"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 points in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, which allows the patient to lead 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 a violation of carbohydrate metabolism does not remain isolated, but leads to an imbalance of protein and fat metabolism.
The diabetes diet is not just about restricting carbohydrates.The patient's diet also includes those foods that help normalize the functioning of other organs and systems that are usually affected by this endocrine disease.So, for example, with accompanying 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.Considering that in many cases with diabetes the liver also suffers, the diet limits excretory substances (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 dictates the restriction of salt in the diet for patients with diabetes.
The two existing types of diabetes require different dietary approaches.In type 1 diabetes, the diet is not so important - the emphasis in treatment is on the administration of insulin, which makes the diet of such patients less limited.But with type 2 diabetes, diet is of great importance - in the initial stage of the disease, in many cases it is possible to control the level of sugar in the blood only by following therapeutic dietary recommendations without prescribing glucose-lowering drugs.
However, a diet for diabetes of any type has general principles, the observance of which makes it possible to stabilize carbohydrate metabolism to one degree or another.
Diet for patients with diabetes: basic principles
- Meals are frequent, regular, at the same time - at least 4 times a day.
- Uniform distribution of caloric content and nutritional values of the diet between main meals.
- Variety, including a wide range of products recommended for patients with diabetes.
- Using xylitol or sorbitol to sweeten foods.
- Monitoring the caloric content of the daily diet using special tables.
- Limit juice to 1200ml, including first courses.
- Inclusion in food of foods rich in vitamins: rose decoction, yeast, etc.
- Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels with dietary adjustments depending on the results obtained.
Diet for type 2 diabetes
All therapeutic diets in modern medicine are usually designated by 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 emphasis on rye dough) 200-300 g;
- soup with vegetable juice;
- boiled or steamed meat and poultry;
- boiled or steamed lean fish;
- vegetables: white cabbage or cauliflower, lettuce, rutabaga, cucumbers, radishes, beets, carrots, potatoes;
- eggs - 2 pieces per day;
- fruits and berries without sugar: Antonov apples, oranges, lemons, blackberries, blueberries, red currants;
- kefir or yogurt - 200-400 ml per day;
- cottage cheese up to 200 mg per day;
- mild sauces, including milk sauces;
- appetizer: vinaigrette, salad, jelly fish;
- drinks: tomato juice, tea with milk, juices without sugar, compote without sugar;
- butter and vegetable oil - 40 g per day.
Limited use:
- cereals, legumes and pasta are taken in a limited way, reducing the consumption of bread;
- soups with weak fish or meat broth - no more than 2 times a week;
- sugar and diabetic sweets - on the recommendation of a doctor;
- milk - as recommended by a doctor;
- cheese, cream, sour cream - limited;
- coffee.
Prohibited:
- chocolate, candies, cakes, pastries, honey, jams 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 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 recommendations for the diet for type 2 diabetes.
Diet for type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, the diet is determined by the administration of insulin, so the same recommendations are usually followed by those patients with type 2 diabetes who require insulin injections.
The composition of this menu is not very different from the diet for type 2 diabetes, but sugar is completely excluded.Despite this prohibition, patients receiving insulin are recommended to always have a piece of sugar or candy with them, which may be necessary in case of the threat of a hypoglycemic state - a state of low blood sugar, the severity of which can lead to a serious state - coma.
Modern glucometers and carbohydrate tables enable such patients to lead a more nutritious lifestyle.The existing concept - a bread unit (XU), equal to 12 g of carbohydrates - allows patients with diabetes mellitus who take insulin to periodically eat even non-recommended foods or eat more carbohydrates.However, for this, the patient must measure blood sugar before each meal and, based on the upcoming menu, expressed in XE, inject himself with the necessary amount of short-acting insulin.To count grain units, use a special table.
All of the above does not mean that a patient with type 1 diabetes 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 diet for type 1 diabetes is the high protein content.This requirement is especially important for patients with infectious complications and manifestations of trophic disorders of the limbs.
Only the attending physician should be involved in the design of a detailed diet, alternate meals and hourly insulin administration.
Weight loss diet for diabetes
Patients with diabetes, especially type 2, often suffer from excess weight.Therefore, the issue of limiting the caloric content of the diet for such patients may be particularly important.However, none of the "fast" mono-diets should be used in this case.This prohibition is explained by the high risk of developing a severe hypoglycemic condition (critically low blood sugar) if a balanced diet is broken, and in patients with type 1 diabetes and moderate type 2 diabetes, it is almost inevitable.
If you are overweight, a weight loss diet for diabetes includes a correction of the usual therapeutic diet no.9 with a reduced content of refined carbohydrates (sugar) and some fat restriction.However, such decisions should not be made without consulting a doctor: only together with a patient can create a safe diet with a reduced calorie content.