| Fad Diets
and Diabetes
Word Count: 578
(ARA) - According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly
90 percent of all people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes
are overweight. Studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can
be prevented or delayed by keeping weight in control and by
increasing physical activity. Losing weight can lower the
risks for developing serious diabetes-related complications,
including heart and blood vessel disease and can help to reduce
blood sugar levels.
There are countless weight loss options advertised every
day in broadcast and print news outlets. And the wave of fad
diets has garnered as many fans as critics. But while they
may be effective for some, are they healthy for patients with
diabetes? Patty Latham, M.S., R.D., a registered dietician
at Roche Diagnostics, takes a look at some traditional diets
as well as new options:
* Low Carbohydrate Diets
Because diabetes is a disorder where the body cannot properly
metabolize sugars, controlling carbohydrate consumption can
help patients with diabetes lower their blood sugar levels.
However, Latham stresses that it's misleading to target all
types of carbohydrates.
Many healthy carbohydrate rich foods contain fiber, which
is an important in the diet. Whole grain foods as well as
fresh fruits and vegetables contribute many essential vitamins
and minerals for the body as well as fiber. It may be more
important to look at the type of carbohydrate one is eliminating
as opposed to the fiber rich carbohydrates.
* Low Fat Diets
Overall, lowering fat consumption can decrease your risk
for heart disease, high cholesterol, and blood pressure. This
is best done by eating more whole grains, fruits and vegetables,
low-fat dairy and lean meats or protein foods. However, research
shows that 85 percent of the U.S. population consumes reduced-fat
foods that are higher in carbohydrates.
For example, a fat-free cookie is higher in sugar because
the additional sugar replaces the fat that was removed. Lowering
fat intake by replacing them with carbohydrates, especially
from highly processed foods, can lead to serious health complications.
You may lose weight on this diet initially, but excessive
consumption of carbohydrates -- more than 50 percent of your
daily food intake -- can result in a rapid release of blood
glucose. The body responds by secreting insulin from the pancreas
so it can send glucose into the cells, where it's burned for
energy. Bottom line: reduce fat intake, but don't substitute
them for high-carbohydrate products.
* Low Calorie Diets
A recent study shows that people who followed a restricted
calorie, "high-nutrition" diet, had lower levels
of fasting insulin, fasting glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol
than those who followed a regular diet. Latham notes, "People
in this study followed a very balanced diet -- they not only
cut down on calories, but also on excess fats and sugar. This
is a good diet for a patient with diabetes looking to lose
weight and manage their condition."
Generally, Latham advises that patients with diabetes follow
the advice of their physician or a diabetes educator. "A
sound diet is one that is reasonable for you to maintain and
sustain. Although fad diets are great in triggering motivation
in people, the downside is that they're fads -- not many people
actually stay on these meal plans. The best bet is to create
a diet plan with a medical professional, because they can
help you keep your overall health goals -- as well as weight
goals-- in mind."
For more information on healthy eating, please visit www.accu-chek.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Information for this article came from: Weight
Loss Matters, American Diabetes Association; Diabetes &
Your Weight, American Diabetes Association; http://www.drsinatra.com/nc/diabetes_insulin.asp;
and Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, www.kansascity.com.
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