The Mediterranean diet is a diet rich in cereal, fish, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits and legumes and it is very well suited for people with Diabetes. In this article we will be lead to the conclusion that the Mediterranean diet, Mediterranean foods and Mediterranean culinary cuisine are suitable for people with Diabetes through a series of frequently asked questions. Some of the frequently asked questions are:
Is there a specific diet for people with Diabetes? There is no specific diet for people with diabetes. What the diabetic people need is a specialized and in some cases individualized diet plan.
The diet plan for diabetic people is a guide/plan which contains all the healthy choices that fit to the lifestyle, habits and culture of the diabetic person. It is all about a diet plan that helps to maintain the right sugar levels, the cardiovascular pressure, the cholesterol and weight of the person in need. Diabetic people need to ensure that they maintain the right levels of sugar in their blood with the right balance of food, insulin intake and exercise. This may sound hard to achieve but with the consultation of the right professionals, medical doctor and professional dietician, this can be achieved providing a quality life to the diabetic person.
Should the diabetic persons eat different foods than the rest of the family? The answer is No. Diabetic people can eat the same food as the rest of the family. What needs to be known is which food affect the sugar levels and with the assistance of the professional and qualified dietician to plan the meals accordingly
Which foods affect the sugar levels the most? Foods are separated into 3 main categories: Carbohydrates, Proteins and fats. The carbohydrates affect the sugar levels more that proteins and fats. It is for this reason that we must know the amount of carbohydrates that specific foods contain, so that we will be able to regulate the food intakes.
Why is the measurement of carbohydrates important and essential? Measurement of the carbohydrates in the foods helps to control and manage better the sugar levels in the blood of the diabetic person and thus avoid or delay any unpleasant complications or site effects. Carbohydrates even though they affect the most the sugar levels, they are much needed by the body since they contain vitamins, metals and fibers that are essential to the body. Maintaining a balanced diet plan is must for diabetic people.
Can the persons with diabetes eat fruits and other starchy foods? The answer is yes. What is needed of course, is a diet plan and the right planning because fruits are much needed by the body since they contain vegetable fibers, vitamins and other micronutrients
Can the people with diabetes eat foods that contain sugar? The answer is again yes, for almost all the persons with diabetes. Eating a sweet will increase the sugar level in the blood the same way as the eating of bread, potatoes and other foods that contain carbohydrates. Eating as small cake/sweet in the place of bread or potato it is possible for most diabetic people. You should be careful however because sweets contain calories that can lead to increased weight.
So what is a healthy diet? The list below gives a few tips and ways so as to have a healthy and balance diet. This is not only for diabetics but for each and every person.
- Eat fresh fruits and vegetables
- Choose whole grain cereal products like dark bread, and whole grain pasta
- Eat a lot of legumes for lunch
- Prefer fat free white meat
- Eat fish at least twice a week
- Eat/drink fat free dairy products
- Drink water instead of soft drinks
- Use olive oil in your foods and when cooking
- Eat in moderation
- Exercise
If one follows all the tips/ways given above for a healthy diet and reads all the answers to the questions above and checks the description of the Med diet and the Mediterranean inverted pyramid, he or she will realize that what is described here as the right diet for the diabetics is nothing else than the Mediterranean diet and the cuisine to be followed is nothing else than the Mediterranean culinary cuisine.
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