There is a saying that you are what you eat. There is much truth to this statement. For some time I have been interested in nutrition, but I have never made an intensive study, nor have I been really conscious of the different foods that I was eating. I use to be a meat and potatoes person and liked to eat pies and ice cream.

In recent years, I realized that starches and carbohydrates had to be reduced. When I first went to an endocrinologist, she asked what I was eating. I told her about my breakfast and started telling about the morning snack when she stopped me. She said that I was to eat bacon and eggs and to eat meat. I asked if she included beef and she did. That sounded good, to eat meat.

The specialist said that a baked potato is like eating a small brownie. I had previously met with the dietician at the hospital and he suggested foods to eat and foods to stay away from. I thought that was good, because I did not want to count calories. What this meant was that I had to change my lifestyle. It was not easy. It is important for diabetics to eat properly. A great number of people, especially obese individuals are pre-diabetics. These people are heading toward being diabetic, but most can head it off with proper nutrition and exercise. In reality, everyone needs to eat the same way as a diabetic needs to eat, developing a good nutrition lifestyle.

In recent years we have seen a number of fads. Each one needed to be followed to lose weight. Many of these cease being a fad and are no longer popular. What is needed is a lifestyle that includes a variety of needed foods and one of the most important things is portion. Moderation in eating is a great benefit toward eating healthy.

Last week a report was provided of a large test on women using low fat diets. We have heard much about making sure there is not any fat or at least a low amount of fat in our diet. This study has proven that the information about low fat diets is in error. People have been on low fat diets and still gained weight. A certain amount of fat is needed in the diet. There are other factors contributing to the obesity.

It is said that farmers feed their livestock a better diet than what we eat. The livestock feed provides the food and supplements that are needed. People tend to over indulge in some things and not eat enough of other things -- which usually include vegetables and fruits.

This week I had an opportunity to attend a class presented by Virginia Kovark, dietician and consultant, Harrisonville. This was the final session for a group of individuals participating in a diabetes education program conducted by Darla Englebrecht, a local diabetes nurse educator. It felt that the hour hardly started when it was coming to an end -- a fast hour.

Much information was provided and it will take some time to digest the information. Only a portion of it can be shared with you at this time. Most likely much of the information will be used as a reference in the future. The source for some of the information was from the America Diabetes Association.

The dietician discussed nutrients in food groups. Starch, fruit, and milk groups contain a large amount of carbohydrates, which has a large effect on blood glucose, within two hours of eating, with a high rate of effect. Vegetables have carbohydrate and protein and have a small effect on blood glucose, which is also fast.

Meat contains protein and fat. It has a slow effect on blood glucose in the first two hours and the rate of effect is slow. Fat effect on blood glucose is small and is very slow.

A major portion of the time was spent looking at and learning about food labels. Many of the items in the grocery store would have you believe it is healthy, when it is not. She urged those in attendance to look at the labels to determine the serving size, total fat, the saturated fat and the trans fat and total carbohydrates.