ISSUE 77 : 01-15 August 06 Last update August 1 ,2006 -*-
     
 
Eating Well with Diabetes

Chingchai, a Chinese businessman, seemed to live a very happy life except that he had diabetes and it was out of control. He was one of the consumerism and Chinese food was his favorite. He liked to eat pig's trotters, rice with chicken, oily fried vegetables, and noodle. Moreover, boiled rice was always his supper whenever he stayed up late at night. The consequence was these foods were the main factors that caused his diabetes to increase continuously. At first, he took only one or two diabetes tablets, but as time passed by he had to take more and more. Finally, the doctor had to give him insulin injection.

One of the main causes that made the blood glucose levels rise unstoppably is the affect of using tablets. It was like a vicious cycle. Each time Chingchai went to see the doctor, he gave him more tablets as he found high blood glucose levels. The drugs reduced the levels of glucose in blood making Chingchai feel hungry and eat more foods and more often. Thus, the levels of glucose increased more and he had to take more tablets. "At night, he sometimes sneaked out to get something to eat." His wife said.

This is the story of a businessman and next is the story of a housewife named Ampa.

Ampa was at the age of 60. She had diabetes and her blood glucose levels was as high as 260 mg. Besides, she was allergic to all kinds of diabetes tablets. A rash appeared every time she took it. So, the doctor changed the drugs for her for 3 times but it didn't work. Finally, he gave up and said if she doesn't want to be injected insulin she'll have to leave it until there are some side effects such as diabetes in eyes then she could come and treat them.

Ampa was a real housewife. One of her habits was to scavenge every food that was left from her children. Certainly, she wouldn't be able to get away from obesity and diabetes.

Treatment

Both Chingchai and Ampa are consumerism. Though they knew by their heart that the drugs wouldn't help, they still enjoyed eating. It was hard for them to control themselves.

Chingchai had tried the course "Fast for Health for 10 Days" and the result was the reduction of his blood glucose levels. However, his gluttony came back again. He ate as usual and his diabetes got worse.

Another way to fight with diabetes is called " Meat and Vegetables". In other words, diabetes patients can only eat meat and vegetables but not carbohydrate or fruits because they make blood glucose levels increase. We consider them dangerous enemies for controlling diabetes. Meat and vegetables are not the factor that increase blood glucose levels, so the patients can eat meat to make them feel full and vegetables for not to make them hungry.

The theory is carbohydrate is one of major problem for people with diabetes because it stimulates the body to produce more insulin. Yet, our pancreas is weaken and can't produce enough insulin, thus, causing obesity and diabetes at the same time. The formula will make the body lack of calories from food so that the blood glucose levels will not increase. However, there are 2 precautions. First, disintegrating fat can make blood become acid. Second, when there is not enough calories, the body will probably decompose its own muscular tissues. To prevents these two consequences, the patients are allowed to eat infinite meat to satisfy their hunger and fat as he believes these two do not increase the blood glucose levels straightly. On the other hand, vegetables not only give the patients mineral salt and vitamins but also postpone their hunger.

Meats and vegetables formula reduces the amount of carbohydrate to less than 20 grams. But if you don't want to suffer too much, you can take 40 grams /day which is a ladle of red unpolished rice. In the morning, make it gruel soup cooked with meat and have the rest in the afternoon. Don't eat anything in the evening. Besides polished rice, bread, noodle, Thai vermicelli, potato, taro, and corn are also prohibited. If you can do this, your blood glucose levels will decrease smoothly. Lastly, no matter the fruits are sweet or not don't ever touch them again.

Menu for Diabetes patients
Breakfast: 1 soft-boiled egg, 1 small bowl of red unpolished rice soup, 1 steamed fish, 1 dish of salad topped with lemon juice
10 o’clock: 1 piece of roasted chicken (without skin)
Lunch: papaya salad, 1-2 pieces of grilled chicken, 1 bowl of cabbage soup, 1 ladle of cooked rice and red unpolished rice
Snack: 1 piece of grilled fish with snacks such as boiled beans
Dinner: minced pork with fresh vegetables, sour-peppery soup, soft-boiled vegetables (as much as you want), no rice
Supper: 1 piece of steamed tofu with soy sauce

Diabetes Tablets Adjustment

While using this new formula, you need to reduce half of diabetes tablets and you will find that the blood glucose levels decrease. However, this should be done under the doctor's control especially those who need insulin injection.

Exercise and Group Treatment

Most of diabetes patients who are under the program of food control alone are in low spirits and finally fail. Thus, they should work in groups so that they can encourage each other to go on.

Both Chingchai and Ampa were fat. So, while they controlled food they should also exercise such as fast walking, bicycling or water aerobics which is very useful as water can support the body so you can do aerobics without joint pain or knee pain like on the ground. Moreover, the resistant power in water is 4 times of that of the ground. Therefore, to swing an arm in water once is like swinging it 4 times on the ground and 20 times would equal 80. For this reason, with the same duration, more calories will be burned when you are in the water.

Ten days had passed. Their blood glucose levels decreased more than half by food naturopathy. Chingchai used less tablets and 3 months later, Ampa's blood glucose levels reduced to 106 mg. with her usual foods and no fast.