Chef and Food Network star Paula Deen announced that she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2008. Paula Deen's kitchen has a reputation for the fatty, the buttery and the over-the-top. It's just a few notorious recipes have included fried stuffing on a stick, ribs casserole and red velvet cake.
Deen confirmed her commitment to creating decadent recipes to be enjoyed "in moderation" (and offering diet advice to fellow sufferers through her website Diabetes In A New Light), her announcement was met with skepticism. The website is sponsored by Novo Nordisk, a pharmaceutical company that pays Deen to be a spokesperson for its diabetes drug, Victoza.
An estimated 25 million Americans (8.3 percent of the adult population!) suffer from the disease and about 80 percent of them are overweight or obese, indicating that dietary changes are a necessity. Obviously, weight loss is an important part of managing the disease and that requires a commitment to healthier eating.
Here are a few tips from the American Diabetic Association that clear up some of the myths about eating with diabetes. Of course, it's imperative to talk to a doctor about an appropriate treatment plan for you:
Cut Back, But Don't Cut Out Sugar
"There's an old idea that sweets are verboten for those with diabetes, but that's no longer correct," Warshaw said in an interview with WebMD. "It's true that the carbohydrates in sweets can raise your glucose levels, but an equal amount of starch would have similar effect."
An occasional, small cookie is okay -- having dessert every night is not. It's worth noting that "sugar free" dessert options can also be damaging. That's because the sweets are made with sugar alcohols -- a type of artificial sweetener -- also stimulate blood glucose levels, though to a lesser extent than real sugar. That means a sugar-free candy can still cause a spike in blood sugar levels.
What's more, sugar can sound healthful, but often have a great deal of calories from carbohydrates and fat. The American Diabetes Association recommends restricting foods that have more than five grams of sugar alcohols.
Healthy Snacks Are Fine, But Not Imperative
Many people believe that diabetics must have a high-sugar snack on hand at all times, in case of a hypoglycemic episode. But that's based on outdated medications that were used by diabetics to treat high blood glucose levels. Newer medicines can bring blood glucose to healthy levels without over-regulating into a sugar slump.
And while there's nothing wrong with healthy snacking, some people have a tendency to overeat or make poor food choices when they eat between meals. There's no reason to force it.
Think Less About Food, More About Exercise
Exercise helps you burn glucose, not just during a workout, but for up to 24 hours after it. A fitness routine can also decrease insulin resistance, lower blood pressure, improve levels of "good" HDL cholesterol. Those last two are particularly important for heart health: diabetics are two to four times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke, according to the American Heart Association and high blood pressure, high cholesterol and lack of physical activity increase this risk even more.Related Searches:
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