Diabetic Prepackaged Foods, Good Choices Within Moderation or Bad Without

A diabetic person should always try and maintain a low carb diet. The main reason for following a low carb diet is that when a person consumes carbohydrates, the carbs then transform to sugar in the digestive system causing an significant increase in body's blood sugar levels. The diabetic person's body then tries to compensate for the additional sugar and increases the insulin production, which then exacerbates the diabetic insulin resistance the sufferer has to compensate for. Another factor to take in consideration is that any sugar that isn't being used for energy or food is then discarded into triglycerides and fat cells, which then causes the diabetic person excessive weight gain.

Some of the best and worst prepackaged diabetic foods consist of:

1. Fifty/50 is a diabetic product company that offers several different sugar free products in which diabetics can choose from. Fifty/50 has products ranging from peanut butter, cookies, fruit spreads, wafers and even chocolates. There are some good prepackaged food choices and some bad food choices. Most of Fifty/50 packaged foods are sugar free, and sweetened with fructose. However you have to be aware that fructose is not always a good thing and crystalline fructose offers only a slight decrease of sugar from regular fructose corn syrup. Although comparably Fifty/50 offers some good choices for diabetics, everything should be eaten in moderation. www.fifty50foods.com

However a diabetic has to be extremely careful with sugar free diabetic products because sometimes they can contain sugar alcohols which contain only approximately half the carb and calorie content of regular sugar. Some sugar free ingredients to watch for are maltitol and sorbitol and generally it is best to stay away from these type ingredients in any sugar free products. Artificial sweeteners are also used in many products that say sugar free and in some cases artificial sweeteners have been know to cause everything from headaches to lowering the body's immune system.

2. Splenda is a company that has produced a alternative to sugar and that can be used in baking products instead of regular sugar. Although Splenda is a great tasting sugar alternative, it's actually a sucralose artificial sweetener originating from sugar. Splenda has been widely accepted by the diabetic and health conscious community, however the aspects of consuming high amounts of sucralose is not known as of yet.

3. Stevia is another sugar alternative that is relatively new on the market and is derived from the leaves of a shrub originally found in Paraguay. Canada and Japan have been using Stevia extract for a long time as sweetener and food additive seemingly without any reported side effects. Although Stevia is relatively new in the United States, it has been promoted as many times sweeter than regular sugar and the research is still out on whether Stevia may have any harmful effects.

4. Nutrisystem prepackaged diabetic meals consist of good low carbohydrate, low glycemic meals which have been especially designed for Type 2 diabetics. The meals are substantially nutritious and filling, while offering a balanced low carbohydrate meal that can keep diabetic blood sugars balanced. www.nutrisystem.com/jsps_hmr/catalog/men/diabetes.jsp

5. DineWise is a company offering gourmet prepackaged diabetic meals with easy online ordering. DineWise has real chef prepared low carbohydrate, lean protein meals that are not only flavorful but also offer perfect size portions. DineWise is a bit pricey but has received a good following for prepackaged well balanced full course meals. www.dinewise.com/diabetic-friendly.html

6. Magic Kitchen is another company that has cashed in on offering prepackaged diabetic meals, which can easily be ordered and delivered to your front door. Magic Kitchen delivers chef prepared top quality meals with delicious completely nutritious full course meals. Magic Kitchen is another pricey prepackaged diabetic meal plan but all the meals offer good portions and a wide variety of selections. www.magickitchen.com/menu/diabetic.html

I should note a few basics when sorting out what is bad diabetic prepackaged foods and good diabetic choices. For one everything should be done in moderation, sugar free doesn't actually mean free of everything that is bad for you. No sugar added is actually a better choice if you are a severe diabetic having real problems with your sugar numbers.

Diabetic prepackaged meal delivery is great for people that have debilitating diabetes and may not be able to cook for themselves, as well as they offer the average diabetic a healthy meal plan that provides a ready made low carb and well balanced meal.

Another important factor to remember is you should always be aware of your numbers, being a diabetic myself I have to constantly think of what I am eating and know that what I eat directly affects my blood sugar. Eating a well balanced diet of fresh low carb foods and avoiding caffeine, alcohol and fried foods can help your blood sugar numbers.

References for this article include: diet.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Diabetic_Foods
www.diet-blog.com/archives/2009/04/27/nutrisystem_d_significant_weight_loss_for_diabetics.php
diabetes-support.com/Articles/pre-packaged-low-carb-foods.htm