Diabetes – When Sugar Needs to be Controlled

Proverbs 25:16 – If you find honey, eat just enough – too much of it, and you will vomit.

“Pass the sugar,” someone says. The sugar is passed and two teaspoons are slipped into a cup of tea. No problem, for most people. But for those who have diabetes, it can be a dangerous choice.
 
Diabetes, or diabetes mellitus, is a chronic disease in which your blood sugar levels (glucose) are too high. What you eat provides glucose for your body. Insulin, a hormone, helps glucose filter into your body and provide energy. Sometimes, with diabetes, your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, and sometimes none at all. This is true of Type 1 diabetes. Whereas, in Type 2 diabetes, the way your body processes glucose fails to do so correctly.
 
In both types of diabetes, this is why you can’t just slip those two teaspoons of sugar into your tea.
 
There are other types of diabetes, such as prediabetes where the blood sugar is too high but not to the point of being in the diabetic range, and gestational diabetes which can occur during pregnancy where the mother’s glucose levels are too high.
 
Depending on the kind of diabetes and the level of severity, it can be treated by diet alone, prescription drugs or shots.
 
Speaking of diet, so what types of foods are good for a diabetic and which should be avoided? Webmd.com, in their article, “Best and Worst Foods for Diabetes,” gives us some suggestions. Some foods listed are starches which include the best to be whole grains such brown rice, oatmeal, quinoa, millet, or amaranth while avoiding processed grains such as white rice and white flour. Raw or steamed vegetables are a good choice such as plain frozen vegetables, kale, spinach, and arugula. Avoid canned vegetables with lots of added sodium, vegetable cooked with lots of butter, cheese or sauce. Read the article to find the complete list of recommended foods.
 
Understanding diabetes, how it affects your body and how food choices can go a long way in helping stabilize blood glucose levels. Always check with your doctor or a nutritionist before making changes to your diet.
 
Also, one of the keys to healthy eating is mentioned in the Bible verse above. Even back then, it was recognized that too much sugar, in this case honey, could make you sick. This is important to consider for those who’ve been diagnosed with diabetes and for those of us who are trying to prevent it.

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