Dietary Recommendations For Diabetics

Diabetes is becoming an increasingly common disease. The registered cases are increasing, and this trend is observed mainly in the population of developed countries. The disease itself is characterized by an increased amount of blood sugar, as a result of disturbances in insulin secretion, changes in its action or both simultaneously.

The development of glycemic disorders (blood glucose) can be considered in several phases:

• In the first stage, there is an increase in the amount of insulin secreted by the pancreas, which appears as a compensatory mechanism , allowing to control the increased amount of glucose in the blood.
• The second stage is also referred to as a pre-diabetic condition and is characterized by impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance.
• In the third stage, diabetes mellitus is present, but there is still insulin secretion from the pancreas, which allows treatment to be carried out with oral medications (oral treatment).
• In the fourth, final phase of the evolution of diabetes, patients have insulin deficiency, which necessitates treatment with injectable insulin.

Regardless of the stage of the disease at which the pathological value of glycemia is diagnosed, a change in both diet and physical activity is recommended. A large percentage of patients with type 2 diabetes are people who are obese to one degree or another. And the degree of obesity can be determined by calculating the so-called BMI (body mass index).

It is calculated by the formula kilograms divided by the height in meters squared. The value obtained must be between 19,0 and 25,0 kg / m 2 . For persons with BMI> 25.0 kg / m 2 it  is necessary to take complex measures to achieve and maintain a normal body weight.

In people with impaired glycemia, it is important to keep in mind the so-called glycemic index of the food consumed. Some foods, which include rapidly digestible carbohydrates, lead to a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. It is recommended to reduce their intake. Examples of this type of food are - white sugar, white bread, bananas, some dried fruits, peeled rice, honey and others.

In contrast, it is important to emphasize foods with a medium and especially more often those with a low glycemic index. Foods with a medium glycemic index include potatoes, pumpkin, apricots, and those with a low glycemic index include fresh milk, wholemeal breads, bulgur, buckwheat, some legumes - peas, lentils, ripe beans and others. They need to spend more time breaking down food and thus preventing sudden changes in blood sugar.

In normal kidney function, it is recommended that protein intake be the same as in healthy individuals - about 20% of daily energy intake. In a large part of diabetics, concomitant diseases are also reported - most often cardiovascular (high blood pressure, myocardial infarction). For this reason, the patient's lipid profile is monitored.

The recommendations are to reduce salt intake if it exceeds 5 g per day. In addition, it is preferable to replace foods containing saturated fatty acids with those that have an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids (fatty fish, olive oil, unrefined sunflower oil, etc.).

In terms of physical activity, it aims to be three to five times in at least 30 minutes, which makes at least 150 minutes a week. The weight reduction should not exceed more than 2 kg per month or up to 10% of the total weight for 6 months. Meals should be frequent, but in small quantities, the optimal option is 5 meals a day, two of which should be snacks.

The inclusion of these eating habits in everyday life allows both a gradual reduction of the dose of some medications and their exclusion, in cases where normal blood glucose levels are observed.