When people find out that they have diabetes, they assume they can no longer have sugar, but this is a false assumption. Their body does, in fact, still need sugar to supply their cells with the energy it needs to do their job. The difference between diabetics and non-diabetics is in how their body processes the sugar that is consumes. Being aware of how your body processes the sugar will help in finding the diabetic diet that is ideal for you.

Generally, when a person eats food, the pancreas immediately starts producing enough insulin to handle the amount of sugar that is consumed. The insulin is vital and is needed because it provides an entry way for the sugar to enter the body’s cells. Once the sugar is in the cells, it then produces enough energy for the body to function.

In diabetics, the sugar does not perform as people would normally expect. The sugar does not enter into the cells as they normally would. This then leaves the cells empty of sugar, kind of like a car running without gas, and will leave the person feeling very sluggish. In knowing this, we will take a look at how each type of diabetic, type 1 and type 2, filters the sugar throughout their body. Learning how your body filters the sugar when you have diabetes, will help you in finding a diabetic diet that is just right for you.

In type 1 diabetics, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to get the sugar into the cells. The sugar then builds up in the blood stream, having no other place to go, and can build up to dangerous levels ultimately harming the other organs. This is why they need to take insulin shots. The insulin shot performs the job that the pancreas can not and helps the individual maintain a healthy sugar balance.

In type 2 diabetics, the pancreas behaves a bit differently. It has no problem generating enough insulin to handle the amount of sugar that has been consumed. Their problem lies in the fact that the insulin has a very hard time opening up the cells so the sugar can get in and provide energy. This causes the sugar to start building up which makes the pancreas work harder to try and get the extra sugar into the cells. This cycle will continue until the pancreas eventually burns out. Once this happens, the person will become a type 1 diabetic and will require insulin shots to take place of the pancreas’ job.

What is a known fact is that all diabetics need to watch the amount of sugar in the foods they eat. The only difference is how their bodies handle the sugar. Type 1 diabetics can no longer process the sugar and need insulin shots to replace the function of the pancreas. Type 2 diabetics still have the chance at improving their health by watching the amount of sugar they consume on a daily basis.

So, it is very important that type 2 diabetics start controlling the sugar they eat so they can maintain a healthy body. One of the best and easiest ways to get your sugar intake down is to go on a ‘diabetic diet’. Now, do not let the term ‘diet’ scare you, this is not your normal diet of starvation and eating foods that taste like cardboard. This ‘diabetic diet’ is simply substituting the foods you normally eat with brands that have less sugar. One example would be jelly. Regular jelly has 16 grams of carbohydrates whereas reduced jelly has 6 grams of carbohydrates. That’s less than the carbohydrates of the normal brand. So just by changing the brands you normally eat on a daily basis will allow you to consume less sugar and will help keep your pancreas healthy.

Yes, you need sugar in your daily eating lifestyle because that sugar provides the energy that your cells need in order to function. However, in a diabetic diet, you need to watch how much sugar you consume. One easy way to do this is read labels and choose a reduced sugar item that will still provide that same great taste but with less carbs. So, you can still enjoy eating your toast and jam in the morning with the same great taste only with fewer carbohydrates, which turns into sugar, and make less work for your pancreas.

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