The most popular diet for diabetics has made its way into the weight loss arena and is proving to be quite successful. For years, the Low Glycemic Index Diet has been used as a tool to help diabetics manage their blood glucose levels. Once it was discovered that this diet for diabetics could also aid in weight loss it became popular with a host of individuals.



One of the reasons that this diet for diabetics works so well is the strong correlation between improper weight management and the presence of diabetes. While not everyone who suffers from diabetes developed the disease due to weight problems a large majority have been discovered to have developed diabetes as a

result of obesity. This is because certain foods tend to raise the blood sugar levels in the body higher and faster than other foods. When that happens the body has a built in check system to return the blood glucose levels to their normal state.

In order to do this the pancreas must release insulin which transports excess blood sugar or blood glucose into storage. Everything is find as long as we work off or use of those stores of blood sugar and this is not required too often. Problems arise; however, when we do not burn off the stored blood sugar and we force our pancreas to overwork by consuming too many foods that cause our blood sugar to skyrocket.

When the body is not able to burn off the stores of blood sugar it turns to fat and that results in being overweight. That is not the end of the problem; however. When we frequently maintain a diet that is high in foods that raise our blood sugar, over time, the pancreas becomes overworked and may shut down. This is when diabetes steps into the picture. Often diabetes and obesity go hand in hand.

The low GI diet was developed as a way to aid diabetics in selecting foods which would not raise their blood sugar levels too high after consuming them. It was hoped that this would remove the drain on the pancreas. This diet for diabetics was found to be quite successful in this regard and was also determined to have the added benefit of helping individuals who followed it lose weight.

The basis of the diet is the glycemic index, which ranks carbohydrates according to how quickly the body is able to digest them. Foods which can be easily digested by the body rank higher on the index and tend to raise the body's blood glucose levels higher than other foods. According to the diet, these foods should be consumed sparingly. Other foods are not broken down the body so easily and therefore do not have as much of an effect on the body's blood sugar levels. Some foods even have no effect at all and can be eaten without fear of any restrictions.

High processed and refined foods tend to rank high on the glycemic index most frequently. Individuals following the diet for diabetics are encouraged to avoid or minimize their intake of these foods.

It should be understood that unlike many other diets that may sound similar in nature, the diet for diabetics does not require total exclusion of carbohydrates. Some carbs are actually good and can be eaten. Ideally, adults are recommended to stick with a diet that includes at least 130 grams of carbs per day to provide fuel for the body. This, of course, assumes that you are maintaining an otherwise healthy and active lifestyle. If, for some, reason you are unable to be active, you may need a lower daily intake of carbs.