Diabetes is one of those common killer diseases in our
Societies today. This disease has killed and is still killing so many people in
our societies today. Diabetes popularly known as ‘Diabetes Mellitus’ is a
disorder of the metabolism of glucose caused either by a deficiency of insulin
– the digestive hormone present in the body or the inability of cells in the
body to use available insulin.
There are two types of diabetes, which are:
1.
The type I. diabetes which is popularly known as
the Juvenile diabetes and
2.
The type II. Diabetes which is also popularly
known as the Adult onset diabetes
Type I diabetes:
This is also called Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and it’s very common
among children and young adults. It is due to a deficiency of Insulin in the
body. However, it is a type of insulin that can be injected into the body
artificially.
Type II diabetes:
This is also called non Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus which is very
common among middle aged people and it is made worse by excessive consumption
of a diet rich in sweets and refined products. It is a condition whereby the
body cannot make use of the available insulin in the body.
Diets for Diabetes
Since food is a major factor in any Illness, it is therefore
necessary to begin the treatment with proper combinations of food. It must be
emphatically stated here, that drugs do no cure any illness but it only helps
to strengthen the immune system thereby helping the system to fight illnesses.
There are foods that should be totally eliminated or reduced
so as not to make the situation worse and there are also foods that should be
encouraged to be consumed by the diabetics patient.
So, any diabetic patient should avoid as much as possible
the followings: sugars, refined baked goods, meat, milk, salt, artificial or
refined honey, chocolate, shellfish, alcoholic beverages. However, the
consumption of the followings must be encouraged and be taken by the diabetic
patient.
They are as follows: Raw and fresh Vegetables when taken in
their natural state; Fruits like Pawpaw, cucumber, bananas, loquats because it
contains Sesquiterpenic glycosides and triterpenoids ( Substances that have
been identified as being responsible for anti-diabetic action), oranges and
pure natural honey, I mean, “pure natural honey, not diluted”; also increase
your consumption of onions- it reduces the blood glucose level, carrots, okra, bitter
leaf, garlic and ginger; Unsaturated fats especially soya beans oil, cotton
seed oil and castor oil are healthier; nuts- groundnut and pea nut; avocado,
because it helps maintain an appropriate blood glucose level; mushroom, since
it reduces the need for insulin to regulate blood glucose; Irish potato, solely
because it contains complex carbohydrates that slowly transform to glucose
between 3 to 4 hours of digestion in the intestine which does not cause any
sudden changes in blood glucose level.
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