"Diabetes mellitus is not a sentence, but a way of life," endocrinologists never tire of repeating this phrase.Compliance with a therapeutic diet is one of the basic things in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, which allows the patient to live a full life.
Diet for diabetes is the main 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 the violation of carbohydrate metabolism does not remain isolated, but leads to an imbalance of both protein and fat metabolism.
A diet for diabetes is not just about limiting carbohydrates.The patient's diet also includes foods that help normalize the function of other organs and systems that are usually affected by this endocrine disease.So, for example, with concomitant obesity, which happens quite often, the menu includes as many vegetables as possible that contain a small amount of calories but give a feeling of satiety: cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach, peas, cabbage, lettuce.Since in many cases with diabetes, the liver also suffers, the diet limits extracts (meat and fish soups), but always includes cottage cheese, soy and oats, which have a beneficial effect on liver function.And damage to the cardiovascular system determines limiting salt in the diet for diabetics.
The two existing types of diabetes require different nutritional approaches.In type 1 diabetes, diet is not so important - the emphasis in treatment is on insulin administration, which makes the diet of such patients less restrictive.But with type 2 diabetes, diet is very important - in the early stages of the disease, in many cases it is possible to control blood sugar levels just by following the recommendations of a therapeutic diet without prescribing glucose-lowering drugs.
However, diets for diabetes of any type have general principles, compliance with which makes it possible to stabilize carbohydrate metabolism to one degree or another.
Diet for diabetics: basic principles
- Eating is frequent, regular, at the same time - at least 4 times a day.
- Uniform distribution of caloric content and nutritional value of the diet among the main dishes.
- Variety, including various products recommended for diabetics.
- Using xylitol or sorbitol to sweeten food.
- Monitor the calorie content of the daily diet using a special table.
- Limit liquids to 1200 ml, including the first meal.
- Inclusion in food of foods rich in vitamins: decoction of rosehip, yeast, etc.
- Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels with diet adjustments depending on the results obtained.
Diet for type 2 diabetes
All therapeutic diets in modern medicine are usually designated with numbers for ease of use.In the case of diabetes, the classic diet is number 9 - otherwise, they say "table No. 9".
What is diet number 9 for diabetes?
Recommended dishes:
- bread (with an emphasis on rye pastry) 200-300 g;
- soup vegetable soup;
- boiled or steamed meat and chicken;
- boiled or steamed lean fish;
- vegetables: white cabbage or cauliflower, lettuce, rutabaga, cucumber, turnip, beet, carrot, potato;
- eggs - 2 pieces per day;
- unsweetened fruits and berries: Antonov apples, oranges, lemons, lingonberries, cranberries, red currants;
- kefir or yogurt - 200-400 ml per day;
- cottage cheese up to 200 mg per day;
- soft sauces, including milk sauce;
- appetizers: vinaigrette, salad, jelly fish;
- drinks: tomato juice, tea with milk, juice without sugar, compote without sugar;
- butter and vegetable oil - 40g per day.
Limited use:
- cereals, legumes and pasta are consumed in a limited way, while reducing the consumption of bread;
- soup with weak fish or meat broth - no more than 2 times a week;
- sugar and diabetes sweets - on the doctor's recommendation;
- milk - as recommended by the doctor;
- cheese, cream, sour cream - limited;
- coffee.
prohibited:
- chocolate, sweets, cakes, pastries, honey, jam and the like;
- pork and goat fat;
- spicy, salty and smoked dishes:
- sweet fruits: bananas, raisins, grapes;
- alcohol in any form.
Table No.9 is a diet for diabetics during the stabilization period of the disease.If the patient's condition worsens for some reason, as a rule, the diet becomes more limited.In any case, only a doctor can give the final recommendation about a diet for type 2 diabetes.
Diet for type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, the diet is determined by the administration of insulin, so these same recommendations are usually followed by type 2 diabetes patients who require insulin injections.
The composition of this menu is not much different from the diet for type 2 diabetes, but sugar is completely excluded.Despite this prohibition, patients receiving insulin are strongly recommended to always have a piece of sugar or candy with them, which may be necessary in case of a threat 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 existing concept - a unit of bread (XU), equivalent to 12 g of carbohydrates - allows patients with diabetes mellitus who receive insulin to eat regularly even if the food is not recommended or eat more carbohydrates.However, for this, the patient needs to measure blood sugar before each meal and, based on the upcoming menu, specified in XE, inject himself with the required amount of short-acting insulin.To calculate grain units, use a special table.
All of the above does not mean that type 1 diabetics can eat everything in any quantity: one serving should not contain more than 7-8 XE.For overweight patients, these restrictions are stricter.
A special feature of the diet for type 1 diabetes is its high protein content.This requirement is particularly relevant for patients suffering from infectious complications and manifestations of trophic disorders of the limbs.
Only the attending physician should be involved in formulating a detailed diet, alternating meals and hourly insulin administration.
Diet for weight loss for diabetes
Patients with diabetes, especially type 2, are often overweight.Therefore, the issue of limiting the calorie content of the diet for such patients may be very relevant.However, none of the "quick" mono diets should be used in this case.This prohibition is explained by the high risk of developing a severe hypoglycemic state (very low blood sugar) if a balanced diet is disturbed, and in patients with type 1 diabetes and moderate type 2 diabetes, it is almost inevitable.
If you are overweight, a diet to lose weight for diabetes involves correcting the usual therapeutic diet No.9 with a reduced content of refined carbohydrates (sugar) and some fat restriction.However, such a decision should not be made without consulting a doctor: only together with the doctor can the patient make a safe diet with a reduced calorie content.