“Diabetes mellitus is not a sentence, but a way of life,” endocrinologists never tire of repeating this sentence.Compliance with a therapeutic diet is one of the fundamental points in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, which allows the patient to live a full life.
Diet for diabetes is the most important part of treatment.This disease involves a lack of insulin, a special pancreatic hormone that regulates carbohydrate metabolism.The main symptom of diabetes mellitus is an increase in blood sugar, however, a violation of carbohydrate metabolism does not remain an isolated case, but leads to an imbalance of both protein and fat metabolism.
The diabetes diet is not just about restricting carbohydrate intake.The patient's diet also includes foods that contribute to the normalization of the functioning of other organs and systems that are usually affected by this endocrine disease.For example, if you are overweight at the same time, which happens quite often, the menu includes as many vegetables as possible that contain few calories but give you a feeling of satiety: cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach, peas, cabbage, lettuce.Since the liver also suffers in many cases with diabetes, the diet is limited to extractive substances (meat and fish broths), but always contains cottage cheese, soy and oatmeal, which have a positive effect on liver function.And damage to the cardiovascular system requires a restriction of salt intake in the diet of diabetics.
The two existing types of diabetes require different nutritional approaches.In type 1 diabetes, diet doesn't play such a big role - the focus of treatment is on administering insulin, which makes these patients' diets less restrictive.But with type 2 diabetes, diet is of utmost importance - in the early stages of the disease, in many cases it is possible to control blood sugar levels only by following therapeutic nutritional recommendations, without prescribing blood sugar-lowering medication.
However, a diet for diabetes of any type has general principles, adherence to which allows to stabilize carbohydrate metabolism to a certain extent.
Diet for patients with diabetes: basic principles
- Meals are frequent, regular and at the same time - at least four times a day.
- Even distribution of the calorie content and nutritional value of food among the main meals.
- Variety, including a wide range of products recommended for patients with diabetes.
- Using xylitol or sorbitol to sweeten foods.
- Monitoring the calorie content of the daily diet using special tables.
- Limit the amount of liquid to 1200 ml, including first courses.
- Intake of foods rich in vitamins: rosehip decoction, yeast, etc.
- Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels with adjustment of the diet according to the results achieved.
Diet for type 2 diabetes
All therapeutic diets in modern medicine are usually labeled with numbers for ease of use.For diabetes, the classic diet is number 9 - otherwise it is called "table number 9".
What is diet number 9 for diabetes?
Recommended dishes:
- Bread (with an emphasis on rye pastries) 200-300 g;
- soups with vegetable broth;
- boiled or stewed meat and poultry;
- boiled or steamed lean fish;
- Vegetables: white or cauliflower, lettuce, turnips, cucumbers, radishes, turnips, carrots, potatoes;
- Eggs – 2 pieces per day;
- unsweetened fruits and berries: Antonov apples, oranges, lemons, cranberries, cranberries, red currants;
- Kefir or yogurt – 200-400 ml per day;
- cottage cheese up to 200 mg per day;
- mild sauces, including milk sauces;
- Starters: vinaigrette, salad, jellied fish;
- Drinks: tomato juice, tea with milk, unsweetened juices, sugar-free compotes;
- Butter and vegetable oil – 40g per day.
Limited Usage:
- Cereals, legumes and pasta are consumed to a limited extent while bread consumption is reduced;
- Soups with weak fish or meat broth – no more than 2 times a week;
- Sugar and sweets for diabetics - on the recommendation of a doctor;
- Milk – as recommended by a doctor;
- Cheese, cream, sour cream – limited;
- Coffee.
Forbidden:
- chocolate, sweets, cakes, pastries, honey, jam and the like;
- pork and lamb 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 phase of the disease.If the patient's condition worsens for any reason, the diet usually becomes more restricted.In any case, only a doctor can give final recommendations on nutrition for type 2 diabetes.
Diet for type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, diet is determined by the administration of insulin, which is why these same recommendations are usually followed by patients with type 2 diabetes who require insulin injections.
The composition of this menu does not differ much from the diet for type 2 diabetes, but sugar is completely excluded.Despite this ban, patients receiving insulin are strongly recommended to always have a piece of sugar or hard candy with them, which may be necessary in case of impending hypoglycemia - a condition of low blood sugar, the severity of which can lead to a serious illness - coma.
Modern blood glucose meters and carbohydrate tables allow these patients to live a more nutritional lifestyle.The existing concept - one bread unit (XU), equivalent to 12 g of carbohydrates - allows patients with diabetes mellitus who are receiving insulin to regularly eat non-recommended foods or to consume more carbohydrates.However, to do this, the patient must measure blood sugar before each meal and, based on the upcoming menu, expressed in XE, inject the required amount of short-acting insulin.To count grain units, use a special table.
All this does not mean that a patient with type 1 diabetes can eat anything in any quantity: one meal should contain no more than 7-8 XE.These restrictions are even stricter for overweight patients.
A special feature of the diet for type 1 diabetes is its high protein content.This requirement is especially relevant for patients with infectious complications and manifestations of trophic diseases of the limbs.
Only the attending physician should be involved in drawing up a detailed diet, alternating meals and hourly insulin administration.
Diet for weight loss for diabetes
Patients with diabetes, especially type 2, often suffer from obesity.Therefore, the issue of limiting the calorie content of the diet may be particularly relevant for such patients.However, in this case, none of the “quick” mono diets should be used.This ban is explained by the high risk of severe hypoglycemia (critically low blood sugar levels) when a balanced diet is disrupted and is almost inevitable in patients with type 1 diabetes and moderate type 2 diabetes.
If you are overweight, a diet for weight loss in diabetes involves a correction of the usual therapeutic diet No. 9 with a reduced content of refined carbohydrates (sugars) and some restriction of fats.However, such decisions should not be made without consulting a doctor: only together with a doctor can a patient create a safe, low-calorie diet.