"Diabetes mellitus is not a sentence, but a way of life" - endocrinologists never tire of repeating this sentence.Adherence to a therapeutic diet is one of the fundamental points in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, which allows the patient to live a full life.
A diabetes diet is the leading component of treatment.With this disease, there is a lack of insulin, a special pancreatic hormone that regulates carbohydrate metabolism.The main symptom of diabetes mellitus is an increase in blood sugar, but a violation of carbohydrate metabolism does not remain isolated, but leads to an imbalance of both protein and fat metabolism.
A diabetes diet is not just about limiting carbohydrates.The patient's diet also includes foods that help normalize the functioning of other organs and systems that are usually affected by this endocrine disease.So, for example, with simultaneous obesity, which happens quite often, the menu includes as many vegetables as possible, which contain few calories but give a feeling of fullness: cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach, peas, cabbage, lettuce.Considering that the liver also suffers in many cases of diabetes, the diet limits extraction substances (meat and fish broth), but always contains cottage cheese, soy and oatmeal, which have a beneficial effect on liver function.And damage to the cardiovascular system limits salt in the diet of diabetics.
The two current types of diabetes require different nutritional approaches.In type 1 diabetes, the diet is not so important - during the treatment, the focus is on the administration of insulin, which is less restrictive in the diet of such patients.However, with type 2 diabetes, diet is of paramount importance - in the initial stages of the disease, in many cases, blood sugar levels can only be controlled by following therapeutic dietary recommendations, without prescribing glucose-lowering drugs.
However, the diet for any type of diabetes has general principles, the observance of which allows you to stabilize the carbohydrate metabolism to a certain extent.
Diet for diabetics: basic principles
- Meals are frequent, regular, at the same time - at least 4 times a day.
- Uniform distribution of the calorie content and nutritional value of the diet between the main meals.
- Variety, including a wide range of products recommended for diabetics.
- Using xylitol or sorbitol to sweeten foods.
- Tracking the calorie content of the daily diet using special tables.
- Limit fluids to 1200ml, including first courses.
- Adding vitamin-rich foods to food: rosehip decoction, yeast, etc.
- Regular monitoring of the blood sugar level depending on the results obtained by modifying the diet.
Diet for type 2 diabetes
In modern medicine, all therapeutic diets are usually numbered for ease of use.In the case of diabetes, the classic diet is number 9 - otherwise they say: "Table number 9".
What is diet number 9 in diabetes?
Recommended dishes:
- bread (with an emphasis on rye cakes) 200-300 g;
- vegetable broth soups;
- boiled or steamed meat and poultry;
- boiled or steamed lean fish;
- vegetables: white or cauliflower cabbage, lettuce, rutabaga, cucumber, radish, beetroot, carrot, potato;
- eggs - 2 pieces per day;
- unsweetened fruits and berries: Antonov apples, oranges, lemons, cranberries, blueberries, currants;
- kefir or yogurt - 200-400 ml per day;
- cottage cheese up to 200 mg per day;
- light sauces, including milk sauces;
- appetizers: vinaigrette, salad, jellied fish;
- drinks: tomato juice, tea with milk, unsweetened fruit juices, sugar-free compotes;
- butter and vegetable oil - 40 g per day.
Limited use:
- cereals, legumes and pasta are consumed in a limited way, while bread consumption is reduced;
- soups with weak fish or meat broth - no more than 2 times a week;
- sugar and diabetic sweets - on doctor's recommendation;
- milk - as recommended by the doctor;
- cheese, cream, sour cream - limited;
- coffee.
Prohibited:
- chocolate, candies, cookies, cakes, honey, jam and the like;
- pork and lamb fat;
- spicy, salty and smoked foods:
- sweet fruits: bananas, raisins, grapes;
- alcohol in any form.
Table No. 9 is the diet of diabetics during the period of stabilization of the disease.If the patient's condition deteriorates for some reason, the diet usually becomes more limited.In any case, only a doctor can give final recommendations regarding the type 2 diabetes diet.
Diet for type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, the diet is determined by the dosage of insulin, so the same recommendations are generally followed by type 2 diabetes patients who require insulin injections.
The composition of this menu is not much different from the type 2 diabetes diet, but sugar is completely excluded.Despite this prohibition, it is strongly recommended that patients receiving insulin always have a piece of sugar or candy with them, which may be needed in case of a risk of hypoglycemia - a condition of low blood sugar, the severity of which can lead to a serious condition - coma.
Modern glucometers and carbohydrate tables allow such patients to lead a more nutritious lifestyle.The current concept - one bread unit (XU), which corresponds to 12 g of carbohydrates - allows patients with diabetes mellitus who receive insulin to occasionally eat foods that are not even recommended, or to eat more carbohydrates.However, for this, the patient must measure the blood sugar level before each meal and inject the required amount of short-acting insulin based on the following menu, expressed in XE.To count grain units, use a special table.
All of the above does not mean that a type 1 diabetic can eat everything in any quantity: a meal should not contain more than 7-8 XE.For overweight patients, these restrictions are even stricter.
A special feature of the type 1 diabetes diet is its high protein content.This requirement is especially important for patients with infectious complications and trophic disorders of the limbs.
Only the attending physician can participate in the compilation of the detailed diet, alternating meals and hourly insulin dosing.
Diet for diabetes weight loss
People with diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, are often overweight.Therefore, it may be particularly important to restrict the caloric content of the diet in such patients.However, in this case, none of the "fast" monodiets should be used.This prohibition is explained by the high risk of developing a severe hypoglycemic state (critically low blood sugar) if a balanced diet is disturbed, and it is almost inevitable in patients with type 1 diabetes and moderate type 2 diabetes.
If you are overweight, weight loss for diabetes involves a correction of the usual number 9 therapeutic diet, with reduced refined carbohydrates (sugar) and some fat restriction.However, such decisions should not be made without a doctor's consultation: only together with a doctor can the patient create a safe, reduced-calorie diet.