LITMIR.BIZ

      ✔ The Mediterranean diet can improve blood glucose control and lower the risk for cardiovascular disease. The Mediterranean diet emphasizes consuming olive oil, legumes, unrefined cereals, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, dairy products, and fish. Meat is consumed in only small amounts.

      ✔ A vegan or vegetarian diet can improve blood glucose control and lipid levels. (Though definitions vary, generally speaking a vegan diet excludes all animal products, including dairy products, and a vegetarian diet excludes meat, fish and poultry, but includes dairy products such as cheese, eggs, yogurt, or milk.)

      ✔ A DASH (“Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension”) diet can lower blood pressure, improve blood glucose control, and lower the risk for cardiovascular disease. The DASH diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, whole grains, fish, poultry, fibre, and nuts, and avoids saturated fats, cholesterol, and red meats.

      Doug hadn’t seen a doctor for years but, having turned 40, he figured it was time to get “checked out.” Although he was quite a bit overweight, he felt reasonably well and was very surprised when his family physician told him that not only did he have diabetes but he also had high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

      “Gee doc, I guess this means you’re going to recommend I take a whole bunch of pills, eh?” he said dejectedly.

      To Doug’s surprise, his doctor responded by saying, “Well, we could use a whole bunch of pills, but your blood glucose levels aren’t all that high and your blood pressure and cholesterol aren’t all that bad, so it’s up to you.”

      “Up to me?” Doug said with surprise.

      “Yes, it’s up to you,” the doctor continued. “If you think you can change your eating habits, cut down on your calories, and reduce your salt and fat intake, you may be able to avoid medication.”

      Doug was all for that, so the doctor arranged an appointment with Cynthia, who got Doug set up with a healthy eating program, and it didn’t take long before his blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol were on the way down. Was Doug on a “diabetic diet”? As Shakespeare said, a rose would smell as sweet by any other name.