Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine pathology in which the metabolism is disturbed due to a deficiency or improper action of the hormone insulin.
Insulin-dependent (type 1) and non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes are distinguished.
In the first case, patients have to inject insulin preparations in injections, since the hormone in their body is produced in insufficient or completely absent quantities.
In the second type, the interaction of insulin with cells is impaired.
Despite the different mechanisms of development of the pathology, the main role in its therapy is given to food nutrition.
Diet features for diabetics
In the past, a food inhibition system was the only way to curb hyperglycemia, or high glucose levels. Now the patient's diet has improved significantly. Diabetics are advised to adhere to several important rules for effective blood glucose control.
The patient should not starve or overeat. This condition is dangerous for their health. You need to eat so that the amount of carbohydrates consumed evenly throughout the day.
General dietary requirements:
- fractional nutrition (at least 6 times a day);
- calculation of carbohydrates consumed;
- limiting animal fats;
- introduction of plant foods into the diet;
- preference for steamed food, in the oven, boiled;
- avoiding foods that increase the carbohydrate load, or limit them;
- balanced diet;
- replace sugar with substitutes;
- consumption of rough fiber foods;
- compliance with the drinking regime;
- reduce salt intake;
- alcohol removal.
You can diversify your diet by purchasing appliances that allow you to cook food without oil.
So that carbohydrates are absorbed more slowly and do not trigger spikes in the increase in blood sugar, it is worth following the following recommendations:
- Eat coarse or grainy foods, such as crumbly cereals, not mashed or boiled ones.
- Food should not be hot because temperature affects glucose absorption.
- Fiber in the diet inhibits the absorption of simple carbohydrates and helps eliminate cholesterol.
- Simple carbohydrates are best consumed after a main meal.
The menu can be foods that contain simple carbohydrates with fiber, such as fruits and berries. Glucose absorption is slowed if it is taken with protein (cream protein) or fat. However, do not forget that "slow" carbohydrates are also absorbed into the bloodstream, increasing sugar.
Nutritional differences in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus
Since the reasons for the increase in blood sugar in the first and second types of disease are different, there are several approaches to the patient's diet. For insulin dependent patients, nutrition is more varied. Since they more often suffer from this pathology at a young age, high-calorie foods are included in the diet. When compiling a diet, the units of grain consumed are taken into account.
In type 2 diabetes, the main task of nutrition is weight loss. In this case, the menu is calculated according to the calorie content of the product. The patient's diet is more rigid. They are not allowed sugar, fatty foods and foods that increase cholesterol.
bread unit
The concept of "bread unit" (XE) was introduced to describe the quantitative composition of carbohydrates. For 1 XE, it is considered as 25 g of bread or 12 g of sugar (carbohydrates). A loaf unit chart is required for diabetics to calculate the short insulin administered.
1 XE requires 2-4 units. insulin. The individual need for supplemental insulin administration according to XE was determined using a self-control diary, which the patient had to keep.
At one meal, diabetics should eat no more than 7 XE. The main carbohydrate load occurs in the first half of the day.
In order not to constantly calculate bread units by product weight, we created a table of products taking into account their energy values.
What is the glycemic index of food?
The glycemic index (GI) is an indicator that shows how much blood sugar can increase with the use of certain products compared to taking glucose.
High GI foods (70 or more):
- Dear,
- glucose;
- Sugar;
- Mashed potato;
- sweet soda;
- sweets - corn stalks, puffed rice.
Average GI (56-69):
- melon;
- banana;
- oatmeal;
- black bread.
The lowest GI has:
- dairy products;
- milk;
- fruits;
- peas, chickpeas, lentils, and other legumes.
The rate of absorption is affected by cooking, food integrity and temperature.
In diabetes mellitus, only moderate and low GI foods are allowed.
List of allowed and prohibited products
Principles of diet for diabetics with different types of diseases. However, there are dishes that endocrinologists don't recommend eating.
The list of prohibited foods includes:
- french fries, french fries, chips;
- sweet fruits - grapes;
- fatty meat;
- smoked meat;
- canned food in oil;
- patties;
- sweet curd, curd mass;
- sweet yogurt;
- margarine;
- white bread and white flour pastries;
- juice from the shop;
- soda;
- alcohol;
- candy, chocolate;
- jam;
- condensed milk;
- fast food.
Patients must fall in love with these foods and drinks:
- mineral water;
- rosehip compote;
- vegetable juices;
- fresh juices from sweet and sour berries and fruits;
- unsweetened citrus fruit;
- frozen and fresh berries;
- low-fat dairy products without sugar;
- diet meats - chicken, turkey, veal, rabbit meat;
- cabbage;
- nuts;
- mold;
- tomatoes;
- eggplant;
- green vegetable;
- asparagus;
- Broccoli;
- milk;
- whole grain baked goods;
- seafood;
- fish.
To reduce the starch content of vegetables and cereals, it is recommended to soak them before cooking.
Menu compilation rules
When compiling the menu, it is worth considering not only the carbohydrate and calorie load of food, but also the activity of diabetics. Exercise lowers blood sugar levels. In type 1 diabetes, it is recommended to eat 1 XE for every hour of physical activity. This will prevent you from changing your bolus insulin dose.
With obesity, nutritionists help to structure a diet taking into account the energy content (calorie content) of food and daily energy expenditure during physical activity. The calculation takes into account the gender, age and level of obesity of the patient. It is allowed to arrange fasting days (with type 2 diabetes). However, fasting is contraindicated in such patients.
During the preparation of the menu, the general condition of diabetics is taken into account. Pregnant and lactating women, adolescents, and debilitated patients need protein intake. If the patient has renal or hepatic impairment, ketoacidosis, protein intake is reduced.
Do not forget about other nutrients involved in metabolism: vitamins, zinc, copper, manganese. Due to the patient's predisposition to pathologies of the cardiovascular system, the salt content in the dish is reduced.
Sample menu for the week
Monday
- breakfast: buckwheat porridge, protein bran bread with butter, tea;
- snacks: cabbage salad with eggs;
- lunch: chicken soup, vegetable salad with herbs, green beans with slices of white meat, compote, diabetic rye bread;
- afternoon snack: bread with yogurt;
- dinner: steamed zrazy with fish, rye bread, vegetable salad;
- snack: fermented milk drink.
Tuesday
- breakfast: oatmeal, whole grain bread with butter, tea;
- snack: parsley, onion and mushroom salad;
- lunch: pea soup, grilled chicken with vegetables, vegetable salad, whole grain bread, drinks;
- afternoon snack: fermented baked milk with biscuits;
- dinner: fish stewed with vegetables, whole grain bread, juice;
- snacks: yogurt.
Wednesday
- breakfast: "Artek" porridge, protein bran bread with butter, coffee;
- snacks: celery, apple and carrot salad;
- lunch: borscht, buckwheat porridge with steamed cutlets, sauerkraut salad, protein bran bread, compote;
- afternoon snack: cottage cheese with fruit;
- dinner: bigos with sauerkraut and meat, protein bran bread, juice;
- snack: baked apple.
Thursday
- breakfast: eggs, rye bread with butter, tea;
- snacks: cottage cheese with yogurt;
- lunch: green borscht, grilled eggplant with meat, tomato salad with low-fat sour cream, rye bread, compote;
- afternoon snack: curd pudding with tea;
- dinner: meat stew with vegetables, rye bread, drinks;
- snack: bread with kefir.
Friday
- breakfast: pearl barley porridge, rye bread with butter, tea (chicory, coffee);
- snacks: fruit salad with yogurt;
- lunch: fish soup, fish cutlet with vegetable garnish, bell pepper and cucumber salad, whole grain bread, orange drink;
- afternoon snack: bread with milk;
- dinner: steamed cutlets with milk sauce, porridge, rye bread, lemonade;
- snacks: fruit.
Saturday
- breakfast: omelet with veal, protein bran bread with cheese, tea;
- snack: cottage cheese with berries;
- lunch: mushroom soup, porridge with boiled (grilled) meat, canned peas with onions and spices, protein bran bread, compote;
- afternoon snack: oatmeal cookies with fermented baked milk;
- dinner: zucchini stuffed with meat, porridge, protein bran bread, drink;
- snack: fermented baked milk.
Sunday
- breakfast: brown rice with minced meat and cabbage (cabbage rolls), rye bread with butter, tea;
- snacks: bread with yogurt;
- lunch: soup with meatballs, omelet with chicken, red cabbage salad, rye bread, drink;
- afternoon snack: kefir with biscuits;
- dinner: fish cake, baked potato, rye bread, drinks;
- snack: biscuits with milk.
The trial menu was prepared by a nutritionist. In the future, diabetics themselves supplement their diet, taking into account the recommendations of doctors.
Fast food for diabetics
To eat properly with diabetes mellitus, you need to spend a lot of time and effort. Most diabetics don't have enough time to put together a menu and prepare food properly, so now I want to tell you about the Cryodieta company, which helps make life easier for diabetics.
Cryodieta is a ready-to-eat and delicious food delivery service not only for diabetics, but also for people who want to lose weight. The menu is prepared by competent specialists - nutritionists and doctors.
Thanks to the use of a special "shock freezing" technology, you just have to warm up your food in the microwave or multicooker and enjoy a delicious meal. At the same time, freezing retains all the nutrients.
The main advantages of the "Cryodiet":
- production of products in ecologically clean areas of the Novgorod region;
- direct delivery without delay;
- type of food;
- shock freezing (keeping food without preservatives);
- more affordable price compared to competitors.
Example of cooking
Fast food delivery services for diabetics operate in major cities, so if you want to eat healthy diet food and not spend a lot of time on it, order the weekly menu on the official website.
Sugar substitute
So that the patient does not lack sweets, sweeteners can be added to the dishes. They are divided into three groups:
- Carbohydrates - fructose, sorbose, xylitol, sorbitol, molasses.
- Protein sweeteners - miraculin, monelin.
- Synthetics - aspartame, sodium cyclamate.
Endocrinologists recommend using the natural sweetener stevia. The leaves contain a complex of glycosides, which are 200 times sweeter than sugar. Sweeteners are beneficial for obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. Due to its ability to normalize metabolism, stevia helps restore the antitoxic function of the liver.
Plant glycosides stimulate immunity, reduce sugar levels, and have a beneficial effect on the digestive and endocrine systems. Drinks containing stevia extract correct cravings for sweet and fatty foods and help you get rid of excess weight.
High blood sugar is not a death sentence for patients if you learn to regulate your diet and use healthy sweets as a sugar substitute. Also, do not forget about the mandatory consultation with an endocrinologist.