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Following Diabetes Meal PlansAppropriate diabetes meal plans can help diabetes patients control the effects of this chronic disease. To understand the relationship between diet and diabetes, a brief definition of what diabetes is may be helpful. Of course, diabetics should not make a drastic change in their diet without first consulting their physicians. What Is Diabetes?Diabetes is a chronic medical condition where the patient has unusually high blood sugar levels and an erratic metabolism. The blood sugar levels may be caused either by low levels of the hormone insulin or by resistance to the effects of insulin, combined with insufficient levels of secreted insulin. Symptoms of diabetes sufferers include excessive urination, increased fluid intake, and blurred vision. Symptoms of diabetes can be improved by exercise and by following a carefully controlled diabetes meal plan. Daily Menu PlanStudies have suggested that a vegan diabetes meal plan, free of all animal products, may help diabetics lose weight and control their blood sugar with less medication than diabetics who eat meat, dairy products, eggs, and other animal-based products. A plant-based diabetes meal plan provides a balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates while adding vitamins and minerals and following the basic principles of a diabetes meal plan. Of the three major nutrients, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, carbohydrates have the greatest effect on blood sugar. Planning a consistent amount of carbohydrates is essential to a diabetes meal plan. The diabetes meal plan deals with the concept of exchanges, which standardize foods for easy meal planning. |