian diet
Vegetarian diets prevent insulin resistance and reduce the sharp rise in blood sugar through foods that release glucose slowly into the blood or foods that have a low glycemic index. Studies have shown that people following a vegetarian diet stand a 35-53% lower chance of developing type 2 diabetes. This diet not only helps in maintaining weight but also helps in improving heart, gut and brain health.
- Whole food plant-based diet
This diet is particularly followed in the modern age where the benefits of a diet rich in fresh and natural nutrients are given importance. In a whole food plant-based diet, dairy and processed foods are eliminated with the consumption of only food that is obtained directly from nature with no preservatives or additives. The requirement of a whole food plant-based diet is that the food needs to be complete or whole in itself and not refined or processed.
The philosophy behind this diet is that food from nature is complete by itself with all the essential nutrients and man separated it into carbohydrates, proteins and fats while trying to again put together a balanced diet consisting of all essential nutrients. This diet is known to not only prevent lifestyle-related diseases like thyroid and diabetes but also known to reverse them.
Conclusion
It is important to keep in mind that although following a diet is the only way to prevent or manage diabetes better, if the person falls into the same unhealthy patterns of diet and lifestyle linked to causing diabetes, then the chances of recurrence of diabetes are possible in every way. If you have diabetes, consult a diabetes specialist today, not only to curate and structure a diet plan that fits your lifestyle but also to administer medication accordingly.
