A Diabetic Dilemma

The concept of glycemic load was developed by scientists to simultaneously describe the quality (glycemic index) and quantity of carbohydrate in a meal or diet.

The Glycemic Index is a marvelous tool for ranking carbohydrates. However, it is currently only in its infancy regarding health benefits. The glycemic index is an important tool used in treating people with diabetes and in weight loss programs. Because a food with a low glycemic index makes you feel full longer and stay satisfied longer, you are less likely to overeat. The glycemic index is an index that ranks carbohydrates on a scale of 0 to 100. This glycemic index number corresponds to the way in which carbohydrates raise your blood sugar levels.

Dieters who lose weight because they stop eating high glycemic index foods lose weight because they eat fewer calories. A year-long study with dieters who ate high or low glycemic index meals indicates no difference in weight loss. Dieters should instead eat foods which are high in protein such as nuts, steaks, eggs and also some fruits, vegetables and whole grain cereals and breads (Steward, 1995). The discerning factor between which foods can be eaten and which cannot depends on the particular glycemic index of the food.

The Glycemic Index is primarily used for disease prevention and weight control. Evidence shows that people who stick to a low GI diet over the course of many years likewise reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease. The glycemic index is most useful when deciding which high-carbohydrate foods to eat. But don't let the glycemic index lull you into eating more carbohydrates than your body can handle, particularly if you have diabetes. The glycemic index is a ranking that attempts to measure the influence that each particular food has on blood glucose levels. It takes into account the type of carbohydrate in a meal and its effect on blood sugars.

The glycemic index is one attempt to measure each individual food's effect on blood glucose levels. The glycemic index is very popular in books on weight loss even though there is little evidence that foods with a low glycemic index cause weight loss. Most of the low glycemic diets promoted by these books are indeed low in calories.

Eating the right kind of diet can provide great help by providing the help in reducing the glycemic index. There are a number of food items that are not in the glycemic index and help in reducing the weight. Eating whole fruit instead of juice has a lower impact on blood sugar. I only use the glycemic index as one of many factors in considering the best food choices for an individual with diabetes.

A balanced low fat diet is considered as the best weight loss diet. A balanced low fat diet is high in healthy carbohydrates, low in fat and moderate in protein. The goal of a good weight loss diet should be to improve the long term eating habits. The best way to lose weight is to stick to a healthy diet plan, which is low in carbs, low in fat, and high in fiber from vegetables and moderate proteins.