Diabetes mellitus is a carbohydrate metabolism disorder. Its essence lies in the fact that the body cannot properly absorb glucose. The disease is divided into two types.
In type 1 diabetes, abnormal cells in the pancreas do not produce enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels stable.
Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 90% of all diagnosed cases of the disease. It occurs when the insulin produced is not perceived by the body, eg. there is resistance to it.
Dietary guidelines for diabetes
The basic principle of the diabetes diet is not to reduce the amount of any type of food, but to properly rebuild the entire diet and stick to it for the rest of your life.
From a biological point of view, food is a source of vital vitamins, trace elements and necessary energy.
With diabetes diagnosed, they try to reduce the amount of this energy a person gets from food. An excessive amount of it is the cause of excess weight, which only worsens the course of the disease.
The main components of the diabetes diet are fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the main source of energy used by the body. Their share is about 50% of the daily intake of food consumed.
There are three groups of carbohydrates:
- Those that don't need to be counted. These are foods enriched with vegetable fibers (with the exception of legumes and potatoes for their high starch content).
- Slow digesting carbohydrates (cereals, fruit, vegetables).
- Quickly digestible carbohydrates (sweets of all kinds).
To calculate the insulin dosage, the amount of carbohydrates consumed according to the "bread units" system is taken into account. One unit of bread (XE) equals 10-12 g of carbohydrates. Entire tables have been created to help accurately determine their approximate content in a particular type of food.
The required number of units of bread is determined by the weight of the person and the degree of his physical activity. Approximately this number is equal to - 15-30 XE per day.
Using table XE, by adjusting blood glucose levels before and after meals, it is possible to calculate the required insulin dosage, which controls sugar levels and the process of carbohydrate metabolism itself. If there is no tabular data at hand, the "hand and plate rule" is applied, when the size of the products consumed is determined based on the size of the hand and plate.
Another indicator that plays an important role in the organization of diabetic nutrition is the glycemic index (GI). Helps to control carbohydrate metabolism and determines the most favorable nutritional option. It was first introduced by the Canadian specialist A. Jenkinson in the early 80s of the 20th century.
The GI of glucose itself is 100 units. The earlier its level rises after eating, the higher the index. GI - an indicator of the degree of usefulness of the product. Its low value indicates that the product is recommended for people with diabetes. A high GI value indicates unnecessary calories. Low-glycemic foods slowly raise blood glucose levels. And with a high, on the contrary, your blood sugar rises rapidly. The first group includes vegetables, fresh fruit, wholemeal bread, seafood, eggs, etc. The second group includes muffins, sweets, fizzy drinks, packaged juices, etc. Awareness of the main criteria for a diabetic diet allows you to regulate the course of the disease, improve the quality of life of such patients.
Features of the diet for diabetes
Patient studies have shown that strict adherence to an approved diet and nutritional schedules are essential for successful treatment of diabetes mellitus, minimizing possible complications and maintaining good health.
For people with diabetes, it is necessary to observe a number of features that regulate the diet, regardless of the severity of the disease and the methods of its treatment.
A person must be aware that, regardless of the treatment chosen for him, his success will mainly depend on the culture of nutrition.
The nutritional scheme is selected individually for each patient, based on weight, age, degree of daily physical activity.
The goal of the diabetes diet is to control glucose levels and keep them at an optimal level, according to generally accepted norms. It is important that the diet is balanced and enriched with a certain number of vitamins and minerals. He is obliged to ensure the supply of the necessary energy so that the patient's body weight is close to ideal indicators and remains stable for a long time. The diet must respect the principles of a rational diet.
Diet for type 1 diabetes
Nutrition experts are unanimous in believing that the diet plan for type 1 diabetes should be balanced and based on the postulates of proper nutrition, as well as for those who do not suffer from this disease. Since there is no ideal diet for diabetics, such patients need to pay close attention to the ratio of carbohydrates, fats and proteins that enter the body. This will help you regulate your diet. A diabetic diet does not mean the complete exclusion of certain foods, but you should consider how one or the other product affects blood sugar.
Recommendations for the amount of food consumed are as follows:
- reduce the amount of packaged juices and drinks that raise glucose levels. It is recommended to consume low-sugar drinks and special dietary liquids;
- You cannot completely eliminate carbohydrates from your diet. Their absence, in combination with insulin treatment, can significantly reduce sugar levels, which will adversely affect overall health;
- eat as many low-glycemic vegetables as possible;
- reduce the amount of fast food and fast food consumed.
A large percentage of patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes report the effectiveness of a low glycemic index diet. This helps avoid sudden fluctuations in blood sugar after a meal.
When planning, an important aspect is the calculation of the amount of carbohydrates. Pay special attention to diabetics who approach their diet responsibly. With the right calculations, you can find out exactly what dosage your insulin should have, as well as get relief in choosing the products you want.
Another popular method of insulin therapy is the basal bolus.
It consists of taking a bolus immediately before a meal to regulate the optimal level of glucose within acceptable limits. Such a diet provides greater flexibility in choosing a diet, allows you to independently adjust the required dosage of insulin, depending on the amount of carbohydrates consumed.
Diet for type 2 diabetes
Compliance with a healthy diet aimed at reducing body weight is the main requirement. Excess weight has a significant impact on the course of the disease and the development of insulin dependence. In order for the fight against excess weight to be successful, it is necessary to follow all the recommendations.
The type 2 diabetes diet has three basic principles:
- The use of vegetables.Their number is determined by the patient's age, sex and physical activity. Women who exercise for 30 minutes should include around 500g of such products in their diet. If the sports are more intense, the amount of vegetables increases to 800 g, as a result, men should consume 600 and 1000 g.
- unsaturated fats.Their presence in the shopping basket helps regulate cholesterol levels and minimizes the likelihood of developing diseases of the cardiovascular system, which are integral companions of diabetes. Such fats are found in nuts, mackerel, tuna, avocado, olive oil, etc.
- Exclusion of processed foods.His refusal favorably affects the health of diabetics, which has been repeatedly confirmed by doctors. As a rule, such foods can be stored for a long time, thanks to special additives. It has a high GI. Its constant use adversely affects the general condition of the body of patients with diabetes.
As with type 1 diabetes, people with type 2 are advised to follow a low-carb diet and include low-glycemic foods in their diet. This will help reduce blood glucose spikes. To determine how the diet is composed, it is necessary to constantly monitor the numerical value of sugar before and after meals. The data obtained will show how the organism responds to the selected diet. If the efforts made do not give positive results, it is worth considering the introduction of special antidiabetic drugs.
People with type 2 diabetes should also not ignore the basal bolus diet. It will keep glucose levels at an optimal level and improve overall health.
Foods Allowed and Prohibited on a Diabetes Diet
Carbohydrates are a major source of fat. People with diabetes should use them with caution, but it is not recommended to completely exclude them from the diet, since all food components are important for the normal functioning of human organ systems. Nutritionists recommend reducing the amount of fast carbohydrates and increasing the amount of slow ones.
Fast carbohydrates are found in foods such as:
- pastries and sweets;
- pasta;
- Potato;
- Fast food;
- starch.
Vegetables and other plant-based foods are high in slow foods. It is she who will improve health.
The diet menu for diabetes should include:
- various types of cabbage (white Brussels broccoli);
- seaweed;
- tomatoes;
- green and onion;
- green beans;
- mushrooms;
- cucumbers and celery;
- eggplant, etc.
Garlic, beets, nuts, fish, avocados, etc. help reduce blood glucose levels The list of foods allowed in the diet is quite extensive. They are characterized by a low glycemic index, high content of healthy fiber, which helps reduce the risk of blood sugar. Thanks to their action, glucose enters the blood in minimal quantities, and the presence of a large number of vitamins and trace elements will help normalize the work of all vital systems of the body.
The list of prohibited foods in a diabetes diet is as follows:
- any confectionery, white flour muffins;
- honey;
- various pickles and freshly made fruit juices;
- condensed milk;
- canned products;
- syrups;
- fatty meat and fish;
- potatoes, rice;
- foods rich in trans fats;
- semi-finished products.
Sweeteners for diabetes
For people with diabetes, there is an alternative that allows you to replace regular sugar with special supplements. They are divided into two categories: those who participate in the exchange processes and those who do not.
The most popular sweetener is fructose. It is produced from fruit processing. Unlike regular sugar, it is much sweeter and has a low GI. Its use does not involve fluctuations in blood glucose levels. Natural substitutes also include sorbitol (found in apples, rowan berries and other fruits), erythritol ("melon sugar"), stevia (obtained from processing a plant of the same name).
Industrial sweeteners include sucralose, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, etc. The market for these additives is mainly represented by products of artificial origin.
Contraindications for diabetes
The main contraindication for diabetes mellitus of any type is the strict restriction of consumed carbohydrates, which have an extremely negative effect on the level of glucose in human blood. It is forbidden to eat sweets, ice cream, drink drinks containing sugar. Under control is the use of baked goods, honey. If glucose levels are high, exercise should be limited. Under the ban are alcoholic and low-alcohol drinks, which also cause blood sugar, which is fraught with fainting, increased sweating and weakness. Patients with visual organ problems should refrain from visiting the bathroom and sauna. High temperatures cause small blood vessels to burst.
Diabetes is a serious disease that shouldn't be taken lightly.
Diabetes diet: menu of the week
Various menus for diabetics have been developed. One of the most common diet options for diabetes is menu number 9.
The simplest diet for a week might look like this:
- Breakfast- an omelette with asparagus or buckwheat porridge, oatmeal on water, black tea.
- Dinner- beans, beetroot, pickles, permitted vegetable stew, eggplant, raw carrot salad, apple.
- afternoon tea- rye bread, cottage cheese, kefir.
- Dinner- stewed mushrooms, baked salmon fillet or boiled fish, stewed cabbage.
Less salt is recommended for cooked foods. Doctors advise to keep a special diary in which it is necessary to write down everything that has been eaten and in what quantity.
Recipes for a diabetes diet
The list of allowed products includes beans and cottage cheese. On the Internet you can find a huge number of recipes for a diabetes diet, which will make the diet varied and interesting.
Bean pate
Drain the excess liquid from the canned beans. Grind the product with a blender until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. Finely chop the onion and sauté a little until translucent. Grind the walnuts. Clean the pomegranate seeds. Mix the bean mass with the rest of the ingredients, salt. The delicious and healthy pate is ready to eat.
Tomato cheesecake
In a bowl, mix cottage cheese, egg, add oatmeal and spices. Rinse the tomatoes in boiling water, cut them into slices. Mix the curd mass until smooth, shape the cheesecakes with wet hands and fry them with the addition of olive oil in a pan. The dish is served with sour cream.
Diet for diabetes: reviews of nutritionists
Nutritionists have extensive experience over many years in treating diabetes of any type by introducing a strict diet. Despite similar treatment tactics, different diets have their own individual characteristics. Comments from nutritionists are such that an individual diabetes nutrition plan should be selected for each individual patient. According to one opinion, doctors agree: effective treatment of diabetes is impossible without a correct and competent approach to diet.