What is a “Consistent” Diet? A Healthy Heart

Following a consistent carbohydrate diet can help a person with diabetes can keep blood sugar levels under control. Your heart suffers when you go from a healthy diet back to old bad habits. People with type 2 diabetes have trouble regulating blood sugar levels because they’re not making enough insulin or their cells are not responding to the insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that allows muscle, liver, and fat cells to absorb glucose from your blood. Treatment of type 2 diabetes usually involves taking medications that help regular blood sugar, and in some cases, a person with diabetes needs to take insulin, but dietary changes are also necessary.

Carbohydrates include sugars and starches that your body breaks down and uses for energy. A person with diabetes needs to monitor his or her carbohydrate intake. Some people go on a low-carbohydrate diet and just avoid most carbs, but the focus of the consistent carbohydrate diet is keeping a level intake of carbohydrates throughout each day and from one day to the next.

It isn’t much different from a regular, healthful diet, except that you need to be careful and monitor the number of carbs you take in at every meal and snack. It seems like a lot of work, but with help and practice you’ll get the hang of it.

Sixty middle-aged, obese adults without diabetes followed one of two heart-healthy eating plans: the Mediterranean diet or the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. Their blood pressure, cholesterol, and body fat—critical indicators of heart health—dropped notably in just five to six weeks. But then they went back to unrestricted eating for four weeks, and their numbers returned to unhealthy territory. Fortunately, once they restarted a nutritious diet, their health improved again. The takeaway: If you stray from eating well, as many do, don’t give up. The benefits will return when you resume your healthy ways. 
Source:Nutrients, Nov. 10, 2018