Question I am 5 feet tall, 99 pounds, 77 years old, and just found out I have type 2 diabetes..all the diets I found on line are for people to lose weight...I don't want to lose weight.how many calories should I consume?...one site said I should only use 1200 calories a day..that seems pretty low...besides sugar, what ele should I avoid? what should I eat?...why do they assume you are fat if you have diabetes? I use splenda instead of sugar, is that all right?
Answer Hello,
Sorry for my late reply.
Many maturity onset diabetics (M.O.D - Type 2 diabetes - Non Insulin Dependant Diabetes Mellitus) are obese. Epidemiological studies of NIDDM provide evidence that over-eating, especially when combined with obesity and under activity, is associated with the development of NIDDM.
Obesity is the major risk factor for diabetes. 80-90% of NIDDM patients are obese. Insulin resistance is a pervasive feature of obesity. Insulin resistance is more strongly linked to intra – abdominal fat then to fat in fat depots.
Obesity probably acts as a diabeto-genic factor (through increasing resistance to the action of insulin) in those genetically pre-disposed to develop type 2 diabetes. In obese patients adipocytes sensate a number of biologic products (leptin etc ) that modulate processes such as insulin secretion and its action.
The definition of the genetic abnormality of type 2 dm remains a challenge because the genetic defect is insulin secretion (or) action may not manifest itself unless an environmental event or another genetic defece such as obesity is superimposed. Insulin resistance associated with obesity augments the genetically determined insulin resistance of type 2 DM.
Regarding calories, your BMI (Body Mass Index), when calculated is 19.44. The normal BMI is 18.5 to 24.9. For lean patients with NIDDM, caloric intake should be adequate to maintain body weight. 99 pounds require 1782 calories/day.
Weight maintenance diets for individuals with a normal body mass index should be high in carbohydrate and low in fat. As diabetes is a risk factor for macro vascular disease, the intake of fat should be restricted to 30 – 35 % of energy.
I am herewith forwarding information regarding the diet etc from my online class, "Facts about Diabetes". Hope this will be of some help to you.
Thanks,
Walter,
(with data help from Lakumi).
Dietary management:
Dietary measures are required in the treatment of all diabetic patients to achieve the overall therapeutic goal: normal metabolism.
The actual height and age of the patient are to be noted. From the nomogram, expected standard weight is to be calculated from the actual age and height. Obese diabetics are to be given a reducing diet, on the other hand lean and thin diabetics should receive a weight gaining diet. In cases of mild diabetes with obesity, diet control alone is required.
Diet control:
Foods to be totally avoided:
All concentrated sources of sugar such as sugar, glucose, jam, chocolates, sweets, sweet drinks, sweetened milk, canned fruits, sweet biscuits, cake, pie, pudding, peppermint and alcohol.
Most fruits, vegetables, drinks (tea, coffee etc. sweetened with artificial sweeteners like saccharine, source from phenylalanine etc.
Special Medicinal foods:
Certain foods like Bitter gourd, Black berry, Fenugreek, Garlic and Neem are considered natural medicinal foods for controlling diabetes. Hence patients of diabetes should consume them often.
Fibre foods:
Fibres lower the rate of glucose absorption from the gut and thereby lowers glucose level in the blood and therefore it aids in treating diabetes. Fibre helps in reducing insulin dosage administered to the diabetic patient. For fibres whole grain cereals and pulses along with fruits and vegetables can be taken.
Some practical suggestions for diabetic patients:
1. Diabetics should take more number of smaller meals scattered over the day rather than taking few heavy, concentrated meals so that the blood sugar level doesn't shoot up suddenly as the smaller amount of insulin (or that injected as a medicine) is insufficient to metabolize large amount of blood sugar.
2. Diabetics should avoid fasting and missing their meals to prevent low blood sugar. Even if you don't have appetite, don't abstain from food. Have light food at regular intervals.
3. While on a tour, keep fruits like apples, oranges or sweet limes to prevent low blood sugar.
4. Artificial sweetening agents are more preferable to sugar. Although it is sweeter than sugar but it has no calorie content.
5. Maintain your meal timings properly to maintain blood sugar at normal levels all the time.
6. Have variety in your food so that all necessary vitamins, minerals and other nutrients reach to body to keep it fit.
7. Spices can be taken by a diabetic as they possess no calorific value. However, restrict the use of salt.
8. The diabetic should increase his awareness about the disease - how body controls blood sugar, the effects of insulin and other drugs, and the effect of exercise, different foods and other diseases in body.
9. Make sure that friends and associates know that you are diabetic and understand that you cannot take irregular meals or drinks.
10. Avoid operating machinery or driving unless you have eaten in the previous two hours.
11. Young adults and those particularly prone to hypoglycaemic attacks should carry a card giving details of their condition and instruction for treatment in an emergency.
