One major problem of the diabetic is derangement in the normal regulation of nutrients. This often pose a great challenge to the diabetics on what to eat, and what not to eat. In the past, most diabetics were advised to eat only wheat meals or unripe plantain and bean, cooked without oil. The people were asked to completely avoid fish, meat, eggs, yam, rice, cassava, guinea corn, maize, millet and banana. They were also often barred from fruits like orange, water melon, guava, apple, pawpaw and pineapple because they contain sugar. That any attempt to eat them would hurt the diabetic. This situation usually compounded the diabetic’s health condition, because of having to battle with the psychological trauma of separation from the family meals, continuous subjection to unpalatable dishes, and coping with imbalance diets. The usual end results are depression; worsened immunity profile characterized by diverse kinds of infections, and worsened health condition.
It must be emphasized here that, just as any other persons, the diabetic needs balance diets to live a healthy life. Therefore, the foodstuff that provide the necessary nutrients must be deliberately selected and properly prepared into balance diets for diabetics
For those with diabetes mellitus, foods and drinks may be classified into three major classes, namely:
- Foods and drinks to be used with utmost These include sugar-based drinks: such as lucozade, the so-called fruit juices, soft drinks, malt drinks; alcoholic drinks: gin, beer, brandy, etc; refined carbohydrate-based foods such as certain noodles; fatty and oily foods and sweets. The diabetic should handle these sets of foods and drinks with utmost caution, partly because of their ability to raise blood sugar level almost suddenly, and their ability to alter physiochemical state of the body negatively.
- Foods and drinks to be used That is, these foods and drinks are used, but with moderation. As long as a diabetic is consistent with taking the prescribed medications, the person can live healthily with these sets of foods. These include complex carbohydrates-based foodsand drinks, such as gari, rice, yam, wheat, plantain, guinea corn, maize, millet, potato, bread etc; Meats (especially white meats): like chicken, beef, goat, etc
Foods and drinks to be used freely and liberally. This includes vegetable, fruits and nuts. Sea foods like fish, bivalve, periwinkle, lobster, etc.