{"id":1346,"date":"2021-12-09T11:32:45","date_gmt":"2021-12-09T06:02:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/?p=1346"},"modified":"2024-06-12T16:40:23","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T11:10:23","slug":"how-to-get-a-diabetic-diet-chart-that-works-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/how-to-get-a-diabetic-diet-chart-that-works-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get a Diabetes Diet Chart That Works for You?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Figuring out what you should eat and what you should avoid when you have diabetes can be tricky. With all the information thrown at you, right from things like ‘don’t eat rice or mangoes’, ‘choose chapatti instead’ or ‘carbs are your enemy’ – all this advice can be confusing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But, while we are not saying one piece of advice is better than the other, what you need to understand is — what works for one person may not work for you. In short, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula when it comes to food and diabetes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

We are all unique \u2013 our health history, genetics and even bodies \u2013 making a personalised diet plan especially imperative to successful blood sugar management.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, let’s get into it \u2013 what does a standard diabetes food chart have?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u00a0A regular, non-personalised food chart is usually templatised.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It follows the basic guidelines that certain foods help lower your blood sugar levels (or keep them in control), while others make them rise. And the main focus of these diets is weight loss because the idea that weight loss is directly related to better diabetes and blood sugar management is prevalent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What’s more, these diet charts are one-size-fits-all, and usually, there isn’t too much follow-up on how you are doing with the diet, if it’s helping you manage your blood sugars better or even how certain foods are affecting your blood sugar levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This means it’s not personalised to you and your body’s needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A regular food chart for people with diabetes usually includes the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Increase consumption of green leafy vegetables, flaxseeds, chia seeds, cinnamon, fatty fish like salmon or <\/span>rawas, mackerel<\/span><\/i>, and specific fruits and nuts.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Stay away or avoid starchy and carb-rich foods like rice, potatoes, certain fruits, sugar-rich foods, and other unhealthy options.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    While all of this advice isn’t bad, having a diet personalised to your lifestyle, dietary likes and dislikes and how your blood sugar responds to certain foods would be the best way to make a sustainable lifestyle change that will help keep your blood sugar levels in check over the long haul.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    And, lastly, a regular diet chart does not factor in the macro and micronutrients you are eating — both of which are extremely important to help you manage your blood sugar levels well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Let’s look at the pros and cons of a regular, non-personalised diet:<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Pros<\/b><\/td>\nCons<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    You have a plan that you can start with<\/span><\/td>\nIt\u2019s usually templatised<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nIt\u2019s not personalized to your lifestyle, needs, body<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nIt doesn\u2019t account for your personalized response to certain food \u2013 also known as Personalised Glycemic Response (PGR)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nThe plan does not track the macro and micro nutrients in your food \u2013 both of which play an important role in blood sugar control<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nMain focus is on weight loss, not blood sugar management<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    <\/td>\nThey can be restrictive\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    <\/td>\nThese plans may not always account for the foods you regularly eat, including home-cooked meals, which can make them unsustainable<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    <\/td>\nThey may recommend food that you\u2019re not used to eating or are expensive, making it difficult to follow<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Why having a personalised is essential:<\/b><\/h2>\n

    In people who don’t have diabetes, their blood sugar (glucose) levels are tightly controlled by various hormones between 70-150 mg\/dl. This is important because glucose is the petrol or fuel for most bodily functions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    To help you understand this better, think of it this way \u2013 when you eat any food, your body digests the food in your intestines, and the glucose is extracted from the food is released into your blood. This glucose then causes your blood sugar levels to rise \u2013 which depends on the amount of carbohydrates and rate of digestion of the food \u2013 this whole process is called Glycemic response.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    But Glycemic response is a very generalised term; what you need to know about is PGR or Personalised Glycemic Response.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    So, in short, think about it this way.<\/span><\/p>\n

    What if we told you that those foods you were asked to avoid don’t affect your blood sugars as much, and you can continue eating them?<\/span><\/p>\n

    Or<\/span><\/p>\n

    If we could point out those foods that don’t work well for your blood sugar levels and are best avoided?<\/span><\/p>\n

    Or<\/span><\/p>\n

    Even if we could tell you the right combination of foods and even when to eat them for the best blood sugar control?<\/span><\/p>\n

    Imagine how wonderful that would be?<\/span><\/p>\n

    PGR is the glycemic response that is different for different people. Just like the picture below:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"

    When you eat, let’s say, a banana versus when your neighbour eats a banana \u2013 the changes in your blood sugar levels will differ from that of your neighbour’s.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    This means your glycemic response differs from one food to another and is also different from someone eating the same food. The reason for this difference could be your age, genes, muscle mass, gut bacteria and pancreatic reserve of hormones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    And that’s why knowing your PGR or personalised glycemic response is the key to better diabetes control \u2013 one that’s been ignored to date.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    How Personalised Glycemic Response helps you control your blood sugars better:<\/b><\/h2>\n

    One of the main reasons PGR works so well in helping you manage your blood sugar levels well is because it can help you identify the top foods that are good and those that are bad for your blood sugar control.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Once you have your PGR reports, you can get a personalised diet plan that’ll work the best for you. The diet plan will then be based on those foods that are good for your blood sugar control and will try to minimise or eliminate those bad for your blood sugar control.<\/span><\/p>\n

    That’s why following a personalised diet plan instead of a one-size-fits-all one can help you achieve better diabetes control.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"

    And, yes, it’s possible for you to get a personalised glycemic response\u2013based diabetes management program that works for you.<\/span><\/p>\n