DIABETES TREATMENT

Tips to Reshape Behavior

1.Pan-fry or saute foods with a non-stick spray or low-calorie butter substitute. Bake or broil instead of frying.

2.Eat high-fiber foods, such as a bran muffin instead of the morning donut.

3.Use sugar substitutes when sweetening foods and beverages.

4.Order from the light menus now offered at many restaurants, or purchase low-calorie or
reduced-fat products at the grocery store.

5.Try a meal plan using "exchange lists" based on foods grouped together according to similar food values. Most exchange lists include several "free" foods: those lower than 20 calories per serving, such as many low-calorie, sugar-free foods and beverages.

6.Never skip meals. Eat three to six times a day in smaller portions to keep from getting hungry.

7.Use a smaller plate at mealtime to satisfy your psychological need to see a full plate.

8.Eat and chew slowly. Learn to stop eating before you feel full. (It takes 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain that it is full!)

9.Weigh yourself on a regular schedule, but don’t become a slave to your scale.

10.Reward yourself with pleasures other than food--buy some new clothes, get a different hair style, see a movie, visit a friend, etc.

How is diabetes treated?

The major goal in treating diabetes is to minimize any elevation of blood sugar (glucose) without causing abnormally low levels of blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin,exercise, and a diabetic diet. Type 2 diabetes is treated first with weight reduction, a diabetic diet, and exercise. When these measures fail to control the elevated blood sugars, oral medications are used. If oral medications are still insufficient, treatment with insulin is considered.
Adherence to a diabetic diet is an important aspect of controlling elevated blood sugar in patients with diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has provided guidelines for a diabetic diet. The ADA diet is a balanced, nutritious diet that is low in fat, cholesterol, and simple sugars. The total daily calories are evenly divided into three meals. In the past two years, the ADA has lifted the absolute ban on simple sugars. Small amounts of simple sugars are allowed when consumed with a complex meal.Weight reduction and exercise are important treatments for diabetes. Weight reduction and exercise increase the body's sensitivity to insulin, thus helping to control blood sugar elevations.