Low Sodium Diabetic Diet

Upon being diagnosed with diabetes, one of the main concerns is probably how you’ll control your carbs intake. However, there is another nutrient that every type 2 diabetes patient should take into consideration: sodium.

What is the relationship between diabetes and sodium?

Sodium is an important electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance in the body and ensure proper nerve and muscle function. However, data from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) shows that 89% of adults are getting too much salt.

When the body is unable to get rid of the excess salt, it can lead to various complications including high blood pressure, one of the main risk factors for heart disease.

Diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Statistics linking heart disease and diabetes are enough to motivate you to limit your sodium intake. According to the AHA (American Heart Association), diabetes patients are 4 times more likely to suffer from heart disease compared to people who don’t have the disease.

This can be attributed to the fact that type 2 diabetes patients are typically more prone to heart disease due to risk factors such as having “bad” or LDL cholesterol, living a sedentary lifestyle, carrying excess weight, and having high blood pressure.

How much salt should you eat when you have diabetes?

Salt contains 40% sodium and 60% chloride. Therefore, limiting your salt intake plays a big role in lowering your sodium intake and thus your risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends diabetes patients limit their intake of sodium to 2,300 mg (1 teaspoon of salt) daily.

Lowering your intake even further to just 1,000 mg per day helps blood pressure. However, recommendations may vary per person and it’s therefore important to consult your physician to find out which sodium intake limit would work best for you.

According to a study published in the Journal Circulation in May 2017, 70% of sodium is found in processed and restaurant food. Therefore, the best way to cut back on sodium intake is to avoid processed food and limit the number of times you dine out each week.

Shopping can be daunting at first. However, after the first few visits spent making comparisons, it will be a breeze. It is particularly important to keep in mind that sodium can hide in surprising places, such as packaged oatmeal, bread, and certain condiments. Therefore, your dietitian or doctor may ask you to avoid or limit high salt foods such as:

Salt seasonings (seasoned salt)
Canned meats
Processed or cured foods
Boxed mixes of pasta, rice or potatoes
Canned vegetables and soups (with sodium)
Salad dressing, mustard, ketchup, canned sauces, and other spreads
Pickled foods
Packaged gravies, sauces, or soups
Salty snack foods
Olives
Processed meats: sausage, ham, bacon, and lunch meat.
Steak and soy sauces
MSG (monosodium glutamate) which is commonly found in Chinese food

Tips for low sodium diabetes diet

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, these low-salt cooking tips will help you limit your sodium intake:

Go for fresh foods or ingredients with no added salt
Try pineapple or orange juice as the main base for marinades
For favorite recipes, decrease or delete the salt you normally add or simply use other ingredients.
Avoid canned vegetables, soups, and entrees; rice and pasta mixes; instant cereal; frozen dinners; and gravy, sauces, and pudding mixes.
Use frozen entrees that contain less than 600mg of sodium per serving. Be sure to check nutrition fact labels on packages for sodium content.
Use frozen, fresh, or canned vegetables with no added salt.
Opt for canned soups with low sodium content.
Avoid spice blends and mixed seasonings that contain garlic salt and other salts.

The body adjusts fast and after about 2 weeks you’ll not miss added salt in your food.

Which seasonings can you use to replace salt?

Some of the spices and herbs you can use to improve natural flavors in your diet include:

Cinnamon
Basil
Chives
Cumin
Celery seeds
Cocoa powder
Chili powder
Garlic and garlic powder
Dill
Flavoring extracts (almond, vanilla, etc.)
Curry
Lime or lemon juice
Mint
Nutmeg
Marjoram
Paprika
Onion powder
No-salt seasoning blends
Pepper
Rosemary
Thyme
Sage
parsley
Pimiento
Savory
Paprika

According to research published in the October 2014 issue of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, people with type 2 diabetes who had the highest intake of salt increased their risk of heart disease by up to 200% compared with patients who consumed the lowest amount.

The researchers concluded that limiting sodium intake goes a long way in preventing the complications of type 2 diabetes.

The Obesity Epidemic and Juvenile Diabetes

In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of people with type 1 diabetes who are also obese. Even though obesity has been strongly linked to the pathogenesis as well as initiation of type 2 diabetes and a risk factor for complications, very little is known about its role in the development and progression of type 1 diabetes.

Recent studies suggest that obesity plays a role in the development of cardiometabolic complications, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes.

These co-morbidities may require to be addressed using therapeutic strategies in the context of insulin therapy which has been shown to promote weight gain. Therefore, there’s an urgent need for guidelines for the management as well as prevention of type 1 diabetes.

These clinical recommendations are being developed using a trans-disciplinary research approach addressing molecular mechanisms, metabolism, neuropsychology, novel therapeutics, and lifestyle.

What is the relationship between obesity and juvenile diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes, which is also known as juvenile diabetes, is a chronic immune-mediated condition that is characterized by the loss of beta cells in susceptible subjects.

Beta cells are mainly responsible for producing insulin in the pancreas. The main genes contributing to juvenile diabetes susceptibility are located in the HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) class 2 locus on chromosome 6.

The Human Leukocyte Antigen genes have been linked to about 50% of the familial clustering of juvenile diabetes.

Obesity and overweight are related to type 1 diabetes in various aspects. In addition to being a risk factor for juvenile diabetes, obesity can also be a challenge when it comes to managing and treating the disease.

Moreover, obesity and overweight increase the risk of micro and macro-vascular complications in juvenile diabetes. Such challenges typically arise in adolescence and may become even more common in adults.

Essential points

Obesity has been known to be a predisposing factor and concurrent phenotype for type 2 diabetes. However, its physiological attributes, consequences, and prevalence in juvenile diabetes are poorly understood.
As the prevalence of type 1 diabetes increases in the United States and many other parts across the globe, it is important to develop specific guidelines for the treatment and prevention of obesity and the achievement and maintenance of optimal glycemic control in type 1 diabetes.
The characteristics and role of energy balance in juvenile diabetes are not completely defined and are likely to be affected by both medical therapy and glycemic control.
Studies show that potential driving mechanisms of obesity in juvenile diabetes include microbiome, epigenetics, genetics, enteroendocrine hormones, and effects on various organs, organelles, cells, and tissues.
Developing well-defined weight management approaches in people with juvenile diabetes requires a multi-disciplinary research strategy that includes expertise in endocrinology, epidemiology, translational metabolism, exercise physiology, clinical psychology, nutrition, advanced analytics, and mathematical modeling.

The impact of obesity and overweight on juvenile diabetes

It is evident that more studies need to be conducted to understand the role of the whole activity spectrum which includes sedentary behavior, sleep, and physical activity on youth with type 1 diabetes who are obese or overweight.

For example, although research clearly shows that fear of hypoglycemia can be a barrier to engaging in physical activity, its effects can be compounded for young adults who are obese or overweight and have a negative activity toward exercise.

Sedentary lifestyle

Youth with type 1 diabetes may also be predisposed to weight gain as a result of supplementing carbohydrates to avoid hypoglycemic events as a result of physical activity. Addressing the role of sedentary behavior, especially reducing screen time, is one intervention strategy that can help expend calories without affecting variability in blood sugar levels.

Poor sleep quality

Obesity and overweight may have negative effects on sleep, especially in youth with type 1 diabetes. A 2006 study on adolescents and children revealed that sleep duration has an inverse relationship with obesity in youth, and being overweight increases the risk of a wide range of sleep problems.

Studies show that variations in blood sugar and nocturnal hypoglycemia alter sleep patterns in young adults with type 1 diabetes and thus they face a higher risk for obesity and poor sleep quality than those without diabetes.

Diabetes educators and nurses play a very important role in helping children and adolescents develop appropriate lifestyle behaviors to tackle the prevalent issue of obesity and overweight in youth with type 1 diabetes.

Although clinical care in juvenile diabetes has focused more on accurate carbohydrate counting and good metabolic control, weight control has been grossly overlooked.

Caregivers and healthcare professionals have paid less attention to issues related to sedentary behavior, sleep, and physical activity.

Read about Smartphone Diabetes Management Apps!

The bottom line

Given the high incidence of obesity and overweight in children and youth with type 1 diabetes, additional studies are needed to explore the consequences and antecedents of excessive weight in type 1 diabetes.

Although this article has identified viable lifestyle modifications for weight management including sedentary behavior, sleep, and physical activity, there’s a need for further research to inform effective intervention strategies for this vulnerable population.

Check out the TOP 5 Diabetes Carb counter Apps HERE!

Does Your Cat Have Feline Diabetic Neuropathy?

Feline diabetic neuropathy is the loss of nerves particularly in the legs due to hypoglycemia. This is from damage caused by high levels of glucose in the blood that damages nerves over time. The symptoms include weakness, pain, tingling, and paralysis.

These can be seen in a cats hind legs becoming weak or the cat not moving as much as before. The nerves in the legs become more and more damaged and this leads to numbness, tingliness, pain and weakness, even paralysis.

Often this is ignored by the owner as a symptom of an aging cat. The loss of the feeling (or the pain) in the legs will make the cat limp along, often not able to stand on his toes, so walks on his hocks (heels) taking frequent rests. Jumping will be quite difficult and in time, impossible.

Feline Diabetic Neuropathy can be Reversed

Diabetic neuropathy in dogs is less common but does happen and is seen by the dog’s legs becoming weaker or becoming unusable. But the good news is, it can be reversed with the right treatment in the early stages of its attacks on the nerves. With the proper diet and exercise with methyl-b12 a cats diabetic symptoms can be reversed.

This condition destroys the nerves by blocking the capillaries that carry the nutrients to the nerve cells starving them to death. The supplement methyl b-12 works by rebuilding the nerve cells in the nerves, restoring the signal between your cat’s brain and the weakened muscles.

It is a very safe vitamin to give your cat, it’s water soluble, which means your cat will pee out what they don’t need and it has no side effects. Studies have shown that other B-12 vitamins don’t work as effectively.

Though feline diabetic neuropathy is reversible it must be caught in the early stages of its damage. The time usually that it takes is 6-12 months to fully reverse any damage done to the cells. If your cat begins to limp and never gets better, a trip to the vet is needed to protect your cat and improve its comfort and quality of life, giving you many more playful years with your favorite animal. Plenty of exercise and a healthy eating plan is best for you animals as well, to manage feline diabetes.

Life Expectancy of Cats with Diabetes

Every cat is different – but very often, your pet can have a happy and healthy life as there are treatment options for Diabetic cats. We have heard of lots of diabetic cats reaching the age of 18 years or more and are still happy and healthy!

Type 2 Diabetes Recipe

Fortunately, current ideas about dietary restrictions for diabetics center more on carb counting for diabetics instead of simply avoiding all sugars and sweets. This means that a type 2 diabetes recipe doesn’t have to be bland or tasteless.

Many times, when a person thinks of diabetes the first thing that comes to mind is that sugar intake must be limited. Many people are simply uneducated as to the fact that the sugars that build up in the bloodstream of the diabetic is called glucose and is a sugar that is processed from all the carbohydrates that the body takes in, this means that not only is the chocolate bar dangerous, but the big bowl of white rice or the buttery baked potato and white bread can be an enormous no-no for the diabetic.

Low Carb Diabetic Breakfast Recipes

Even basic carb counting tells us that these starchy foods are quickly converted directly into glucose by the body. But with the proper type 2 diabetes recipe the diabetic can eat almost anything in moderation.

Even though glucose is essential since it provides fuel to power every cell in the body, it can be highly detrimental in high ranges, and the best way for the diabetic to live a long and healthy life is to keep glucose levels as close to normal as possible.

There are lots of diabetic diet plans available, and even whole recipe books written about carb counting for diabetics. The one thing to remember when choosing a diet plan of carb counting for diabetics is that the best dietary plan is the one you can live with and practice regularly and the best type 2 diabetes recipe is the one you enjoy preparing and eating!

It’s actually good if you can try and get out of the habit of reaching for the cereal and toast to get your body on the move in the morning. Unfortunately, we don’t always have time to spend preparing a complex breakfast on a busy work morning.

However, if you take a few minutes the night before to plan and prepare, you will benefit from a healthy, nutritious, delicious breakfast that will fill you full of energy and even more importantly, keep your blood sugar stable.

Here is a Favorite Type 2 Diabetes Recipe : Great for Breakfast!

Poached Eggs on avocado and white bean mash:

Eggs are a great source of protein to get you going in the morning. One of the healthiest ways to prepare your eggs is to poach them. Poaching could be a little ‘daunting’ for many basic home cooks, but once you have done it a few times, it becomes routine. Practice makes perfect!

Your ingredients:

2 eggs (at room temperature)
2 tsp of which vinegar
¼ cup lemon juice
½ avocado
½ can cannellini beans
1 clove garlic (crushed)
½ cup parsley
1 tsp chilli flakes or fresh chilli if you’d prefer.
Salt and pepper to taste.

Method:

Mix the beans and the avocado in a food processor, or you can just mash by hand (Add a little olive oil if you want)
Add in the parsley, garlic, lemon juice, chilli and salt and pepper to the mash and put aside.
Add water to a saucepan with vinegar and 1 tsp of salt and bring to the boil.
Reduce heat to a simmer and stir in a clockwise motion, to create a whirlpool effect.
Crack the eggs into the water, one at a time (or you can crack into a separate bowl first if you find it easier.
Cook for 2-3 minutes, then remove from saucepan with a slotted spoon.
Serve the eggs on top of the mash.

Delicious!

Breakfast cereals you are able to eat – and those you should avoid!

Carbohydrate Diabetic Diet

Importance of a Low Carbohydrate Diabetic Diet

Being diabetic can be a tough thing to do and once you hear those dreaded words telling you that you are diabetic, it seems as if your world starts crashing down. A Carbohydrate Diabetic Diet really in all reality, isn’t a bad practice for any of us.

Most of us these days seem to eat way too many carbohydrates which can add on those extra pounds and cause us many more medical problems versus the standard and traditional just not eating well.

Carbohydrates are hard to breakdown which adds to those extra pounds and makes it harder for us to lose in the long run. A lower carbohydrate diabetic diet is really a major part in being able to properly maintain and safely manage a healthy blood glucose level. The main reason that a low carbohydrate diet for diabetes works is because if you have lots of carbohydrates in your diet then your body can’t breakdown the carbohydrates or sugars.

With less insulin or sugar added to your diet you can rest assured knowing that your body will start eating or breaking down the sugars or fats that your body already has stored, meaning that your fats that you eat will be metabolized instead of stored which causes those extra unwanted pounds. In other terms, the carbohydrates that you eat will either be peed away, breathed away or as we like to call it, melt away!

A carb controlled diabetic diet is a very key and essential thing to being a diabetic because without closely monitoring your carbohydrate intake you will end up being overweight, having high blood glucose readings and other medical problems to go along with it.

A carbohydrate diabetic diet is the key

and a very essential part to being able to safely manage and maintain your diabetes. For more info on healthy diabetic diet plans and pre-packaged dinners, read on!

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