Better control means better health. If your blood sugar is low, you may become cranky, tires, confused, shaky or sweaty. This is a condition called hypoglycemia. If this condition prolongs; it can even lead to death. However, if you are thirsty, urinate a lot or have blurred vision, your blood sugar may be much too high. If this condition is left untreated it can damage all the major organs of the body & finally lead to Diabetic coma.

Diabetes mellitus in particular is easier to control when your weight is normal; in BMI terms between 20 & 24. It is estimated that at least 80% of people newly diagnosed with Diabetes mellitus are overweight. Dietary advice is essential if weight loss is to be achieved. Also a healthy diet will help your blood pressure & reduce your cardiovascular risk.

There is no such thing as a Diabetic diet. Although diabetes means you will always need to take that little extra care about what you eat, a healthy diet is what is recommended for all people. All foods have an energy value – Carbohydrates, Protein & Fat intake have an effect on blood sugar levels & the food groups containing these macronutrients require attention.

BiteRite is thus formulated choosing foods that have a balanced effect on the blood sugar. The quantities of food groups in each meal have also been planned accordingly.

Perhaps the best news in the new nutrition guidelines is, “Scientific evidence has shown that use of sucrose (table sugar) as part of the meal plan does not impair blood glucose control in individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.”

Wait! Before you rush out & eat a triple scoop of ice cream take another look at this statement.

What the experts are saying is that sugar should be part of a well-balanced meal that contains protein, fat & carbohydrates. A high sugar food should not be eaten alone as a snack because it can send blood glucose levels soaring. As part of a well-balanced meal however, sugar (in place of other carbohydrate) does not have a bad effect on post-meal blood glucose levels.

The blood glucose is at its lowest in the fasting state and it rises with food. There are numerous factors that influence the Glycemic response. The level and timing of the rise is related to the nutrient content of consumed food. Consumption of carbohydrates from whole grain, fruits, vegetables and low- fat/ skimmed milk is preferred over the consumption of sugar or white bread that causes a sharp rise of blood glucose and then a sharp fall. Consumption of carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables are richer in fiber, vitamins, minerals and photochemical all of which would blunt the peak rise in blood glucose and slower the rate. Consumption of fatty meals such as pizza or burgers would cause a delayed and prolonged rise of blood glucose. A protein rich meal would not affect the blood glucose level.

There is a common myth that people with diabetes need to watch their calories more than an average person. This is only partly correct. Everyone’s calorie intake should be appropriate for the level of activity, regardless of whether diabetes is present. The difference is that people without diabetes still have the capacity to overcome excesses in their diet by producing extra insulin to maintain blood sugar at normal levels.
So your calorie needs reducing only if you need to lose weight – BMI is above 25.

The Glycemic Index is a numerical Index that ranks carbohydrates based on their rate of glycemic response (i.e. their conversion to glucose within the human body). Glycemic Index uses a scale of 0 to 100, with higher values given to foods that cause the most rapid rise in blood sugar. Pure glucose
serves as a reference point, and is given a Glycemic Index (GI) of 100.

Your body performs best when your blood sugar is kept relatively constant. If your blood sugar drops too low, you become lethargic and/or experience increased hunger. And if it goes too high, your brain signals your pancreas to secrete more insulin. Insulin brings your blood sugar back down, but
primarily by converting the excess sugar to stored fat. Also, the greater the rate of increase in your blood sugar, the more chance that your body will release an excess amount of insulin, and drive your blood sugar back down too low.

Therefore, when you eat foods that cause a large and rapid glycemic response, you may feel an initial elevation in energy and mood as your blood sugar rises, but this is followed by a cycle of increased fat storage, lethargy, and more hunger!

Although increased fat storage may sound bad enough, individuals with diabetes (diabetes mellitus, types 1 and 2) have an even worse problem. Their bodies inability to secrete or process insulin causes their blood sugar to rise too high, leading to a host of additional medical problems.

The theory behind the Glycemic Index is simply to minimize insulin-related problems by identifying and avoiding foods that have the greatest effect on your blood sugar.

Although most candy has a relatively high Glycemic Index, eating a single piece of candy will result in a relatively small glycemic response. Why?

Well, simply because your body's glycemic response is dependent on both the type AND the amount of carbohydrate consumed. This concept, know as Glycemic Load, was first popularized in 1997 by Dr. Walter Willett and associates at the Harvard School of Public Health. You can control your glycemic response by consuming only low-GI foods and/or by restricting your intake of carbohydrates.

Definitely not, because, unlike potatoes and cereal products, these vegetables are very low in carbohydrate. So, despite their high GIycemic Index, their glycemic load (GI x carbohydrate per serving divided by 100) is low. Vegetables contain only small amounts of carbohydrate but loads of micronutrients and should be considered as "free foods". Eat them all you like!

No, because the effect of a low Glycemic Index food carries over to the next meal, reducing its glycemic impact. This applies to breakfast eaten after a low Glycemic Index dinner the previous evening or to a lunch eaten after a low Glycemic Index breakfast. This unexpected beneficial effect is called the "second meal effect". But don't take this too far, however. Its recommended that you aim for at least one low Glycemic Index food per meal.

The Glycemic Index always remains the same, even if you double the amount of carbohydrate in your meal. This is because the Glycemic Index is a relative ranking of foods containing the "same amount" of carbohydrate. But if you double the amount of food you eat, you should expect to see a higher blood glucose response - i.e., your glucose levels will reach a higher peak and take longer to return to baseline compared with a normal serve.

If you have diabetes, you should have access to a qualified dietitian through your GP or Diabetic doctor. Your dietitian will help you work out your daily calorie needs, taking into account your age, lifestyle, work and activity levels. Most of all, your dietitian will help you understand the relationship between what you eat & what you need.
Be a BiteRite member & gain the benefits of Diabetes education. This program also takes care of how many calories you need to eat each day? What foods you should include as well as how many food servings.

a) Reduce dietary fat intake, especially that from butter, cheese, red meat, coconut oil & palm oil. But balance intake through fats from olive oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, almond, walnuts & pecans. This is because a very low fat diet can raise triglyceride levels.
b) Do any form of cardiovascular exercise – jogging, walking, cycling or swimming
c) If you are overweight, lose weight.
d) Cut down on egg yolk & shellfish – cholesterol-containing foods.

a) Stop smoking
b) Get to & stay at your ideal body weight
c) Exercise regularly – 4 to 6 days in a week.
d) Cut back on meat, cheese, milk, butter, coconut & palm oil intake.
e) Read labels carefully so as to not consume foods with Trans fatty acids (margarine, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil).
f) Cut back on shrimps, shellfish & eggs.
g) Consume enough of olives, olive oil, fish, dry nuts & dried seeds.
h) Visit your doctor & dietitian for routine check ups on a monthly basis.

The BiteRite menu is available without the package, however, control of merely the diet is not enough or effective. It is essential that you get the right amount of exercise. Without one of these elements, the BiteRite system is weak; therefore NMC has devised the best result customized for your needs in the BiteRite solution, providing you with proper schedules for exercise and keeping you constantly updated on new progresses and a better way of living.

BiteRite along with a good exercise schedule can ensure steady weight loss. The maximum reduction in weight will be experienced in the first month when BiteRite is followed as a means to loose weight (without other lifestyle modifications.) Thereafter, the effects will plateau. Hence, exercise, along with the BiteRite menu is an essential complementary tool to loose weight.

Expert advice will ensure the best guidance for BiteRite, which is why it is also available through the Diabetologist and Nutritionists. Every person is different which means every persons requirement from BiteRite will vary. It is up to the doctors concerned to consider this and treat every individual with the utmost care and fragility.

Yes .No problem! Although milk products are included in the current menu, our expert nutritionists / dieticians can plan personal menu for you.

Exercise may help control your weight and reduce blood sugar. It also reduces your risk of heart attacks and may help control blood pressure. Exercise can also reduce stress and improve your overall self-esteem as well as your health. However though exercise is a good way of reducing your risk of complications people respond in different ways to exercise. It is therefore not possible to make a general recommendation on a suitable program of exercise.

The main risk associated with exercise is hypoglycemia. Exercise changes the way the body reacts to insulin and with regular exercise you may develop hypoglycemia after exercise. If you have circulatory problems or neuropathy your feet may develop blisters or ulcers. Consult your doctor if you have ischaemic heart disease

Checklist for exercise
• Talk to your doctor about the right exercise for you.
• Check your blood sugar level before and after exercising.
• Check your feet for blisters or sores before and after exercising.
• Wear the proper shoes and socks.
• Drink plenty of fluid before, during and after exercising.
• Warm up before exercising and cool down afterward.
• Have a snack handy in case your blood sugar level drops

A BiteRite Community Member is enrolled in The BiteRite Plan where he/she can avail all the benefits of the BiteRite Saving Schemes. Apart from this you will have sound health as you will be consuming balanced meals appropriate for your body. A BiteRite Member is unable to avail all the above mentioned valuable services unless he or she upgrades to being a BiteRite Community Member. However, A BiteRite Member can have all access to information on nutritional and growth towards a healthy lifestyle, which is the BiteRite style!