Control over the blood glucose levels is the important goal of type 1, 2 diabetes control and also the management of gestational diabetes. While type-1 diabetes requires the supplementation with insulin to affect this leveling, type-2 diabetes and also gestational diabetes primarily rely on a modified diet to prevent the dangerous spikes in the blood's glucose levels. This of course makes it clear that no matter what kind of diabetes you may suffer from, nutritional intake is the proofing ground where the rubber meets the road and where good decisions will prevent glucose spikes while bad decisions will lead to the undesired sudden elevation in the blood glucose.

Sufferers from type-1 diabetes know that their mealtimes are strictly spaced and controlled in an effort to prevent the dangerous spikes in blood glucose. Since they are supplementing their insulin with the help of an injection, the failure to supplement too little of the substance leads to a very controlled eating habit with strict portion control. The goal is to make calories count rather than indulging in food choices that are primarily empty calories and thus provide little value to the body's continuous need for energy.

While meal control is imperative for type 1 type 2 diabetes, it is somewhat less strict for those suffering from type 2 diabetes. The latter is of course directly related to a patient's prior nutritional choices that now may have led to obesity which has caused several systemic changes, including insulin resistance. This resistance is sought to be counteracted by the use of food which will help shed the excess body weight, but which will do little good if it also serves to spike the overall blood glucose levels. Thus the control required of those suffering from type-2 diabetes rests in the dual action of reducing body weight while at the same time keeping the blood glucose at normal levels.

No matter which kind of diabetes is currently part of your patient portfolio, it is imperative that you exercise care and caution when it comes to planning your meals. It is interesting to note that just a bit of planning in advance will prevent some of the most egregious lapses in judgment associated with a quick hunger that does not merit a meal. Far too often this is the time that individuals will rely on cookies, chips or other unhealthy options for that pick me up only to counteract their efforts of not only watching their weight but also controlling the carbohydrate intake.

To this end it is vital to understand type 1, 2 diabetes and the nutritional implications this will have on your individual lifestyle and eating habits. Consider for example that some struggle the most with a need for a snack in the midmorning while others do not have a craving during that time period. For them, the afternoon and the stretch between lunch and dinner might provide the time frame that most commonly leads to the temptation to reach for an unhealthy snack. Meal planning and portion control are vital during these time periods!