Diabetes mellitus is a disease, the main sign of which is high blood sugar due to insufficiently effective “work” of insulin. Moreover, if in one case an acute shortage of this hormone (type I diabetes) is characteristic, then in the other there is no insulin deficiency, simply because of structural changes it cannot fully perform its functions (type II diabetes).
However, in our modern era, when almost every day new drugs, diagnostic equipment is created, advanced treatment methods are developed, diabetes is not a death sentence. The modern possibilities of medicine, proper lifestyle plus a balanced diet for diabetes make the patient’s life complete, no different from the lives of healthy people.
How to eat, so as not to notice diabetes
First of all, it should be noted that the diet for this disease is not as severe as it might seem initially. You just have to follow a few simple rules:
- The daily diet should be divided into 5-6 meals (fractional nutrition), this creates the conditions for uniform absorption of carbohydrates from the intestine, so there will be no sharp fluctuations in the level of glucose in the blood.
- It is strongly recommended that you intake food every day at a clearly defined time. Also, aim for the calorie content of the same meal to be approximately the same.
- Food products for diabetes should be selected in such a way that the following ratios are followed: carbohydrates 50%, proteins 20% and fats 30%.
- Exclude from your diet food products that provoke a sharp jump in blood glucose levels (sugar, honey, preserves, jams, confectionery). Instead, you can use sweeteners, but remember that the maximum permitted dose is not more than 40 g per day.
- It is recommended to cook dishes with a fat content of not higher than 30%, and vegetable oils should be used if possible.
Dietary nutrition for diabetes should be sufficiently high-calorie and balanced.
To correctly calculate the daily diet, it is very convenient to use the so-called bread unit (1 XE). It is conditionally accepted that this is a piece of rye bread weighing 25 grams. One bread unit contains 12 g of carbohydrates (1 XE = 12 g of carbohydrates).
There are many tables where it is described in detail how many bread units are contained in a particular product. For example, 1 XE is equal to:
- 1 tbsp. a spoon of granulated sugar;
- 2 tbsp. tablespoons of any dry cereals;
- 1.5 tablespoons mashed potatoes;
- 4 homemade dumplings;
- 2 medium pancakes;
- 400 g of cabbage;
- 1 medium grapefruit (weighing about 170 g).
In addition, it is advisable to use salt less, eat warm, and not hot food, its consistency should be as coarse, grainy, fibrous as possible. After all, the higher the fiber content in products, the slower the process of sugar absorption from them.
Daily Diet Tips
Nutrition for insulin-dependent diabetes, first of all, you should take into account the number of injections per day. If there are two of them, for example, then the diet may look like this:
- breakfast – 4 XE;
- snack – 2 XE;
- lunch – 5 XE;
- afternoon tea – 2 XE;
- dinner – 5 XE;
- snack before bedtime – 2 XE.
Nutrition for type 1 diabetes also depends on the amount of physical activity. If there is intense physical exertion, then 2500 to 2700 Kcal per day or 25-27 bread units should be consumed. Thus, it will be necessary to make adjustments to the menu, but it is recommended that a single meal should not exceed 7 XE. If you plan to eat heavy food, for example, homemade dumplings, then it is advisable to eat them with coarsely chopped freshly prepared cabbage salad.
Nutrition for type 2 diabetes, it is of fundamental importance and the aim should be to lose weight or, at least, not gain extra pounds. Therefore, in this case, nutrition should be low-calorie (for obesity, for example, a maximum of 1200 Kcal per day).
In addition to sugar levels, cholesterol is also subject to strict control.
Therefore, the following restrictions are introduced:
- Milk must be fat free;
- butter – not more than 20 g per day;
- meat, fish – only low-fat varieties, boiled;
- 1 egg in 2 days.
It is highly recommended that you replace half the wheat flour with rye flour to make dough. Starch-free vegetables and a variety of vegetarian courses are welcome.
Thus, if you combine medication with proper nutrition, you can achieve excellent results in the fight against such a serious ailment as diabetes.