One of the best and most recommended ways of keeping diabetes in check is by following a diabetes diet plan. Of course, you have to consult a nutritionist before you embark on one, but following such a diet plan is the ideal way of making sure that diabetes does not get the best of you. A qualified nutritionist can make sure that there is enough variation in the diet without sacrificing any of the essential nutrition that your body needs.

Since a healthy diabetic food plan depends on strict measurement of different kinds of food, it must be prepared with the utmost care, paying a great deal of attention to exact ingredient measurements. For instance, it should have 50% starch, 30% protein and 20% fat.

You really have to be dedicated to following your diabetic eating plan. Fatty and high calorie foods like fried foods and snacks between meals must all be strictly avoided. You also have to be careful not to miss any meals - this can mess up your metabolism. Eating out can be a problem, but you have to be careful.

Fructose is much easily digested than sucrose, so consuming a lot of fruits and vegetables is recommended, but they must be fresh and not frozen. Frozen foods are often preserved with various fatty and sugary chemicals. Avoid whole milk dairy products in your daily meals, but you should get your necessary dairy intake by drinking skimmed milk. Look away from all sweets, honey and candy items and other bakery and/or confectionery items containing high amounts of enriched carbohydrates.

Binges out on the town are out of the picture, too, when you are on your diabetic eating plan. Alcohol should be strictly avoided. Red meat, mayonnaise, eggs and other foods that are high in cholesterol and fat content should be avoided as far as possible too. Fizzy drinks, sauces and dressings and bottled juice are other items you must try and avoid. What you should aim at is a daily intake of around 1800 calories. This means that your daily diet must be carefully planned.

It is not as difficult as it might seem to figure out a good diet plan for a diabetic. Here is a simple and wholesome one. Breakfast can be a slice of wholemeal bread, a soft-boiled egg, half a cup of oatmeal, two thirds of a cup of apple juice and one cup of skimmed milk, without sugar. Lunch can include two slices of wholemeal bread, half a cup of tuna, a half a cup of diced tomatoes, one cup of mixed fruit, a glass of lemon tea and a teaspoon of margarine. A good dinner to round off the day would include half a cup of mashed potatoes, one slice of wholemeal bread, three ounces of baked chicken and either a cup of broccoli or a tossed salad. Salad dressing is something else you have to be wary of - store-bought dressings are high-fat and high-sugar. You could try a teaspoon of olive oil with some chopped garlic and a condiment like parsley, sage, basil or oregano for seasoning.

So making the right diabetes diet plan is not easy - you have to know what nutrition your body needs and you have to understand your metabolism. With your doctor, you can make your own diet plan to keep diabetes away, which will be tasty, healthy and a pleasure to follow.

20.8 million people suffer from diabetes in the United States. There are three kinds of diabetes, Type I, Type II and Gestational diabetes. Of the three, Type I affects 175.600 people, that’s .22%, according to the American Diabetes Association. What exactly causes the disease is still unclear. We do know that there are certain factors that can influence whether a person develops the disease.

Two 24 hour insulin types which are long acting are- ultralente insulin which prolongs the entry of insulin into the blood for four to six hours and remains active for 28 hours and ultra-long-acting glargine which is injected once a day. Its activity begins in just over an hour and is sustained at a relatively constant rate for 24 hours, without any peaks.

Unlike Type II, Type I diabetes is irreversible. Once diagnosed, Type I carries severe consequences if not cared for properly. Type I diabetes is when the body does not produce insulin anymore. Whether it’s because the pancreas is damaged or the cells that produce insulin have been destroyed, the metabolic processes that occur in healthy individuals aren’t working anymore. It is at this point that the pancreas needs outside help to function. Insulin is the only alternative. Warning signs that you may be in pre-diabetic stages include excessive thirst, excessive hunger, rapid Weight Loss, fatigue, irritability and mood swings. If you think you may be at risk, your doctor can perform tests to determine your blood sugar level and pancreas function.

When the sugar level in your blood is too high, you have diabetes. In Type I diabetes, the level of sugar is not only high, it is out of control. The reason being the body has stopped production of the required quantity of insulin. As a result, type I diabetes patient needs two to five insulin shots per day, to keep the blood sugar levels under control.

Rapid Weight Loss

There are more than 20 different kinds of insulin. They are either manufactured in a lab or derived from animals.

Irritability and mood changes

But, what were those warnings? You suddenly lost weight and then you thought that you were evolving into a fit personality. You used bathroom a lot, your hunger almost seized you and you were happy about it. When you became very thirsty, you thought that drinking lots of water is good for health. A nature cure fad had advised you about it. You had blurred vision, you got your eyes tested and you bought a glass and sunglass too. You felt tired but you thought that all hard and sincere workers get tired-not once a thought streaked into your mind, that you must have a check up! And you now have a life-long companion, Diabetes Type I.

Once acquired, Type I is life altering. There are many complications that can accompany diabetes if not cared for properly. These can include kidney disease, heart disease, skin and eye complications. Difficulty healing can occur.

In extreme cases, kidney, pancreas or islet cell transplants are needed.

Prevention is the best line of defense against developing diabetes. Education helps an individual learn the warning signs, before permanent damage to the pancreas takes place. Unfortunately, many people have the tendency to overlook symptoms. They contribute them to some other minor problem. For example, fatigue is brushed off as a result of working too late. It should be known, however, that life with Type I diabetes is manageable. Advances in medicine paired with information about living healthy gives diabetics a huge advantage over this disease. Ultimately it is left to the person to make healthy choices for his or her future.