Diabetes
What tends to happen when you are diagnosed with diabetes or elevated blood sugar?
When people are first diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes, they are often told to cut or reduce the carbs they are eating. In any situation, being told to restrict a specific food group can be triggering for most and hard to achieve. Considering that the body needs carbohydrates to function and that they are part of every culture’s gastronomy, consulting a dietitian can help you create a realistic plan of action. It is also useful to unpack how you initially reacted to your diagnosis, what your current eating habits are like, and what do you tend to struggle with when it comes to food. Discussing these are key factors to manage your blood sugar improve your energy level and your relationship with food in a sustainable manner.
Why "cutting carbs" tend to do more harm thatn good:
Let’s imagine you tell a child that they can play with any toy except the red truck. Their natural reaction would most likely be to be interested in playing with the red truck.
When we transfer this analogy to nutrition, this effect is called “cognitive restriction”, or mental restriction: the appeal of doing something we are told not to do. On top of that psychological reaction, cutting carbohydrates or restricting ourselves from eating them also has an impact on human biology, appetite, and hunger control. Restricting carbohydrates is often done at main meals or being “good” for the first part of the day. This strategy tends to be followed by episodes of intense hunger or cravings in the afternoon and evening, which is seen as “ruining” the day. This contrasts between high carb and low carb in the run of a day can be detrimental for your overall blood sugar control (HbA1C) as well as your energy and nutritional balance.
How we talk about carbs, sugar, and diabetes in a helpful way:
Our in-house dietitian uses a holistic nutrition coaching approach to help you move away from restrictive diets and help you to find a long-term enjoyable way of eating that can support optimal blood sugar control. Talking to a dietitian can help also improve how you choose food when you're in control, for example at home as well as when you are traveling, visiting or celebrating with your family and friends.
Sound too good to be true? Schedule a free telephone call with Jeanne today to ask any questions.