Diabetes: Deconstructing The Carbohydrate Myth

Diabetes holds a long and complicated association with glucose, given the fact that this disease arises when the body is unable to break down glucose into energy to fuel itself. The reason behind this malfunctioning is either because the production of insulin in the body is insufficient in terms of the amount that is required to metabolize glucose, or that the cells of the body stop responding to insulin completely, which renders them incapable to metabolising the energy that they need.

The glucose, which is released into the blood, is produced when the carbohydrate content of the food is broken down during the process of digestion. And hence, it would appear that it is carbohydrates that need to be moderated for an individual to enforce a strict control over his glucose levels, or even eliminate them altogether to nullify the risk of high blood glucose altogether.

This is one of the most widespread and also the most harmful of all the misconceptions that shroud diabetes. Carbohydrates, which are simple organic compounds, play an integral role as a part of a well-balanced nutritional program, as they are the richest and most easily available energy powerhouses which the body subsists on.

When an individual cuts away carbohydrates from his diet, he is virtually forcing his body into a state of starvation as it is deprived of the energy it needs for him to function. The body then resorts to breaking down proteins and fats, which are the next accessible sources of energy. This process of metabolizing fats and proteins to fuel the body, is an unnatural one, and results in the build-up of Ketones in the bloodstream.

Your body tries to purge itself of these Ketones by excreting them with your urine, which in turn, leads to excessive urination and over a period of time, leads the individual to a state of acute dehydration a potentially fatal condition which is clinically termed as Ketoacidosis. Weight gain is yet another pertinent issue for diabetics, which makes it even more difficult for them to keep their condition in control, while also increasing their susceptibility to the more severe complications that diabetes is capable of.

And so, many weight-control programs recommend low-carbohydrate and high protein meal plans, to expedite the process of weight-loss. Although these kinds of diet plans do bring about a rapid decrease in weight, many of these diets are very high in fats, especially of the saturated variety. While the weight that is lost when an individual follows a diet of this sort, it immediately springs back once he begins to include carbohydrates in his diet, while also putting in at a much higher risk of coronary disease, brought on by cholesterol rich protein foods.

Curtailing a diet to completely eliminate one of the most significant foods groups also seems overwhelming to the individual, whom such a diet is imposed upon. This leads him to despair and lose all control, indulging in overfeeding himself with unhealthy foods, which will deteriorate his condition even further. This form of binge-eating leads the glucose levels haywire and allows diabetes to inflict its more dreaded complications, almost effortlessly.

Carbohydrates are an essential food group, which form almost 60% of an individual’s daily calorific intake. However, what matters more than the exact decimal amount of the carbohydrates you consume is the quality of carbohydrates you eat, wherein you keep away from refined and processed carbohydrates and build your diet around complex, wholegrain which are packed with nutrients like vitamins and minerals, besides being excellent sources of energy which, when included as a part of a balanced dietary regimen, can be easily assimilated and utilized by your body. When dealing with diabetes, remember that it is a well-balanced approach that your disease demands of you, and not precautions that veer on the extreme. Educate yourself about diabetes today and learn how simple living with this disease can be!m Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit http://www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.