Diabetes question?
Have a few questions everyone. I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes about a year ago. I am not on insulin, but I am taking Metformin. I have changed my diet drastically, cut out all processed foods, eat low carbs, avoid candy, cakes, etc, eat fresh vegetables, lean meats, just totally trying to eat healhy. My sugar levels are doing great and I have lost weight and exercise. I know that fruits do have sugar in them, but I thought it was okay to eat fresh fruits because from what I have been told that is a "natural sugar". What is a "natural sugar" anyway? I have recently been told that I should not eat fresh fruits (was not told this by a doctor by the way). Is it okay to have fresh fruits? Also should I avoid diet soda with diabetes? Fresh fruits are like a treat to me now. Please help, I am confused and want to learn more. Any tips to help me out are appreciated. I thank you in advance for your answers.
Fresh fruits are fine. Just make sure to add the calories from sugar in with your allowance for calories from carbs. Total for any given meal will vary according to your weight. You kind of have to experiment up or down and monitor your blood sugar at first to see. A medium apple or half a cup of blueberries does very little to spike my sugar, but you may be different. For a list of what foods have what calories, visit here:
http://www.calorieking.com/
Doctors will tell you to avoid sugar in an effort to err on the side of caution, but many (if not most) don’t have a clue about managing diabetes. If you want to learn more about diabetes management than most M.D.s, then get this book:
http://www.diabetesimprovement.com/diabetesbook.html
Or, type in diabetes in the search window on this site:
http://www.drmcdougall.com
Diet soda will not affect your blood sugar. There are reports that aspartame may be harmful, but it’s still in the rumor stage, as far as I’m concerned.
As far as the answer concerning your pancreas not working properly, that’s not the main concern in type two diabetes. The main concern, in the beginning, is that the insulin isn’t getting the glucose through the cell walls. This is called insulin resistance. It has more to do with fat in the cells than it does with insulin production. Read this:
http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?language=english&type=&article_id=218392748
admin on November 22nd 2009 in Diabetes Fruits and Vegetables
Mr. Peachy® responded on 22 Nov 2009 at 5:08 pm #
Fresh fruits are fine. Just make sure to add the calories from sugar in with your allowance for calories from carbs. Total for any given meal will vary according to your weight. You kind of have to experiment up or down and monitor your blood sugar at first to see. A medium apple or half a cup of blueberries does very little to spike my sugar, but you may be different. For a list of what foods have what calories, visit here:
http://www.calorieking.com/
Doctors will tell you to avoid sugar in an effort to err on the side of caution, but many (if not most) don’t have a clue about managing diabetes. If you want to learn more about diabetes management than most M.D.s, then get this book:
http://www.diabetesimprovement.com/diabetesbook.html
Or, type in diabetes in the search window on this site:
http://www.drmcdougall.com
Diet soda will not affect your blood sugar. There are reports that aspartame may be harmful, but it’s still in the rumor stage, as far as I’m concerned.
As far as the answer concerning your pancreas not working properly, that’s not the main concern in type two diabetes. The main concern, in the beginning, is that the insulin isn’t getting the glucose through the cell walls. This is called insulin resistance. It has more to do with fat in the cells than it does with insulin production. Read this:
http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?language=english&type=&article_id=218392748
References :
Heather C responded on 22 Nov 2009 at 5:30 pm #
sugar is sugar no matter how "natural" it is. You can have fresh fruit, but as in everything else, in moderation. I’m not sure about the diet soda. It used to be recommended, but I am not so sure now.
References :
needy responded on 22 Nov 2009 at 6:13 pm #
sorry u do have to watch those natural sugars..because of your pancreus not working properly…2 fruits a day is ok..
diet soda is ok with limits…no more then 1 liter a day is passable….this information is not found in a text book it is from my years as a diabetic…email me anytime to talk i am here for u…..good luck….
References :
diabetic 20 yrs…
bob responded on 22 Nov 2009 at 7:02 pm #
Eat lots of vegetables and fruits. Try picking from the rainbow of colors available to maximize variety. Eat non-starchy vegetables such as spinach, carrots, broccoli or green beans with meals.
Choose whole grain foods over processed grain products. Try brown rice with your stir fry or whole wheat spaghetti with your favorite pasta sauce.
Include dried beans (like kidney or pinto beans) and lentils into your meals.
Include fish in your meals 2-3 times a week.
Choose lean meats like cuts of beef and pork that end in "loin" such as pork loin and sirloin. Remove the skin from chicken and turkey.
Choose non-fat dairy such as skim milk, non-fat yogurt and non-fat cheese.
Choose water and calorie-free "diet" drinks instead of regular soda, fruit punch, sweet tea and other sugar-sweetened drinks.
Choose liquid oils for cooking instead of solid fats that can be high in saturated and trans fats. Remember that fats are high in calories. If you’re trying to lose weight, watch your portion sizes of added fats.
Cut back on high calorie snack foods and desserts like chips, cookies, cakes, and full-fat ice cream.
Eating too much of even healthful foods can lead to weight gain. Watch your portion sizes.
natural sugar as in fruits is called frutose
as opposed to refined sugar from the sugar beet
References :
Hoosier Daddy responded on 22 Nov 2009 at 7:51 pm #
Any and all sugars you could afford to buy are equally "natural". Some of them are simply more pure than others. The purest is, of course, simply sold as "sugar", but it’s still "natural". It’s not whether a sugar is "natural" that causes the problem, it’s the amount of the sugar.
References :
Joan H responded on 22 Nov 2009 at 7:57 pm #
I also was diagnosed with diabetes several years ago, was put on avandia and took it for six months, but I also lost weight, and have not taken anything now, for over 2 years and my A1c is fine. Visit http://www.diabetes.com, which has lots of information for you. They sent me DVD’s, booklets, etc. to help me understand the disease. I hope I don’t have to go back on medication, I could not tolerate the metformin, which I was prescribed first. Hopefully, being informed, and taking control you can be off the medication also.
References :
London Catlover responded on 22 Nov 2009 at 8:16 pm #
Fresh fruit or frozen fruit is good in moderation.Fruit canned in its own juice is good and so is unsweetened Applesauce such as Mott’s no sugar added applesauce and Del Monte redukced carb or in 100% juice. Other fresh fruits that you can have are a small apple, pear orange,or peach. A medium banana. These you can have whole. Berries such as blueberries, raspberries, strawberries you can have 1 cup.Fruit canned in light syrup or juice you can have 1/2 cup.Fruit dried 1/4 cup. Grapefruit 1/2 medium. Grapes or cherries 12-15. Fruit juices (apple,cranberry,grape, pineapple) 30zs. Grapefruit or orange juice 4ozs.Melon(cantalope,Honeydew,Watermelon) 1 cup.Raisins or cran-raisins 1/4 cup.Diet sodas are ok and are considered a free food choice. I would ask your Dr. to make an appointment with a dietitian to set up a meal plan for yourself. I went to three diabetes classes and I am going back for a follow up on the 21st of Sept.
References :
My Meal Plan International Diabetes Center. Their website is http://www.internationaldiabetescenter.com
udebhan singh s responded on 22 Nov 2009 at 8:34 pm #
I also have diabetes since last six months weight bearing execrcises like brisk walking are best . As regards fruits I have been told to avoid sweet fruits like bananas and not more than half a apple a day is recommended . Papaya in the morning is best or any other fruit which is not too sweet
best of luck
References :
JACK M responded on 22 Nov 2009 at 9:12 pm #
Fresh fruits seem to be OK but you have to watch how much fresh fruit juice you drink My Doctor recommended one small glass in the morning.
References :