Diabetes

Diet and health are extremely important in managing diabetes. They are one of the four pillars, along with continual self-monitoring, exercise and medication. Most diabetics do not experience any significant fluctuations in their blood glucose levels after eating milk or yoghurt, nor low fat or fat free milk and milk powder (if mixed strictly according to the product instructions).

However some diabetics might find they have problems controlling their blood sugar levels after eating milk, yoghurt or sweetened flavoured milk drinks. If this happens it is best to consult a medical physician or registered dietician. Get them to confirm that the milk is the cause before unnecessarily excluding dairy from your diet.

Keep it Lean

Diabetics should stick to low fat and fat free dairy products due to their greater risk of developing coronary heart disease. Cheese is usually high in fat and is generally not recommended. Small amounts of the lower fat types such as Ricotta and Lichten Blanc can be successfully included into the diet. Even the high fat cheeses, if consumed in very small amounts, can also be sensibly included. However, diabetics should rather consult their dietician for practical guidelines regarding the use of such products.

Fast Facts: Stick to fat free dairy to help keep your body weight under control. There is a strong association between non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes and obesity.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus, or sugar diabetes, is a condition where the body cannot transfer sugar (or glucose) from the blood into cells to produce energy. This is because the pancreas malfunctions and doesn’t produce enough insulin to carry out this function. When it is not burned off, glucose builds up in the bloodstream causing symptoms such as excessive thirst and hunger (especially for sweets), nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, slow healing of wounds, cramps, vaginal itching, frequent skin, gum or urinary tract infections, inexplicable weight loss. In severe cases, if untreated, it can lead to coma and even death.

Type 1 diabetes:

This is caused by the destruction of the body's insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Although this type of diabetes is more prevalent among children and young adults, it can strike at any age and accounts for about 10 percent of all diabetes cases. If you have Type 1 diabetes, your body makes no insulin, so you must take daily insulin injections to metabolize the glucose you digest. There is no known cure for Type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes:

If you were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, you're not alone. Yours is the most common type of diabetes and it accounts for approximately 90 percent of the diabetes population. Type 2 diabetes has several causes, including heredity, age, and weight. Like most people with Type 2 diabetes, your body probably makes enough insulin, but you're just not able to use it properly. You'll find that losing weight and exercising frequently can help you manage this kind of diabetes.

Gestational diabetes

A woman's body changes a lot during pregnancy. Pregnant women can develop gestational diabetes. All women should be checked for diabetes in the sixth month of pregnancy (weeks 24-28). Approximately 2 to 5 percent of all women who become pregnant develop gestational diabetes.

Ask the Experts:

Will changing to a raw diet affect my blood glucose levels?

The body takes longer to digest raw foods and this will probably lower your blood glucose levels, which could require less insulin. A raw food diet will severely limit your choices of foods. It is not advisable for anyone, especially someone with diabetes, to eat raw meat, fish or chicken. The only carbohydrates you will be getting will be coming from fruits and vegetables, and milk or dairy products. I recommend that you do include dairy products because without them you will not get adequate calcium. I do not recommend eating grain products raw. You should be aware that your digestive system will go through some changes and you will probably have a lot of flatulence for several months until your system adjusts.

If you do decide to go ahead with this plan, please make an appointment with a registered dietician who can help you make sure you are getting adequate nutrients and monitor your medical condition.