Patients who are diagnosed with diabetes often ask if a good diet can help the disease in check. Most doctors agree - patients can keep diabetes in check with a good diet, one that's is low in sugars and carbohydrates. Such a diet may not necessarily help patients totally get rid of the disease, but it helps them avoid complications that are associated with diabetes.

Diabetics have problems breaking down and converting foods like starches and sugars into compounds that are needed by body cells. Instead they remain in the blood and increases sugar levels in the bloodstream. Too much sugar, or glucose, in the blood is an abnormality called glycemia. There are two types of diabetes, namely Type 1 and Type 2. Diabetics of either type suffer from very high blood sugar conditions. Problems in breaking down sugar also take their toll on other vital organs of the body, and often cause dysfunctions of the heart, eyesight, liver, kidneys and blood circulation.

When doctors treat diabetics, they usually apply medication, or insulin, depending on what stage their disease maybe at. The purpose of medication or insulin is to help body systems process blood sugars and break them down, allowing patients to expel excess sugar. But medication and insulin can only do so much; they cannot substitute for a good, healthy diet. Taking insulin or medication does not give patients license to eat as much sugar and carbohydrates as they can. Keeping diabetes in check requires patients not only to take insulin or medication per doctor's prescription; adhering to healthy diabetic diet is equally important. It is necessary therefore for diabetics to familiarize themselves with foods they must avoid or which foods they may eat sparingly.

This makes the Glycemic Index very useful. Established and adopted in 1981, the Glycemic Index identifies and rates carbohydrates in terms of how they adversely affect diabetics. Foods that top the list, like white bread, are hard to digest and must be avoided. Carbohydrates with low scores, on the other hand, like brown rice, may be eaten sparingly. Since it is almost impossible to do away with carbohydrates completely, it is important for diabetics to familiarize themselves with the Glycemic Index and adopt a diet on the basis of what the Index suggests.

The Glycemic Index also identifies and rates carbohydrates in the middle of the pack. People may find it surprising, for example, that chocolate bars rate in the middle group of the Glycemic Index list. But by no means this would suggest that diabetics may freely consume chocolate everytime they have opportunities to do so. The Glycemic Index tells people what foods need to be avoided at all cost and which foods can be taken in with moderation.

A good diet is therefore important to keep diabetes in check. A good diet cannot cure diabetes, but it can help diabetics live a healthier and longer life. Diabetics need to familiarize themselves with the Glycemic Index so that they can be guided on what foods to take and thereby help control their affliction.