What is Glycemic Index?

The Glycemic Index is a concept developed in the University of Toronto in 1981. The purpose of the Glycemic Index is to measure the effect carbohydrates have on blood glucose levels. The Glycemic Index is imperative for anyone who needs to monitor their glucose level due to diabetes or hyperglycemia. With diabetes reaching epidemic levels in the United States, the development of the Glycemic Index could not have come at a better time. Each year, more people are diagnosed with this potentially life threatening disease that can cause many serious complications. It is important for anyone with this condition to familiarize themselves with the Glycemic Index so they can empower themselves and learn which foods should be avoided.

Carbohydrates are a diverse group of foods and all have different ways of breaking down in the system. People with diabetes have a difficult time breaking down certain foods, particularly those high in carbohydrates, in their system. Digestion is slow and sugars and starches are absorbed into the blood stream, causing an excess in blood glucose. Diabetics are often warned to limit their carbohydrate intake because it takes such a long time for most carbohydrates to digest. However, this is easier said than done and it is difficult, if not impossible, for many diabetics to eliminate carbohydrates from their diet. This is one of the reasons many diabetics are non-compliant in their treatment. Because diabetes does not often cause serious complications at onset, many patients refuse to take their medicine and continue eating foods that are high in sugar and starch.

The Glycemic Index is very helpful because it rates different carbohydrates based upon their effect on the different levels of blood glucose. Those foods that digest rapidly cause the less harm to the system and have a low glycemic index. The carbohydrates that take a longer time to digest have a higher rate as they cause more harm to the blood glucose level.

The Glycemic Index ranges from one to one hundred. A low food in the glycemic index has a rating of below 55. These include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and some pastas. Foods that fall between the 56 to 69 range are considered "medium" in the Glycemic Index. They include candy bars, croissants and some rices.

Surprisingly, although a candy bar scores in the medium classification of the glycemic index, it is not as harmful as those carbohydrates that score in the high glycemic index range. These include corn flakes, white rice, white bread and baked potato. In other words, it is easier for a diabetic to digest a candy bar than a baked potato.

Knowledge of the glycemic index is imperative for anyone who has diabetes or who has been diagnosed as borderline diabetic. To be able to understand which foods have the most impact on blood glucose levels is crucial for anyone fighting this potentially life-threatening condition.

If you or a loved one suffers from diabetes, become familiar with the Glycemic Index so that you learn about the different categories of carbohydrates and which groups should be avoided. There are many substitutes for carbohydrates that rate high in the Glycemic Index and are available at most grocery stores. While diabetes is currently without a cure, there are many different ways that people with this disease can life long, productive lives.

37 FREE Diabetis Recepie

It is a big problem for the people having diabetes on deciding what to eat. I have just found an interesting Free ebook with 37 mouth watering recepies.

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1) APPLE PIE
2) BROWNIES
3) CHERRY PIE
4) COLORFUL CHICKEN STEW
5) CHICKEN TACOS
6) CHOCOLATE KAHLUA CAKE
7) CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH STRAWBERRIES
8) COCONUT SWEETS
9) CROCKPOT SHREDDED BEEF SANDWICHES
10) CURRIED PINEAPPLE RICE
11) FESTIVE PORK
12) FRUITY SWEET POTATOES
13) FUDGE POPS
14) GARLIC−CAULIFLOWER STIR−FRY
15) HEARTY MACARONI SALAD
16) ITALIAN CHICKEN
17) LEMON CHICKEN AND RICE
18) OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
19) ONE−POT DINNER
20) ORANGE−TOPPED CHOPS
21) OVEN−FRIED CHICKEN OR PORK CHOPS
22) PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
23) PINEAPPLE UPSIDE−DOWN CAKE
24) SUGAR−FREE RAISIN BARS
25) ROASTED CHICKEN WITH SAGE DRESSING
26) ROASTED VEGETABLES
27) SAGE POT ROAST
28) SHRIMP SCAMPI
29) SUGARLESS APPLE COOKIES
30) OVEN SWISS STEAK
31) TERIYAKI KABOBS
32) TEXAS BEAN DIP
33) TORTELLINI SOUP
34) TURKEY BOW TIE SKILLET
35) TURKEY BURGERS
36) VEGGIE DILL DIP
37) ZUCCHINI BREAD

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Merry Chrismas to you all.
Dr.Archana

Recommended Diet for Diabetics

Research regarding your diet can not only help you control your diabetes, but can also eliminate the need for insulin. Many people with Type II diabetes are often prescribed tablets or pills in an attempt to control their condition prior to having to use insulin. By following a proper diabetic diet, someone diagnosed with Type II diabetes, which has reached epidemic proportions throughout the United States, can either prolong the need for insulin or continue to treat their condition with more convenient medications.

People with diabetes have a difficult time breaking down carbohydrates in their system. Carbohydrates are a large group of foods that are necessary for a balanced diet. While many people assume diabetics must avoid sugar, this is just one example of carbohydrates. In addition to foods rich in white sugar, carbohydrates include white bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, some vegetables and fruits as well as anything rich with white flour. Carbohydrates are a complex group of foods and different groups cause different effects to the blood stream. While diabetics have a difficult time breaking down any carbohydrates in their blood stream, those with the highest Glycemic Index rating take the longest to break down in the blood stream and cause the most harm.

By following a diet with limited amounts of carbohydrates, being aware of the Glycemic Index and learning which carbohydrates are the most harmful to a diabetic diet, someone with this potentially life threatening condition can keep this disease at bay. If you have recently been diagnosed with Type II diabetes and have been given medication by your doctor as well as diet suggestions, follow the doctor's instructions. Diabetics tend to be in denial more than any other group of patients and remain the most non compliant. By following a good diabetic diet and taking your prescribed medication, you can live a full and normal life span.

A diabetic diet should include limits on carbohydrates and increases in protein. Sugars should be eliminated as well as white flour. Pasta and rice are also rich in carbohydrates. One way someone can follow a good diabetic diet is to follow some of the low carb diets that were popular some years back. Many of these diets either eliminated or limited carbohydrates. There are also many different diabetic cookbooks for those with this condition that can help a person live a happier, healthier life.

It is unfortunate that so many people are continuing to be diagnosed with diabetes. The good news is that there is plenty of information out on the market with regard to cookbooks and even on the internet regarding how a diabetic diet can help someone with this disease. Diabetes takes a toll on the human body after a certain period of time. By following a good diabetic diet, one can reduce the toll of the disease and live a longer and more fruitful life.

Those with diabetes should become aware of the gylcemic index, follow a diabetic diet, see their doctor regularly, monitor their blood sugar and take their medications as prescribed in order to avoid complications that can arise from this disease.