Discover Diabetes

It is classified in two groups-one where there is no insulin produced by the body called IDDM (Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus) of Type  I diabetes and Type II Diabetes  where some insulin is stick made by the body. Type I diabetes is usually a childhood disorder, where the pancreas does not produce any insulin of very little of it. Type II Diabetes- is more common in adults.

Diabetes is a life long disease marked by high levels of sugar/glucose in the blood. Normally after intake of food the gland called pancreas releases insulin which helps in the breakdown  of sugar and carbohydrates into simpler forms for absorption and assimilation into our systems. 

Predisposing factors for developing NIDDM are being Obese and/or Overweight, poor dietary choices, sedentary life styles, use of steroid based drugs for prolonged  periods, having first degree relatives with NIDDM, age over 45, certain ethnic/ social-economic group, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.

good Tips:  Eat more low GI foods. Low GI foods include apples, bananas, pears, oranges, cherries, peaches, dried apricots guavas,  watermelons, dried dates and mangoes tend to have a higher GI index of around 70 or more, whereas raisins,  sultanas, apricots, pineapples, and rock melon sit in the middle.

Use Basmati rice instead of cal rose or other white rice.

Barley, semolina, mixed grain bread, porridge and wheat based pasta are better than rice, pasta, white bread, puffed wheat, cornflakes and rice bubbles.

Most lentils. legumes, peas, carrots, green leafy vegetables are very low in GI index.

Avoid pale skin potatoes and pumpkins.

Always mix and match your foods with a variety of foods with different GI indies so as to provide you with adequate nutrition according to your age and lifestyle.

The following  foods are called free foods and you can eat as much as you like  greenj beans, spinach, pumpkins, carrot, cauliflower, cabbagem broccoli, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, celery, ccumber, bean sprouts, mushroom, zucchini and peas. Among fruits you canj eat passion fruits, rhubarb. For drinks you can have unsweetened tea, coffee and soda and plain mineral water. You can have low kilojoules soft drink and cordial but avoid them if you can. For spread use vegemite and low joules jam. For sauce, use soy sauce (low salt variety), for salad dressing you can use vinegar or no-oil salad dressings. As  sources of protein you can include moderate amount of fish, lamb, shell fish, chicken turkey, egg and low fat cheese.