Diabetes holds a long and complicated association with glucose, given the fact that this disease arises when the body is unable to break down glucose into energy to fuel itself. The reason behind this malfunctioning is either because the production of insulin in the body is insufficient in terms of the amount that is required to metabolize glucose, or that the cells of the body stop responding to insulin completely, which renders them incapable to metabolizing the energy that they need. The glucose, which is released into the blood, is produced when the carbohydrate content of the food is broken down during the process of digestion. And hence, it would appear that it is carbohydrates that need to be moderated for an individual to enforce a strict control over his glucose levels, or even eliminate them altogether to nullify the risk of high blood glucose altogether.



This is one of the most widespread and also the most harmful of all the misconceptions that shroud diabetes. Carbohydrates, which are simple organic compounds, play an integral role as a part of a well-balanced nutritional program, as they are the richest and most easily available energy powerhouses which the body subsists on.

In a diet which is completely devoid of carbohydrates, the body is starved of the energy it needs to function and thus begins to look for the next available source of energy to utilize. And so, the liver then begins to break down the proteins and the fats which are stored in it, which is the body's natural reaction to famine and starvation. As a result of this unnatural metabolism of fats and proteins, certain toxic by-products called Ketones are released into the blood.

Your body tries to purge itself of these Ketones by excreting them with your urine, which in turn, leads to excessive urination and over a period of time, leads the individual to a state of acute dehydration a potentially fatal condition which is clinically termed as Ketoacidosis. Weight gain is yet another pertinent issue for diabetics, which makes it even more difficult for them to keep their condition in control, while also increasing their susceptibility to the more severe complications that diabetes is capable of.

Many weight-control programs are designed to eliminate carbohydrates almost completely and concentrate on high-protein foods instead. The reasoning that carbohydrates translate into instant deposits of fat is rendered baseless as most of the weight comes right back on, almost instantaneously, once the individual has reintroduced carbohydrates as a part of his dietary regime. High-protein foods also tend to be high in artery-clogging saturated fats, which are one of the major contributors to coronary disease.

Curtailing a diet to completely eliminate one of the most significant foods groups also seems overwhelming to the individual, whom such a diet is imposed upon. This leads him to despair and lose all control, indulging in overfeeding himself with unhealthy foods, which will deteriorate his condition even further. This form of binge-eating leads the glucose levels haywire and allows diabetes to inflict its more dreaded complications, almost effortlessly.

Carbohydrates are an essential food group, which form almost 60% of an individual's daily calorific intake. However, what matters more than the exact decimal amount of the carbohydrates you consume is the quality of carbohydrates you eat, wherein you keep away from refined and processed carbohydrates and build your diet around complex, wholegrain which are packed with nutrients like vitamins and minerals, besides being excellent sources of energy which, when included as a part of a balanced dietary regimen, can be easily assimilated and utilized by your body. When dealing with diabetes, remember that it is a well-balanced approach that your disease demands of you, and not precautions that veer on the extreme. Educate yourself about diabetes today and learn how simple living with this disease can be!