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 metabolizing 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 you deprive your body of carbohydrates, it begins to look for other sources of energy which it can break down and use. It then turns to proteins and lipids and spurs the liver into action, breaking them down, just like in a state of famine or starvation. As your body metabolizes proteins and lipids, it first breaks them down into Ketones, which are then converted into energy. However, the production of Ketones is a lot faster than the rate at which they are used, and hence the surplus Ketones produced begin to clog up your bloodstream.

Once the bloodstream is satiated with these Ketones, your body attempts to eliminate them along with your urine. Thus large amounts of water are excreted by your body to rid itself of these Ketones which, over a period of time leads to severe and dehydration and even death. This condition is termed as Ketoacidosis and is one of the most grave of all the symptoms battled by diabetics of all ages. diabetics are further addled with the concern of maintaining their weight at appropriate levels as failure to do so will not only make it a lot harder for them to control their blood glucose levels, but also render them susceptible to the secondary stages of diabetes, which is characterized by a host of severe ailments.

Many weight-control programs are designed to eliminate carbohydrates almost completely and concentrate on high-protein foods instead. The reasoning that carbohydrates translate into instant deposits of fat is rendered baseless as most of the weight comes right back on, almost instantaneously, once the individual has reintroduced carbohydrates as a part of his dietary regime. High-protein foods also tend to be high in artery-clogging saturated fats, which are one of the major contributors to coronary disease.

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!

Article Source: Main Articles

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 www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.

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