Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine pathology in which the metabolism is disturbed due to lack or malfunction of the hormone insulin.
A distinction is made between insulin-dependent (type 1) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes (type 2).
In the first case, patients must inject insulin preparations in injections, as the hormone in their body is produced in insufficient amounts or is completely absent.
In the second type, the interaction of insulin with cells is disrupted.
Despite the various mechanisms of development of pathology, the main role in its therapy is assigned dietary nutrition.
Features of the diet for diabetics
In the past, a food inhibition system was the only way to slow down hyperglycemia or high glucose levels. Now the patients' diet has expanded significantly. Diabetics are advised to adhere to several important rules for effective blood sugar control.
Patients should not go hungry or overeat. These conditions are dangerous to their health. You need to eat so that the amount of carbohydrates ingested is evenly distributed throughout the day.
General dietary requirements:
- fractional nutrition (at least 6 times a day);
- calculation of consumed carbohydrates;
- restriction of animal fat;
- the introduction of plant foods into the diet;
- preference for steamed food, in the oven, cooked;
- avoid foods that increase the carbohydrate load or limit them;
- balanced diet;
- replace sugar with substitutes;
- consumption of coarse fiber foods;
- compliance with the drinking regime;
- reduction of salt intake;
- elimination of alcohol.
You can diversify your diet by buying utensils that allow you to cook without oil.
In order for carbohydrates to be absorbed more slowly and not cause jumps in the rise in blood sugar, it is worth adhering to the following recommendations:
- Eat foods that are coarse or grainy, such as crumbled cereal products instead of mashed or cooked.
- Meals should not be hot as the temperature affects glucose uptake.
- Fiber in foods inhibits the absorption of simple carbohydrates and helps remove cholesterol.
- Simple carbohydrates are best consumed after the main meal.
The menu may include foods that contain simple carbohydrates with fiber, such as fruits and berries. Glucose uptake is slowed down if ingested with proteins (protein creams) or fats. However, do not forget that "slow" carbohydrates are also absorbed into the bloodstream, which increases sugar.
Differences in nutrition in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus
As the causes of the rise in blood sugar in the first and second type of the disease are different, there are several approaches to the patients' diet. For insulin-dependent patients, nutrition is more varied. Since they suffer from this pathology more often at a young age, high calorie foods are included in the diet. When compiling a diet, the consumed grain units 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 products. The patient's diet is more rigid. They are not allowed sugar, fatty foods and foods that increase cholesterol.
Bread unit
The term "bread unit" (XE) was introduced to take into account the quantitative composition of carbohydrates. For 1 XE it is considered to be 25 g of bread or 12 g of sugar (carbohydrates). A chart of bread units is needed for diabetics to calculate the short insulin administered.
1 XE requires 2-4 units. insulin. The individual need for further administration of insulin according to XE is determined by means of a self-monitoring diary to be kept by the patient.
At a meal, a diabetic should not eat more than 7 XE. The primary carbohydrate load occurs in the first half of the day.
In order not to constantly calculate the bread units according to the weight of the products, we made tables of products taking into account their energy value.
What is the glycemic index of foods
The glycemic index (GI) is an indicator that indicates how much blood sugar can rise when using a particular product compared to taking glucose.
High GI foods (70 or more):
- honey,
- glucose;
- sugar;
- mashed potatoes;
- sweet sodas;
- sweets - corn sticks, puffed rice.
Average GI (56-69):
- melon;
- banana;
- oatmeal;
- black bread.
The lowest GIs have:
- dairy products;
- milk;
- fruits;
- peas, beans, lentils and other legumes.
The rate of absorption is affected by cooking, food integrity and temperature.
In diabetes mellitus, only foods with medium and low GI are allowed.
List of permitted and prohibited products
The principles of a diet for diabetics with different types of diseases are different. However, there are dishes that endocrinologists do not recommend eating.
The list of prohibited foods includes:
- fried potatoes, french fries, chips;
- sweet fruits - grapes;
- fatty meats;
- smoked meat;
- canned food in oil;
- pates;
- sweet curd, curd;
- sweet yogurt;
- margarine;
- white bread and cakes with white flour;
- juice from the store;
- soda;
- alcohol;
- sweets, chocolate;
- jam;
- condensed milk;
- Fast food.
Patients will have to fall in love with these foods and beverages:
- mineral water;
- rosehip compote;
- vegetable juices;
- freshly squeezed juice from sweet and sour berries and fruits;
- unsweetened citrus fruits;
- frozen and fresh berries;
- low-fat dairy products without sugar;
- diet meat - chicken, turkey, veal, rabbit meat;
- cabbage;
- legumes;
- mushrooms;
- tomatoes;
- eggplant;
- green;
- asparagus;
- broccoli;
- milk;
- wholemeal pastries;
- fish and shellfish;
- fish.
To reduce the starch content of vegetables and grains, it is recommended to soak them before cooking.
Rules for menu compilation
When putting together a menu, it is worth considering not only the carbohydrate load and calories in foods, but also the activity of the diabetic. 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.
In case of obesity, a dietitian helps to put together a diet taking into account the food's energy content (calorie content) and daily energy consumption during physical activity. The calculation takes into account the patient's gender, age and degree of overweight. It is allowed to arrange fasting days (for type 2 diabetes). However, fasting is contraindicated in such patients.
During the preparation of the menu, the general condition of the diabetic is taken into account. Pregnant and lactating women, young and debilitated patients need protein intake. If the patient has impaired renal or hepatic function, ketoacidosis, protein intake is reduced.
Do not forget about other nutrients involved in metabolism: vitamins, zinc, copper, manganese. Due to the tendency of patients to pathologies of the cardiovascular system, the salt content of dishes is reduced.
Sample menu for one week
Monday
- breakfast: buckwheat porridge, protein-bran bread with butter, tea;
- snack: coleslaw with eggs;
- lunch: chicken soup, vegetable salad with herbs, green beans with white meat chop, 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, cereal with butter, tea;
- snack: salad of parsley, onions and mushrooms;
- lunch: pea soup, baked chicken with vegetables, vegetable salad, cereal bread, drink;
- afternoon snack: fermented baked milk with biscuits;
- dinner: fish stewed with vegetables, cereal, juice;
- snack: yogurt.
Wednesday
- breakfast: porridge "Artek", protein bran bread with butter, coffee;
- snack: salad of celery, apples and carrots;
- lunch: borscht, buckwheat porridge with a steamed chop, 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;
- snack: cottage cheese with yogurt;
- lunch: green borscht, baked 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, drink;
- snack: bread with kefir.
Friday
- breakfast: pearl barley porridge, cereal bread with butter, tea (chicory, coffee);
- snack: fruit salad with yogurt;
- lunch: fish soup, fish chop with vegetable garnish, peppers and cucumber salad, cereal bread, citrus drink;
- afternoon snack: bread with milk;
- dinner: steamed cutlet with milk sauce, porridge, wholemeal bread, lemonade;
- snack: fruit.
Saturday
- breakfast: omelet with veal, protein bran bread with cheese, tea;
- snack: cottage cheese with berries;
- lunch: mushroom soup, porridge with boiled (baked) meat, canned peas with onions and herbs, protein bran bread, compote;
- afternoon snack: oatmeal with fermented baked milk;
- dinner: zucchini stuffed with meat, porridge, protein bran bread, a drink;
- snack: fermented baked milk.
Sunday
- breakfast: brown rice with minced meat and cabbage (cabbage rolls), rye bread with butter, tea;
- snack: bread with yogurt;
- breakfast: soup with meatballs, omelette with chicken, red cabbage salad, rye bread, drink;
- afternoon snack: kefir with biscuits;
- dinner: fish cakes, baked potatoes, rye bread, drinks;
- snack: biscuits with milk.
The sample menu is composed by a nutritionist. In the future, the diabetic will supplement the diet himself, taking into account the doctor's recommendations.
Ready meals for diabetics
To eat properly with diabetes mellitus, you need a lot of time and effort. Most diabetics simply do not have enough time to put together the menu and prepare the food properly, so now I would like to tell you about the company Cryodieta, which helps to make life easier for people with diabetes.
Cryodieta is a delivery service for ready-made and tasty food not only for diabetics, but also for people who want to lose weight. The menu was prepared by competent specialists - nutritionists and doctors.
Thanks to the use of a special technology "shock freezing", just heat the food in a microwave or multicooker and have a tasty meal. At the same time, freezing preserves all the nutrients.
The main benefits of "Cryodiet":
- production of products in an ecologically clean area in the Novgorod region;
- delivery without delay in person;
- a variety of foods;
- shock freezing (keeps food without preservatives);
- more affordable prices compared to the competition.
Examples of dishes
A ready-made food delivery service for diabetics operates in large cities, so if you want to eat a healthy diet and not spend much time on it, order a weekly menu on the official website.
Sugar substitutes
In order for patients not to suffer from the lack of sweets, sweeteners can be added to the dishes. They are divided into three groups:
- Carbohydrates - fructose, sorbose, xylitol, sorbitol, molasses.
- Protein sweeteners - miraculin, monelin.
- Synthetic - aspartame, sodium cyclamate.
Endocrinologists recommend using the natural sweetener stevia. Its leaves contain a complex of glycosides, which are 200 times sweeter than sugar. The sweetener is 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 digestive and endocrine systems. Drinks that contain stevia extracts correct the craving for sugary and fatty foods and help you lose extra pounds.
High blood sugar is not a death sentence for patients if you learn to make a diet and use healthy sweets instead of sugar. Also, do not forget about the mandatory consultation with an endocrinologist.