Facebook Pixel

Kendsie Hunter: Proteins and Juvenile Diabetes

 
Rate This

Food is broken up into three different areas: carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Each area plays an important role in any diet, and no diet should be devoid of one group.

Protein is a basic component of our body’s make up. Our cells, hairs, nails, bones and muscles all have protein in them, so we must eat protein to keep our bodies in tip-top shape (http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/protein.html).

Protein is a great way to keep blood sugar levels stable. If paired with carbs, diabetics get the energy they need from the carbs, but the protein stabilizes the blood sugar, preventing blood sugar spikes (http://www.revolutionhealth.com/conditions/diabetes/diet-nutrition/carbs-fats-protein/carbs-fats-protein). The reason for protein’s stabilizing properties is because it takes the body longer to process protein than it does carbohydrates. When the body takes a longer time to process, the result is no spike in blood sugar (http://www.dsolve.com/content/view/108/2/).

The same sources of fat are usually good sources of protein as well. Meats, dairy products and nuts are good sources of protein. Smoothies are a great way to get your daily intake of protein and have a delicious meal (usually breakfast) or snack. By combining fruits with dairy products, you get a great mix of carbohydrates, fat and protein to get you through the day.

Just make sure that you don’t add more sugar than necessary, because this will knock your blood sugars up to levels that will be considered out of control.

Add a CommentComments

There are no comments yet. Be the first one and get the conversation started!

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

Diabetes

Get Email Updates

Diabetes Guide

Have a question? We're here to help. Ask the Community.

ASK

Health Newsletter

Receive the latest and greatest in women's health and wellness from EmpowHER - for free!