Diabetes and Diet

I have been thinking about what to write next, and honestly nothing had came to mind until the word chocolate popped into my mind and sent my taste buds ranting for just a taste of it once more. Chocolate has became a bad thing for me since being diagnosed with Diabetes, however after hours of research and reading I think I have found the cure to my cravings. As some of you may know when fighting Diabetes, you have to watch what you eat and the carbohydrates in them. Chocolate is high in this department but there is hope for us.

First, try a dark chocolate, these have less fats, less carbohydrates and a richer flavor so less in this case is truly more. Another thing to consider is that when you eat a dark chocolate everyone says to eat it slowly, savor the flavor, and let is dissolve on its own in your mouth. Well if you do these things then you will be reaping all of the benefits with a few consequences. Darker chocolate takes longer for the body to turn into sugar and if you have it after a healthily meal then it takes even longer to absorb. Remember all Diabetes diets have free foods in them and though chocolate is not on the list eating after one of your free foods helps the body t adjust and leaves you feeling better.

There are different types of chocolate available with nuts, berries, and other flavors added. Nevertheless, remember plain dark chocolate is always better for you. Another type of chocolate available is diet chocolate, is this truly better for you? Nope they still turn into glucose and in my opinion; the sugar substitute changes the flavor and does not do a thing for the chocolate. In addition, the substitute chocolate has been known to cause stomach-cramping, diarrhea, and of course upset your stomach.

Another food for thought concerning chocolate is the same as any food or drink when either on a Diabetic Diet or just plain eating right, Food in Moderation is always best.

Dee Owens
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/diabetes-and-chocolate-87922.html

I’m 16 years old and over the Christmas break I went a little overboard with the soda, but I exercise somewhat often, walking 2 miles daily. On Wednesday of last week I got somewhat dizzy, I can almost compare it to being high. I went and laid down and felt fine for the rest of the day. Then the next day I felt dizzy, and started to worry because when I laid down my legs felt kind of numb, I was also pretty restless and felt somewhat weak. The next day I got a sore throat, so I laid in bed for a few days until my throat felt better, then I got up on Sunday feeling dizzy and weak again, after drinking a sip of soda I felt extremely dizzy and was very pale in the face. So I laid down and grabbed an orange, thinking it was no big deal, within 5 minutes I felt and looked normal. On Monday I decided to cut soda, and high-fructose syrup out of my diet completely, eating protein and lots more vegetables and fruits. Tuesday I laid in bed hoping I would get better, then today (Wednesday the 31st) i got out of bed, had an orange, some eggs and bacon, feeling still a little weak but not dizzy or numb in my legs. I went outside for a walk and dug out a fire pit in the backyard, which is for a party tonight. I need to know if I actually do have diabetes, the symptoms seem to fit, considering the amount of soda i consumed of the break. I was hoping that there was nothing wrong with me, because unfortunately I have no health insurance, and since the economy is headed towards a recession, my father isn’t making shit for cash, and cannot afford a visit to the doctor, I need to know if you think there is something seriously wrong with me.

Thanks,
Ben Osborn

Hypoglycemia Symptoms
Because epinephrine, one of the hormones that is activated by hypoglycemia, comes from the central nervous system, the majority of early symptoms of hypoglycemia are related to the nervous system.
Common symptoms of hypoglycemia include the following:
Trembling
Clamminess
Palpitations
Anxiety
Sweating
Hunger

Because the brain is deprived of glucose, a second set of symptoms follows:
Difficulty in thinking
Confusion
Headache
Seizures
Coma
Ultimately, death

Eating every 4-6 hours is important to prevent hypoglycemia.
Be adventurous and try something new to liven up your snacks between meals!
Each of the following counts as one starch:

One small apple, orange, peach, pear, nectarine, or tangerine
Eight animal crackers
Four medium fresh apricots or seven dried halves
1/2 of a banana rolled with 2-tablespoons Grape Nuts cereal
1 cup cubed cantaloupe
Twelve Bing cherries
Two chocolate mousse bars (Weight Watchers)
1/2 cup chow mein noodles
Two sugar-free fudgesicles
Three gingersnaps
36 Goldfish (adds 1 fat serving)
Three graham crackers (2 1/2-inch square)
1/2 low-fat granola bar
15 grapes
½ cup fruit juice
Five slices melba toast
1 cup skim milk
Three peanut butter sandwich crackers (adds 1 fat serving)
Two small plums
24 oyster crackers
3 cups popcorn (popped by hot air, or low-fat microwave)
1 slice of angel food cake
1 sugar-free pudding snack cup
Three dried pitted prunes
15 fat-free potato or tortilla chips
3/4 ounce pretzels
2 tablespoons raisins
Two rice cakes (4" diameter)
1 regular Jell-o snack cup
Seven Ritz crackers (adds 1 fat serving)
Six saltine crackers
½ cup canned fruit
15 Teddy Grahams (adds 1 fat serving)
Five reduced-fat Triscuits
Six Vanilla Wafers (adds 1 fat serving)
Six Waverly Wafers (adds 1 fat serving)
12 Original Wheat Thins (adds 1 fat serving)
13 Reduced-fat Wheat Thins (adds 1/2 fat serving)
1 cup nonfat fruit-flavored yogurt (sweetened with sugar substitute)
1/2 cup of sherbet or I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt or TCBY frozen yogurt

Most people I know that have hypoglycemia are THIN.
I think you could just try a low glycemic diet for a period you will find out that you can control this by your self. Heres a website for you to live by:http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm

I would like to know if anyone found a way to stop craving sweets? Every time i eat i crave something sweet afterwards. I try to ignore it and it works for awhile but i always end up craving it again. Im not overweight or anything i just know it is unhealthy and i have diabetes in my family so i do not want to end up with diabetes either. Ive read eating fruits or vegetables but it doesnt work for me. Thanks

I haven’t found anything that works permanently, but sometimes if I have sugar-free hard candy it helps. Something sweet to suck on takes care of that desire most days.

Another thing that works, but in an opposite way is to have Halls cough drops handy. They are very strong and make food taste horrible.

Type two diabetes occurs in individuals that take in too much sugar in their diet. Learn a natural way to treat type two diabetes symptoms in this free health clip from registered dietitian.

Expert: Rachael Richardson
Contact: www.nutrolution.com
Bio: Rachael Richardson is a registered dietitian and a licensed nutritionist in Florida with more than a decade of experience.
Filmmaker: Paul Muller

Duration : 0:1:6

Type two diabetes occurs in individuals that take in too much sugar in their diet. Learn a natural way to treat type two diabetes symptoms in this free health clip from registered dietitian.

Expert: Rachael Richardson
Contact: www.nutrolution.com
Bio: Rachael Richardson is a registered dietitian and a licensed nutritionist in Florida with more than a decade of experience.
Filmmaker: Paul Muller

Duration : 0:1:6

Type I diabetes occurs in ten percent of the population. Learn the causes of Type I diabetes in this free video from a nutritionist specializing in diabetic diets.

Expert: Heidi Kaufman
Bio: Heidi Kaufman is a nutritionist that focuses on disorder prevention through diet. She gives lectures and teaches class at the local hospital about how to live with diabetes.
Filmmaker: Reggie Hayes

Duration : 0:2:23