Dietitians for Diabetics Lansing MI

Anyone who's ever decided to lose weight knows that impatient feeling. You want results—instant results—and you're more than ready to embrace any diet that promises a new, slimmer you in a very short time.

Before you put yourself on a trendy diet that promises rapid weight loss, consider that a fad diet could have even more severe health consequences for you than for someone without diabetes. And while it's great that you've finally decided to work toward your ideal weight, it's also important that you do so correctly.

"In general, the more drastic the diet, the more weight a person will drop rapidly," says Louis Aronne, MD, director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Program at Weill-Cornell Medical Center in New York City. "But the question is whether this is a healthy thing to do." Many diets that promise quick weight loss are, in fact risky for a diabetic, he says.

Here's a rundown of some diets it's in your best health interest to avoid:

1. Low-carb, high-protein diets. These diets put diabetics at risk for having a low blood sugar reaction, explains Alissa Rumsey, RD, of New-York Presbyterian Medical Center/Weill Cornell in New York City. "And if the blood sugar gets too low, this can cause fainting, tremors and even coma," she explains. "Diabetics need some carbohydrates in the diet." Additionally, Rumsey explains, a diet that is high in protein can stress the kidneys-and diabetics are already at an increased risk of kidney disease.
2. High-protein, high-fat diets. This type of diet tends to encourage the consumption of foods that are high in saturated fats, like red meat. "These can increase the risk of heart disease, and diabetics are already predisposed to having heart problems," Rumsey says.
3. Cleanses and very low-calorie diets, Aronne says, aren't recommended. If one of these severely restricted diets is followed for more than a few days, it can lead to decreased muscle mass. "You may lose a tremendous amount of weight," he sa...

Dieting presents its own special set of challenges to people who have diabetes. And while there's no magic weight loss regimen that will effortlessly melt away the pounds while keeping your blood sugar in the ideal range, clearing up misconceptions may help you shed unwanted pounds for keeps.

Here, we've the advice of some of the top experts in the field Mary Gocke, RD, CDN, Carole Marks, MD, at Long Island College Hospital in Queens, New York, Jennifer Regester, RD, CDN, CDE, at the Gerald J. Friedman Diabetes Institute in New York City, and Caroline Bohl, MS, RD, CDE, at New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City contribute.

Myth 1: Fruit's healthy so you can eat as much as you want and still lose weight.

Fact: Fruit is chockful of fiber, vitamins and minerals. But it also has sugar and calories,  so it needs to be portion-controlled in order for you to lose weight and keep your blood sugar in the normal range.

Myth 2: You can "save" calories and treat yourself to a big dinner by eating light the rest of the day.

Fact: Eating a large meal floods the body with glucose and can cause blood sugar fluctuations, Bohl explains. Instead, spread out your meals evenly over the day and avoid consuming large quantities of food at one time. This gives your body time to level out your blood glucose before the next meal, and you'll avoid the ravenous feeling that you get when you skip meals that causes you to overeat.

Myth 3: You can't ever eat dessert again if you want to lose weight.

Fact: There's no food that is off limits when you're trying to lose weight. It's all about portion control. You can have your cake and eat it, too, but in reasonably sized servings.

Myth 4: You can't lose weight because you don't have any will power.

Fact: Don't drive yourself crazy trying to develop will power, says Regester. Resisting eating the foods you like can backfire, causing you to finally give in and over-indulge. You may end up having an unhealthy relationship with food. Instead, you need to change your lifestyle so that you'll eat healthily over the long haul, not just until you reach your goal weight.

Myth 5: Eating the same thing every day for breakfast or lunch makes it easy to stay on a diet.

Fact: Not only is it boring to eat the same thing morning and noon, it's not even good for you. Eating a variety of foods ensures that you get all the nutrients that your body needs, and also keeps your taste buds interested. If you routinely consume the same meal, your system gets bored - and you'll end up overeating out of pure boredom.

Myth 6: To really lose weight and keep it off, you need to join a gym and work out a lot.

Fact: Any amount of exercise--even a 10-minute walk twice a day--can be effective at burning calories, Regester says. Get your doctor's okay before embarking on an exercise program if you haven't worked out in awhile, start slow and work up gradually. And check your blood sugar both before ...