The reason a person suffers from High Sugar is primarily due to the fact that he/she is not able to produce Insulin (no Insulin or at-least, not enough Insulin) and/or the fact that his body is resistant to Insulin.
What is Blood Sugar?
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If we backtrack a couple of steps.
When we eat, food gets digested and gets converted and aborbed as Sugar (Glucose) into our blood. This is Blood Sugar.
Beta Cells in our Pancreas, sensing this, then produce adequate amounts of Insulin. Insulin is required for our Cells to absorb thr Sugar from Blood. This is subsequently used as Fuel.
After this, Blood Sugar levels return to normal. The Beta Cells then Stop/Reduce production of Insulin, (according the Blood Sugar Levels).
Why High Blood Sugar in Diabetics:
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In people with High Blood Sugar (Diabetics), the Insulin is absent, is not available immediately, or is not being produced Sufficiently at the Right Time. Also, the Insulin produced is Not Enough to make the Cells absorb Sugar out of the Blood (Insulin Resistance), fast enough, resulting in High Blood Sugar values.
Why High Blood Sugar is NOT a good thing:
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Higher than normal Blood Sugar numbers are not good, as over time, this can cause severe damage to many many parts of our body.
What kind of Food are Advisable:
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It is therefore, advisable, for Diabetics, to eat food that does not Digest Quickly and produce a Blood Sugar Spike.
Simple Carbohydrates, such as White Rice, White Bread, Flour of all types, Potato etc are Foods that get digested Very Quickly, which in turn produces a Blood Sugar Spike.
Complex Carbohydrates, such as Oats, take time to digest and therefore, do NOT produce a Blood Sugar spike, as much as Simple Carbohydrates.
Additionally, Proteins (if consumed in Moderate Quantities) and Fat (not Trans Fat), do NOT get digested Quickly and therefore, do NOT produce Blood Sugar spikes as does Simple Carbohydrates.
Advisable Eating Habits:
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The following Eating Habits are also highly advisable:
1) Do NOT skip Meals
2) Do NOT skip Breakfast (yes, this is Empahasized)
3) Eat a Good Amount of Quality Protein with ALL MEALS
4) Eat a Good Amount of Quality Protein with Breakfast (yes, this is Emphasized)
The Following Suggestions for people who are NOT on Diabetes Medications.
If you are on Diabetes Medication, follow these steps with EXTREME Caution, TESTING OFTEN, to ensure that your Blood Sugar levels do NOT drop to Dangerously Low Levels.
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5) Leave a gap of 4-5 hours between your meals … NO SNACKING BETWEEN MEALS
6) Eat your Dinner Early 6 pm to 7 pm … NO SNACKING OF ANY KIND until Breakfast
7) Leave a Gap of 12-14 hours before your BREAKFAST the next Morning
Other Suggestions:
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1) Make sure to Control your Eating Portions. (Reduce How Much you Eat)
2) Eat ONLY WHEN YOU are HUNGRY…Hunger should be the ONLY REASON to eat
3) Chew your food well, ENJOY your food and EAT SLOWLY…
4) Ensure that you test the Blood Sugar Spikes, with a Home Blood Sugar Monitor. While these cannot be used for Clinical Purposes, if Used Properly, they give you a Pretty Good Ballpark of where your Blood Sugar Levels are at anytime. This can therefore, be used to guage how your Blood Sugar spikes after eating certain foods and quantities, and you can then tailor your Food and Portion intake, accordingly.
5) Make sure to test your HbA1c (at a Certified Testing Lab) regularly. While it is commonly suggested to test once every 3 months, it is not a bad idea to test your A1c every month. This ensures that you are on the right track with your Nutrition intake.
VERY VERY IMPORTANT:
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1) If you are taking medications for your Diabetes, please make sure to test for the Blood Sugars very regularly. You do NOT want to get into a situation of too LOW Blood Sugar Level. If it falls to levels that are too low (70 mg/dL and below), could be FATAL.
2) Always approach your Diabetic Doctor BEFORE making any Adjustments/Changes to your Food Intake and/or Medicines.
3) Talk to a Certified Nutritionist before Making any Adjustments/Changes to your Nutrition Intake. Make sure to let them know that you suffer from High Blood Sugar (you are a Diabetic).
4) Whatever you do, do NOT think you can take your medicines but, still continue with UnHealthy Food Habits. This is NOT GOOD.
5) TEST REGULARLY, your Blood Sugars (Fasting, Post Prandial (BG Spikes) & Random)…as well as your HbA1c
PLEASE NOTE:
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I am NOT a Doctor. Do have Diabetes myself…I control my diabetes through NUTRITION, EXERCISE and through REGULAR TESTING.
DISCLAIMER:
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None of the above discussions are to be taken as Medical Consultation or as Medical Treatments.
They are to be used ONLY AS COMMON SENSE GUIDELINES.
You will NEED TO APPROACH YOUR DOCTOR AND CERTIFIED NUTRITIONIST before making ANY CHANGES TO YOUR MEDICINE AND/OR FOOD HABITS, especially, if you suffer from High Blood Sugars.