Buyer beware when it comes to a diabetic surfing the net in need of a diabetes weight loss plan. Diabetics must be careful when choosing the right diet plan that will work in unison with diabetes. If the right diabetes weight loss plan isn't in place, severe swings in blood sugars could be a hazardous side effect.
Before I start, any diabetics entering a diabetes weight loss plan should have regular visits with a physician to monitor insulin requirements. As your weight drops and food consumption drops so will your insulin requirements, and that is the goal, right! If you are a pre diabetic like myself, than just get started, I lost 20 lbs at a nice even pace and rolled back my blood sugars at the same time.
An adequate diabetes weight loss plan will have these key components:
1.) Offers a well balanced approach to weight loss, nutrition should be the plans #1 focus.
2.) High intake of fiber should be a key component, the slow digestion and slow release of sugars into the blood stream are beneficial to managing spikes in blood sugar levels. Fiber also leaves dieters with a feeling of fullness longer. Benefits of high fiber intake have a positive effect on other areas of the body, such as the colon.
3.) Carbohydrates are mentioned even by health professionals as a food group that should be in the 50% range. What health professionals fail to mention, is that their are two different types of carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates that are good, and simple carbohydrates that are bad. The good carbs are found in fruits,whole or sprouted grains, brown rice etc. These carbs release into your system quickly but not nearly as fast as simple carbs. Simple carbs are foods like pastries, refined white breads, ice cream, cookies, you get the meaning. These carbs should be avoided, but not completely left out!
4.) Protein, my experience has been that we need a fair a mount of protein in our diets. Protein keeps the cravings of simple carbs down to a dull roar, and protein offers a lot of benefits when it comes to energizing our metabolism, which is essential in weight loss.
5.) A diabetes weight loss plan should promote small frequent meals, almost a grazing style of food consumption. Cutting back drastically on food consumption will actually put your body into what is called "starvation mode" when the body feels it's in jeopardy of running low on it's energy source, it will start to store fat, making weight loss very difficult. Eating small amounts of food frequently will still produce lower food and calorie intake. This technique tricks the brain and therefore stimulates your metabolism to work at it's peak performance longer. The benefit of spreading food consumption evenly throughout the day, is a more regulated release a sugars into the blood stream.
6.) If you recall #3. Don't completely leave out simple carbs! A good diabetes weight loss plan will focus on sustainability and flexibility. To be successful at weight reduction you need to approach it as a lifestyle! If you can't see yourself eating in the manner the program advocates, then don't start. I guarantee you will fail! A good plan will afford some flexibility. If I want to go out, like this weekend for example, and have my cheese cake and special coffees with friends, no weight loss plan is going to stop me! and it shouldn't, but the next day I will be back to my regular eating habits. That my friends is life!
7.) When I write about weight loss I always leave this one until last. Exercise! Sorry but it's a fact, diabetes can be controlled and in some cases even reversed with a combination of weight reduction and exercise. It doesn't take much, as little as a 30 minute brisk walk 5 times a day can significantly speed up weight loss and help with insulin levels.
I will be honest, their is a lack of programs on the market that specifically deal with diabetic requirements. Most diabetes related programs that are on the market lack variety. Why does it always appear that doctors and nutritionists benefit more from diabetic dieters than the participants themselves. Their are safe and effective alternatives. You just have to know what to look for!