Diet for diabetes, This endocrine disease can cause serious complications, which can be avoided with a special diet for diabetes. The food table will help you navigate the restrictions, and a fairly varied menu for the week takes into account all the prohibited products
Benefits of a Diabetes Diet
Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disease in which carbohydrate metabolism is disrupted. The pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which is responsible for reducing blood sugar levels. Insulin deficiency causes hyperglycemia – an increased concentration of glucose in the blood.
The most common form of the disease is type 2 diabetes, which most often occurs in people over forty, mainly in women. The development of the disease is facilitated by reduced physical activity, obesity, genetic predisposition, menopause, and subsequent hormonal disorders. Cells do not respond to insulin and do not absorb glucose from the blood, although the amount of the hormone is still normal. The concentration of sugar increases and even more insulin is produced in response. The cells react even weaker to an increased dose of the hormone, and insulin resistance occurs.
Since the cells do not receive enough glucose, despite the large amount of it in the blood, patients often experience hunger and weakness and eat even more carbohydrates, which worsens the situation and leads to obesity. Such conditions are well corrected by proper nutrition, that is, reducing the amount of carbohydrates consumed in order to reduce the load on the pancreas and not cause an increase in blood sugar.
Type 1 diabetes occurs in children and young people and is caused by a pathological condition of the pancreas, which practically does not produce insulin. Such patients are forced to artificially inject this hormone for life.
There is also gestational diabetes in pregnant women. Hormones released during pregnancy block insulin, which causes sugar levels to rise. Usually, the condition normalizes on its own after childbirth.
The main problem with any type of diabetes is the pathologically high level of glucose in the blood and carbohydrate starvation of cells, which do not receive enough sugar. To reduce sharp jumps in sugar, and insulin and reduce the load on the pancreas, reduce the amount of carbohydrates consumed, focusing on “slow carbohydrates” that give a feeling of satiety. Fatty foods are also excluded since they increase the secretion of pancreatic enzymes and lead to the same increased load on the organ.
Disadvantages of a diet for diabetes
The main disadvantage is dietary restrictions. A large number of products are excluded, the method of their preparation becomes as gentle and dietary as possible, which may seem tasteless to those who are used to something else. Also, fractional frequent meals for a uniform intake of carbohydrates cause certain difficulties during the day, when it is difficult to find the right snack that does not contain sugars.
In the severe stage of diabetes, you need to monitor the glycemic index of each food product, excluding everything where the sugar concentration is too high.
Many artificial sweeteners used to create a sweet taste without increasing blood glucose levels are harmful to the body. Natural substitutes are recommended, such as stevia extract, and erythritol. However, natural preparations can also cause sugar increases. According to numerous studies, fructose also contributes to obesity, although to a lesser extent than sucrose. Before and after meals, sugar is usually measured with special devices.
Table of products for diabetes
Modern approaches to therapy involve reducing the carbohydrate load in the diet to 5-7%, and increasing the consumption of vegetable fats. As a result of such correction, the body receives a full range of useful micro and macroelements, without a large amount of carbohydrates, thereby reducing the carbohydrate load and the need for insulin preparations. Of course, with type 1 diabetes, it is impossible to completely abandon insulin, but the development of type 2 diabetes can be suspended and even reversed.
Patients are prescribed Diet No. 9 or its variations. The amount of carbohydrates is adjusted by the doctor depending on the degree of the disease and the patient’s weight.
Previously, diabetics were advised to completely exclude easily digestible, fast carbohydrates. But today, WHO puts the concept of human quality of life at the forefront, so doctors are gradually abandoning radical formulations such as “this is strictly forbidden for you,” “forget about sweets,” etc.
Research has shown that such restrictions are stressful for a person, and stress can lead to breakdowns, and depression, so life with continuous “no” will not be a joy. In addition, we still need sugar, because carbohydrates are the energy for life. They cannot be replaced with proteins and fats.
Therefore, a diet for diabetics is based on the glycemic index of all products. In essence, this index reflects the speed at which sugar is absorbed into the blood. Products with a high index – jam, cookies, cakes – have a high absorption rate. Products with a low index – cereals, fruits – have a lower rate. The slower the absorption rate, the easier it is for the pancreas to cope with the load. Thus, products with a GI of up to 55 are broken down gradually and almost do not cause an increase in sugar.
The essence of the diet is to consume more foods with a low glycemic index throughout the day and to dose out meals.
— Both white and black bread are carbohydrates. Eating both increases blood sugar levels, the only difference is the speed. The first one is a little more, and the second one is a little less, so we say that black bread is preferable for diabetics, — explain endocrinologists.
What can you eat?
Heat treatment increases the GI of foods, so it is advisable to eat many foods raw or without overcooking them.
| Type of approved product | Products |
| Fruits | Limited: apricots, cherry plums, grapefruits, oranges, lingonberries, cranberries, peaches, apples, plums, sea buckthorn, red currants, cherries, gooseberries |
| Vegetables | Cucumbers, broccoli, green peas, cauliflower, lettuce, greens, zucchini, green peppers, mushrooms |
| Dairy products | Low-fat milk, cottage cheese, fermented milk products, a little low-fat cheese |
| Cereals | Soybeans, beans, peas, lentils, buckwheat, oatmeal, pearl barley, occasionally pasta |
| Meat and fish | Lean beef, turkey, chicken, rabbit, white fish |
| Sweet | Only special diabetic products and in very limited quantities |
| Drink | Unsweetened tea, coffee, compotes, herbal infusions |
| Bakery products | Whole grain bread made from wholemeal flour |
| Miscellaneous | Eggs, vegetable oils |
What you shouldn’t eat
Nowadays doctors try not to use such formulations. Firstly, with diabetes type 1 you can eat almost everything, but you will have to count bread units and inject insulin. Secondly, even with diabetes type 2, in which diet plays a role, you can eat a variety of foods, but you should try to limit fast carbohydrates, fatty foods and other products from the table below.
However, there are nuances here too. Take fatty foods, for example. They are high in calories, and obesity often goes hand in hand with type 2 diabetes, so such people need to reduce their calorie intake. But at the same time, according to doctors, fats limit sugar absorption, so mashed potatoes in water will raise sugar levels faster than fried potatoes in oil.
And, of course, the degree of restriction of certain products depends on the person’s activity. If you are involved in sports, you need more carbohydrates than mental workers.
| Type of prohibited product | Products |
| Sweet | Sugar, honey, jams, confectionery, ice cream, syrups |
| Vegetables | Severely limit potatoes, carrots and beets |
| Cereals | Corn, semolina, rice |
| Bakery products | Fresh baked goods made from fine flour |
| Meat and fish | Lamb, fatty fried meat, fatty red fish |
| Drink | Juices, sodas, alcohol |
| Semi-finished products, fast food | Canned goods, ready meals, sausages, dumplings, French fries, etc. |
| Fruits | Grapes, watermelon, melon, sweet and canned fruits |
| Miscellaneous | Pickles, marinades, spicy |
Menu for a week for a diet for diabetes
The main goal is to prevent strong fluctuations in blood glucose. To do this, it is necessary to divide all food into small portions consumed throughout the day. There are at least 5 meals. Cottage cheese, kefir, low-fat cheese, and nuts can be used as snacks.
The diet for diabetics should have an evenly distributed amount of carbohydrates, which is determined by the doctor for each patient individually. In type 1 diabetes, when the patient is dependent on artificial insulin, a low-carbohydrate diet can reduce the dose of the necessary drug, since blood sugar will be lower.
Reducing the amount of carbohydrates in the diet that increase blood sugar reduces the need for medications. Taking the same dosages as before switching to a low-carb diet can cause hypoglycemia. It is necessary to measure blood sugar regularly during the start of this diet and adjust the dosage of medications accordingly. This must be done under the supervision of a doctor! Specific products, their quantity, dependence on medication intake, are selected only by the doctor for each patient individually. This menu for a week for diabetes can be considered as a guideline and an example of a patient’s diet.
Advice
When you consciously reduce sugar and starch in your diet, your blood glucose levels stabilize and your insulin levels, the hormone that controls fat deposition in your body, decrease. This speeds up fat burning and increases your feeling of fullness after eating.
Day 1
Breakfast: omelet with vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, greens)
Lunch: vegetable salad with vegetable oil, boiled chicken breast and avocado
Dinner: casserole with chicken and broccoli
Day 2
Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs, boiled asparagus
Lunch: grilled or baked fish with vegetables, leaf salad
Dinner: beef steak with baked mushrooms
Day 3
Breakfast: Whole wheat spaghetti with zucchini
Lunch: Turkey in creamy sauce with vegetables, lettuce
Dinner: Salad with avocado, bacon and feta cheese
Day 4
Breakfast: bulgur porridge with blueberries and lemon zest
Lunch: cod with vegetables, stewed lentils
Dinner: chicken in garlic sauce, crumbly buckwheat
Day 5
Breakfast: boiled eggs, toasted whole grain bread
Lunch: stewed beans, lean beef
Dinner: vegetable salad with herbs, a piece of cheese
Day 6
Breakfast: low-fat cottage cheese
Lunch: salad with vegetables, egg and tuna
Dinner : stewed rabbit or white fish, boiled cauliflower
Day 7
Breakfast: pearl barley porridge with diluted milk
Lunch: steamed beef cutlets, dietary mushroom soup
Dinner : baked fish with pesto sauce and vegetables
Results
With a controlled amount of incoming sugar, insulin resistance decreases. Fractional nutrition allows you to avoid sharp jumps in sugar: both decrease and increase, harmful to the pancreas and the body as a whole. In insulin-dependent diabetes, a diet is necessary to match the dose of the drug and approximately the same amount of carbohydrates. If there is a deficiency, the insulin dose may be too high and hypoglycemia will occur, and vice versa.
Reviews from nutritionists
— A proper, balanced diet is of primary importance for diabetes types 1 and 2, but calling it a diet in the narrow sense of the word would be incorrect. Although reducing carbohydrates and fats in the diet helps to lose weight, which type 2 diabetics often suffer from excess. It is important to change your lifestyle and eating habits. Since the main problem in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes is related to the fact that the body does not properly use glucose from food, the main emphasis of a properly composed diet plan should be on foods that contain starch and simple sugars – they should be avoided. And if with type 2 diabetes a good effect in reducing blood sugar levels is achieved not only by properly selected foods but also by a set of physical exercises that help improve the transport function of glucose into muscle cells, then with type 1 diabetes nutrition plays a leading role, — says Artur Moiseenko.
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