Diabetes and Nutrition Label

Nutrition Label

 

All packaged foods are required to have nutrition labels with nutrition facts listed. These nutrition labels offers useful and accurate nutrition information that enable consumers to make healthful food choices.

The nutrition fact list is particular important for diabetes patient in their healthful diet plan. It enable diabetes patient to translate an item into exchanges and follow a diabetic exchange diet, count carbohydrates, and maintain a healthy diet. So take the time to read them.

 

Understanding of Nutrition Label

Serving Size: Standardized size based on amounts people actually eat. Similar food products have similar serving sizes making nutritional comparisons easier.

% Daily Value: nutrient reference values, expressed as % Daily Values, that help consumers see how a food fits into an overall daily diet. This helps you to understand if the food has "a lot" or "a little" of the most important nutrients

Middle Section: The nutrients listed in the middle section are the ones most important to good health. This helps you to calculate your daily limits for fat, fiber, sodium and other nutrients.

Vitamins & Minerals: Only these vitamins and minerals are required on labels although the manufacturer has the option to include others too.

 

Diabetes and Dental Health

Dental hygiene is an essential part of good health. For diabetics, problems with the teeth and gums can be more common and more serious than for the average person.

For this reason, if you have diabetes dental care is even more important, but it does not mean that you have to adopt a new or different treatment regimen.

Being aware of how best to look after your teeth is an essential part of learning to live with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes and gum diseases

 

Gum disease is a very common infection and occurs when bacteria within the mouth begins to form into a sticky plaque which sits on the surface of the tooth.

Over time, if this is not removed by regular brushing using the correct technique, a gum inflammation called gingivitis can develop.

Gingivitis

 

Symptoms of gingivitis can include:

• Red and swollen gums
• Bleeding will often occur whilst brushing.
• Gum disease will stem from untreated gingivitis, and in turn the teeth will begin to decay.

One unfortunate side effect of diabetes and high blood glucose levels is the fact that any infection in or on the body will spread more easily.

Keeping blood glucose levels under control reduces the risk of infection spreading. Unfortunately, when your body begins to fight an infection, blood glucose levels will usually rise in response. Should the infection in your mouth become worse, your food intake could be affected, further affecting your diabetes.

Thrush

 

Thrush of the mouth is also more common amongst people who have poor blood glucose control.

Ways to ensure good dental hygiene as a diabetic

 

Making sure that you visit a dentist every six months ensures that any infection will be treated as early as possible. Minor dental problems can quickly escalate, and a routine visit to the dentist will pick up on these.
In the UK, although diabetic people are more prone to dental problems, they do not receive any extra financial help for dental treatment.

Dental hygiene, diabetes, and heart problems

 

Diabetes can cause excess cholesterol to build up in the bloodstream.

If your gums also have an infection that isn’t treated quickly then bacteria from the infected gums can flow into the bloodstream.

In turn, this may intensify the speed at which arteries are clogged by cholesterol. As a diabetic, make sure that you look after both your teeth and your gums, and visit your dentist regularly.

Diabetes, the toothbrush, and brushing techniques

 

A good quality toothbrush can make all the difference to a brushing routine. Toothbrushes should have soft nylon bristles with rounded ends. They should be used gently and feel comfortable in the hand. A dentist or hygienist will have advice about the best type of toothbrush to use.

Diabetes and Oral Health

Diabetes can cause serious problems in the mouth. The most common oral health problems associated with diabetes are tooth decay, periodontal (gum) disease ; salivary gland dysfunction; fungal infections; lichen planus and lichenoid reactions (inflammatory skin disease); infection and delayed healing; and taste impairment.

If your blood glucose levels are not controlled, you are at greater risk of dental problems.

Diabetes lowers the ability to resist infection and slows down the healing process , so people who have diabetes tend to have severe cases of Periodontitis. An infection such as periodontitis may also raise blood glucose level , which makes diabetes more difficult to control. Periodontal disease may also make it hard to control blood glucose.