Nutrition For Diabetes: Basic Rules And Allowed Foods

General dietary guidelines for diabetes

Diabetes is currently a global problem. Over the past ten years, the number of people suffering from diabetes has more than doubled to 425 million. According to forecasts, by 2045 their number could reach 629 million.

Let's turn to the causes of the development of this disease. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is characterized by destruction or destruction of pancreatic cells. This usually results in absolute insulin deficiency. Both genetic and environmental factors such as viral infections, diet, toxins, and hygiene are involved in the development of type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by the development of insulin resistance and relative rather than absolute insulin deficiency and is manifested by persistent hyperglycemia. The main problem with any type of diabetes mellitus is an increase in blood glucose levels and carbohydrate starvation of cells, since glucose cannot enter it, but floats idle in the blood.

The basis of the treatment of diabetes is diet therapy. The general principles of nutrition, regardless of the type of diabetes, are that the patient is shown to reduce the carbohydrate load in the diet to 5-7% and increase the consumption of vegetable fats. Previously, diabetics were advised to completely eliminate simple carbohydrates, but today there is more and more emphasis on personalized diets with an individual selection of a food basket and calculation of calories. Currently, the slogan is very popular: "With diabetes there are no restrictions, there is only the right way of life."

The diet for diabetics is based on the glycemic index. In fact, this index reflects the rate at which sugar from them is absorbed into the blood. In foods with a high index - jam, cookies, cakes - the absorption rate is high. Products with a low index - cereals, fruits - are lower. The slower the rate of absorption, the easier it is for the pancreas to cope with the load. So, foods with a GI of up to 55 are broken down gradually and almost do not cause an increase in sugar.

Also, do not forget about the insulin index of products, which reflects the amount of insulin rise in response to eating food. The insulin index of foods is important to consider for people with diabetes in order to predict the body's response when consuming specific foods and to correctly calculate the doses of insulin preparations (short and prolonged action) that will be used for injection after meals.

Consider different options and features of diets depending on the type of diabetes.

Basic dietary guidelines for type 1 diabetes

In the first type, patients are completely dependent on insulin injections, and the diet is built taking into account its introduction. Diabetics need to study the presence of carbohydrates (bread units) in products to determine the dose of the hormone that will help them absorb. A bread unit is a conventional concept that implies a certain amount of any product containing 12 grams of carbohydrates. It is recommended to consume no more than 12 bread units per day. Insulin is administered half an hour before a meal, so it is important to know exactly what will be eaten and how much in order to assimilate the carbohydrates in the food. For each main meal, you need to eat no more than 5-6 bread units and 2-3 for an additional one.

You should almost completely abandon foods containing easily digestible (simple) carbohydrates. These are sweets, jam, condensed milk, marshmallows, marmalade, halva, cakes, jam, etc., as well as oatmeal and semolina porridge, mashed potatoes. Reducing the amount of carbohydrates in the diet, which increase blood sugar, reduces the need for medications. The use of the same dosages as before the transition to a low-carbohydrate diet can cause hypoglycemia. It is necessary to regularly measure blood sugar during the beginning of this diet and adjust the dosage of medications accordingly.

Basic dietary guidelines for type 2 diabetes

More serious restrictions are needed for the non-insulin-dependent variant of the disease. This is due to the fact that this form usually appears against the background of obesity, and not only high levels of glucose, but also insulin are found in the blood. However, it often happens that insulin resistance, which can subsequently lead to type 2 diabetes, does not manifest itself for a very long time, and even people with insulin resistance are not always overweight, but blood glucose levels are constantly kept at a high level and this situation leads to very sad consequences. Dietary nutrition in type 2 diabetes helps to restore the ability of cells to absorb sugar, helps to restore the sensitivity of cells to insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is primarily a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism. But at the same time, other types of metabolism also suffer - lipid, protein, mineral. Therapy for type 2 diabetes includes diet, moderate exercise, stress management, medications (hyperglycemic drugs).

The diet for type 2 diabetes is based on key principles:

1. Abundance of vegetables - the amount of vegetables consumed may depend on age, gender and frequency of exercise per week. As a rule, women who exercise up to 30 minutes daily are recommended to consume at least 500 grams of vegetables daily. With more intensive classes, the number of vegetables is recommended to be increased to 800 grams. For men, the recommended amount of vegetables is 600 and 1000 grams, respectively.

2. Unsaturated Fats - Adequate amounts of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats in the diet help maintain cholesterol levels within normal limits and reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, one of the most common long-term complications of diabetes. Unsaturated fats are found in many foods, including nuts, avocados, fatty sea fish, and olive oil.

1. Avoiding Processed Foods – Nutritionists and doctors agree that avoiding processed foods is good for health. Due to the substances that are added to ensure a long shelf life, processed foods tend to have a high glycemic index. Regular consumption of such products can adversely affect the health of a diabetic.

Useful foods for diabetes

1. Green leafy vegetables

   Spinach, kale, and bok choy are low in calories but rich in nutrients like vitamin C, beta-carotene, and magnesium, which help prevent diabetes. One serving (about 106 grams) a day reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by 14%.

    

2. Legumes

   These fiber-rich foods can help stabilize blood sugar levels. Legumes are low in saturated fat, which can be bad for your heart.

    

3. Fish

   Omega-3 fatty acids are great helpers in preventing diabetes and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Omega 3 is needed by the body for the synthesis of red blood cells and cell membranes, they help in the absorption of other vitamins by the body, and most importantly, they suppress chronic inflammation, which is a faithful companion of insulin resistance.

    

    

4. Olive oil

   One of the staples of the Mediterranean diet, it is important for heart health as it is loaded with monounsaturated fatty acids. These fats (which are also found in high amounts in nuts) are important aids in the prevention of diabetes, as they help the body effectively control blood sugar levels.

    

5. nuts

   As a source of monounsaturated fatty acids, nuts are rich in magnesium, another important ally. World studies show that people who regularly eat nuts have lower rates of diabetes.

    

6. Citrus

   All citrus fruits contain antioxidants - great helpers keep the balance of insulin in the blood.

    

    

7. Whole grains

   Eating whole grain bread, quinoa and brown rice reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Whole grains are rich in fiber, which helps the body control blood sugar levels. Complex carbohydrates are a kind of buffer that protects us from high rises in blood glucose, so if you want to eat a product with a high glycemic index, combine it with complex carbohydrates.

    

8. Cinnamon

   Delicious spice helps the body regulate insulin levels. Cinnamon is a kind of insulin sensitizer, that is, it helps to improve the sensitivity of cells to insulin. The spice helps with hypertension (chronically high blood pressure), reduces the concentration of sugar in the blood when used systematically in the required dosages, improves overall well-being, and has a positive effect on metabolic processes.

    

9. Ginger

   It is a catalyst for metabolic processes, reduces the level of sugar, cholesterol and blood clotting. Recommended for fresh daily use as a seasoning or tea base.

    

Forbidden foods for diabetes

To date, doctors are trying not to strictly limit diabetic patients and not to drive them into a strict framework regarding allowed or prohibited foods. Even with type 2 diabetes, in which diet plays a role, you can eat varied, but there are a number of foods that still have to be removed from the diet for people suffering from this disease. In fact, the list below is recommended for anyone who cares about their health to exclude from the diet.

1. Sweet

   The black list includes sugar and all products containing it in excess. We must forget about ice cream, chocolate, marmalade, jam, sweets, preserves, halva and other sweets.

    

2. Bakery products

   Banned rich bakery products: muffins, cookies, buns, white loaf and bread.

    

3. Fatty foods

   These foods can greatly raise your glucose levels. For this reason, a diabetic should refuse duck, pork, lamb, lard, mayonnaise, cream. It is also recommended to exclude sweet yogurt, fatty cottage cheese and cheese.

    

4. Semi-finished products

   In their composition they have a large number of flavors, stabilizers, flavor enhancers. Do not eat fish sticks, ready-made industrial cutlets, dumplings, sausages, sausages.

    

5. trans fats

   Their use will harm not only the diabetic, but also a healthy person. Prohibited products include margarine, confectionery fat, spread, french fries, hot dogs, burgers.

    

6. Fruit

   It is not recommended to eat some fruits and dried fruits that cause a strong increase in blood sugar. Among them are dried apricots, dates, figs, raisins, persimmons, melons, grapes, bananas.

    

Table number 9 for diabetes

This diet was developed by the Soviet scientist M. Pevzner specifically for diabetics and has long been used in treatment both in the hospital and at home. Table number 9 includes:

• 300 g of fruit;

• 80 g of vegetables;

• 100 g mushrooms;

• 1 st. natural fruit juice;

• 300 g of meat or fish;

• 200 g of low-fat cottage cheese, 500 ml of fermented milk products;

• 100-200 g of bran, rye, wheat bread mixed with rye flour or 200 g of cereals (ready-made), potatoes;

• 40-60 g of fat.

Soups: vegetable, cabbage soup, beetroot, borscht, vegetable and meat okroshka, fish or light meat broth, mushroom soup with cereals and vegetables.

Poultry, meat: rabbit, veal, chicken stewed, chopped, boiled, turkey.

Fish: pike perch, saffron cod, cod, pike and low-fat seafood stewed, steamed, boiled, baked in juice.

Snacks: vegetable mix of vegetables, vinaigrette, jellied dietary fish and meat, vegetable caviar, unsalted cheese, seafood salad with butter.

Sweets: desserts from berries, fresh fruits, berry mousses, fruit jelly without sugar, jam and marmalade without sugar.

Egg dishes: soft-boiled eggs, protein omelet, in dishes.

Other dietary strategies for diabetes

Of course, do not forget that all diets are made strictly individually, taking into account the age and gender of the patient, the level of his physical activity.

So, today there are several options for dietary strategies for diabetes. If it is necessary to normalize body weight in a patient with type 2 diabetes, the Mediterranean diet, which is based on daily physical activity, has proven itself well.

The main principles of the diet are:

• fractional meals 5 times a day - 3 main meals and 2 snacks;

• breakfast should be more carbohydrate, mainly consisting of complex carbohydrates;

• dinner is light, consisting of lean protein and vegetables;

• during the day it is necessary to consume more than 1 kg of various vegetables and herbs;

• It is important to observe the drinking regime - at least 7-8 glasses of water per day.

Particular attention is paid to Omega 3 fatty acids and oleic acid found in oils, oily fish and seafood. These fatty acids have a huge impact on the prevention of atherosclerosis, improve insulin sensitivity, help immune cells to detect inflammation and suppress it.

Carbohydrates in the Mediterranean diet are predominantly complex with a low glycemic index - durum wheat pasta, beans, rice, lentils, wholemeal bread, seasonal vegetables and fruits.

Protein is found in the form of low-fat soft cheeses, eggs, fish, seafood, and rarely poultry meat.

On a keto diet, the following foods are completely excluded:

• sugar, honey, artificial sweeteners;

• sweet carbonated drinks;

• yeast bread, pastries;

• cereals, cereals, cereals and dry breakfasts;

• skimmed milk, kefir, yogurt;

• sweet curds;

• margarine.

In the concept of the LCHF diet, insulin is a dangerous thing, because after we have eaten something high in carbohydrates, carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, blood sugar levels begin to rise sharply, and insulin levels rise sharply to accompany glucose to the muscles, liver and fat cells, that is, insulin is "responsible for our obesity." Moreover, protein can raise insulin levels just as well as carbohydrates. And there is no rise in insulin for fats at all, which is good for insulin resistance, if necessary, improve the sensitivity of cells to insulin.

Diabetes mellitus in children

Diabetes mellitus in children can be caused by hereditary predisposition, malnutrition, including the consumption of excessive amounts of simple carbohydrates and sweets, and the disease can also occur as a result of mental or physical trauma. Treatment of diabetes in children, as well as in adults, consists of a therapeutic diet and insulin administration for type 1 diabetes.

The nutrition of children with diabetes should be rich in vegetables such as cabbage and cauliflower, onions, spinach, and garlic. You can eat unsweetened fruits, meat, poultry, fish. It is desirable to give milk and cottage cheese those that have a low percentage of fat content, provided that the child does not have intolerance to cow's milk protein. When cooking meat or fish, you can use spices that contribute to better absorption of protein.

All confectionery, candy grapes, apricots, rice, muffin biscuits, plums should be excluded. Parents of a child with diabetes need to learn how to calculate the use of bread units when feeding a child, and calculate the required dose of insulin. The child himself also needs to be taught these skills as early as possible.

Gestational diabetes mellitus

An increase in blood sugar during pregnancy is one of the most common metabolic disorders in a future mother. The so-called gestational diabetes mellitus or gestational diabetes is diabetes that appears during the period of gestation and is limited to the duration of pregnancy. During pregnancy, the production of sex hormones (estrogens and progesterone, hCG) and the hormone cortisol, which suppress the action of insulin, increase dramatically. As a result, blood glucose levels in pregnant women increase. High blood sugar during pregnancy negatively affects both the health of the woman herself and the health of the fetus, therefore, it requires timely diagnosis, and further correction.

Women at particular risk:

• overweight or obese (BMI above 25 kg / m2 - the risk doubles, above 30 - triples);

• with multiple pregnancy;

• after IVF;

• with polycystic ovaries;

• with a large weight gain in a real pregnancy;

• with glucosuria (glucose in the urine);

• having close relatives with diabetes mellitus;

• with a burdened previous pregnancy - GDM, the birth of a large fetus, intrauterine fetal death.

Gestational diabetes is dangerous not only for the mother, it also affects the health of the unborn child. So, at the age of 4-5 years, such children are many times more likely to be overweight and obese, at 10-11 years old - an increase in blood pressure, in adolescence the risk of developing diabetes is 20-40%, the risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty disease is significantly increased. liver.

If GDM is not detected in a timely manner or the expectant mother does not take any action to treat it, then the risk increases significantly:

• early aging of the placenta and, as a result, fetal growth retardation;

• premature birth;

• polyhydramnios;

• the formation of a large or disproportionate, or edematous fetus;

• increased blood pressure, preeclampsia;

• the need for a caesarean section;

• traumatization of a woman and a child in childbirth;

• hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and respiratory failure in the newborn;

• The most formidable complication of untreated GDM is fetal death.

Thus, it is important to understand that diabetes is not some kind of life sentence, it only imposes certain obligations on a person with regards to diet and physical activity. Proper, balanced nutrition is of paramount importance in any type of diabetes. And although reducing carbohydrates and saturated fats in the diet contributes to weight loss, an excess of which type 2 diabetics often suffer from, it is very important to change the lifestyle and eating habits. And if in type 2 diabetes a good effect in lowering blood sugar levels is achieved not only by properly selected foods, but also by a set of physical exercises that improve the transport function of glucose into muscle cells, then in type 1 diabetes nutrition plays a dominant role.