Journal of Clinical Diabetes
Open Access

Diet and physical activity plays a major role in maintaining the blood sugar levels in our body. The nutrients (macronutrients and micronutrients), carbohydrates or simple sugars, proteins, vitamins, aminoacids plays a major role in maintaining the sugar levels as well as hormonal balance in our body. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder which can be classified into two types namely hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. If the sugar levels in the blood exceeds the optimum value then the condition can be called as hyperglycemia. Orelse if the sugar levels in the blood present below the optimum value then the condition can be called as hypoglycemia. So there should be a balance in the maintenance of the blood sugar levels in the body. Carbohydrates are also called as simple sugars comes under the subdivision of monosaccharides which are the smallest member of the simple sugars family. In the past it was believed that people who used to suffer with diabetes was told to avoid simple sugars.

Carbohydrate being a macronutrient has the utmost effect on the blood sugar levels. Because people who were undergoing insulin treatment should be carefully monitored as the insulin doses must be given according to carbohydrate intake by the concerned individual as well as the sugar levels present in the blood. For example, people who were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes the insulin dose must be carefully adjusted along the carbohydrate intake. Most likely the doses should be administered by considering the current blood sugar levels in the body as well as the amount of carbohydrate intake. Unlike type 1 diabetes, people who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes the amount of carbohydrate intake must be appropriate rather than consuming the food throughout the day. Portion control, avoidance of concentrated beverages can play a major role in the reduction of blood sugar levels in the body especially for people suffering with diabetes.

Coming to the proteins, excess amount of protein intake is not recommended for the diabetic patients. According to the current studies the effect of high protein intake in diabetes patients is still not known. Not only for diabetic population, in general high protein diet is not recommended for even normal individuals as excess intake can cause several disorders related to kidneys.

Obesity is the leading cause of diabetes in the current scenario as people are habituated in maintaining the unhealthy lifestyles. So incase of fats, the intakes can be considered according to the concerned people that is people are recommended to lower fat intake incase of weight loss so that the excess sugar levels in the blood can be controlled and vice-versa in people with excess body weight. Incase of unhealthy lifestyle which includes excess intake of alcohol can seriously lowers the blood sugar levels when compared to the optimum range. Because alcohol inhibits gluconeogenesis which is the liver’s ability to make glucose. Alcohol can cause hypoglycemia when diabetes medication lowers blood glucose levels and the liver’s glucose released is impaired. So, people with type 1 diabetes should limit alcohol intake.