A topic that has become a serious problem among those people who have developed Type 2 diabetes is dehydration. The need to drink fluids throughout the day is essential to keeping your blood sugar levels under control. Some folks may avoid the issue by not drinking at all. You need to stay hydrated, especially if you have high blood sugar levels. Your body will try to manage these levels by flushing extra sugar out of your system through your urine — using a lot of fluid to do so.
• Water. “It’s fine to squeeze a lemon, lime, or fresh mint leaves into your water without significantly affecting carbohydrate content,” Villalobos says.
• Tea. Caffeinated, decaffeinated, and herbal teas are all good choices for type 2 diabetes patients. But as soon as you add sugar or other sweeteners, you’re adding carbs. Be sure to count these added calories.
ALKALINE SMOOTHIES FOR BETTER HEALTH
• Coffee. I love my dark roasted coffee, And I drink it black. Caffeinated or decaffeinated black coffee is fine. Be sure to skip the sugar in coffee, or use a sugar substitute, and use fat-free (skim) milk.
• Diet carbonated drinks. I’m not a fan of diet soda. There is evidence that diet beverages trigger your brain into thinking that sugary carbs are on the way and when they don’t show up, the brain squeezes the hunger trigger.
• Diet powdered drinks. Same as above. I’m not a fan. Powdered mixes that provide fewer calories than sugar-sweetened drinks are a great way to make water taste sweet.
• Club soda. Club soda or seltzer water can give you that carbonated sensation without calories or carbs. As with plain water, you can ramp up the flavor of club soda with a squeeze of lemon, lime or just a splash of real fruit juice.
Not drinking enough fluids throughout the day can lead to higher blood sugar readings as your body struggles to get the sugar out of your system. If your blood sugar levels are constantly running in the 200’s [milligrams per deciliter, or mg/dl], you can become dehydrated. If you have high blood sugar of over 250 mg/dl, chances are your doctor will want you to drink extra fluids to help bring down your blood sugar. Water should always be your first choice for dehydration but if you don’t have a choice then you can choose any non-alcohol or non-caffeinated drink available.
Dehydration and Type 2 diabetes can be controlled with effort. As a goal, aim for a minimum of two quarts of water every day. Never much more than a gallon unless you are training heavily. And remember that you do get some hydration from foods such as soups and fruits. Raw veggies and fruits are packed full of nutrient-rich hydration in the form of living juice! If the weather is hot then always keep in mind to drink more fluids to compensate for what is lost due to the heat. CONTROL YOUR TYPE 2 DIABETES WITH A DIET HIGH IN ALKALINE FOODS
Randy Powell, Eating-Veggies.com