- So, What is Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition where the amount of glucose in your blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly.
Diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn't produce any insulin or not enough insulin to help glucose enter your body's cells, or where the insulin that is produced does not work properly. Insulin is also produced in the liver.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood sugar and allows glucose to enter the body's cells. The body uses glucose for energy, we need this energy to move around, play, work and live life in general. It is vital for life.
When we eat carbohydrates, the body breaks this down into glucose. However if the body cannot use the glucose properly as fuel, it will build up in the blood.
Having a sensible diet and exercise routine can help to control diabetes and where you have type 2, can improve your sugar levels altogether. It is advisable to contact your GP or dietician when starting on a weightloss programme to seek advice on what levels of insulin is required and what times of the day.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system attacks insulin producing cells and is unable to produce any natural insulin. People with this type of diabetes need to have insulin injections to control their blood sugar levels.
There is no known way of preventing Type1. The most effective way of treating this type of diabetes requires the use of insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce insulin properly or not enough. People with this type of diabetes can control it with diet and exercise, but may have to also take medication in the short term if they are unable to control their diet and exercise regime.
- Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90%-95% of diabetes cases and is usually associated with older age, obesity and physical inactivity, family history of type 2 diabetes, or a personal history of gestational diabetes.
Most people with this type of diabetes are overweight, or have a bad diet or both. It is treatable through diet and exercise and watching your blood sugar levels until they return to normal, you will need to seed the advise of a Doctor or dietician.
Other Factors on Diabetes
Sugar levels can also be affected by exercise, stress, climate, time of day and many other factors, making it difficult to judge the amount of insulin needed, which can sometimes lead to blood sugar levels rising too high (going hyper) or dropping too low (going hypo).
What is a Hypo?
Going hypo (or where you blood sugar levels are too low) might happen because the person has either taken too much insulin, not had enough to eat, taken part in unplanned
exercise or drunk alcohol. However, sometimes there is no apparent cause.
Some example signs of a hypo include an (abnormally) pale face, confusion, glazed eyes, lack of concentration, slurring of words, unusual behaviour e.g. anger, sweating, becoming
quiet or withdrawn.
What to do if someone has a Hypo
If this happens the person needs to eat something sweet immediately, either a fizzy drink, fruit juice or chocolate, or a glucose tablet.
- Diabetes Facts and Numbers
- 3.2 million people are diagnosed with diabetes in the UK
- 630,00 people in the UK have the condition and don't know it.
- 25.8 million children and adults in the United States - 8.3% of the population - have diabetes.2
- 1.9 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in people aged 20 years and older in 2010.2
- 13.0 million, or 11.8% of all men aged 20 years or older have diabetes.2
- 12.6 million, or 10.8% of all women aged 20 years or older have diabetes.2
- Diabetes contributed to 231,404 deaths in the US in 2007.2
- $245 billion: Total costs of diagnosed diabetes in the United States in 2012.2
- Only 5% of people with diabetes have type 1. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that may be caused by genetic, environmental, or other factors.2
- *Excerpts from Diabetes.org.uk
Diabetic Meal Plans
There are some really good guidelines for diabetics out there on the internet, and according to how many calories you are asked to follow.
BodybyVi Meal Plan
When using the Bodybyvi meal replacement shakes for weight loss, as a diabetic you need to ensure your blood glucose levels are even throughout the day.
Breakfast:
You can have a 300ml shake for breakfast, add the vi-trim product as this will help to balance your blood sugar levels.
Mid Morning:
Nutra Cookie
Lunch:
fish, chicken, turkey with salad or vegetables, small jacket potatoe
Mid Afternoon: shake
Dinner: Regular meal, just portion size this.
Ensure you drink lots of water, the recommended amount is 2 litre or 8-10 glasses per day. If you do a workout in between, make sure you increase your water intake and also your carb intake.
If you have found this article useful, please feel free to share, and leave me a comment below with your diet solutions and suggestions for diabetics and exercise plans.
PS Great resource for exercise plans can be found here: Diabetic weightloss exercise plan
