Diabetes mellitus does not have a clear degree that can be expressed by a numerical index. Usually, the degree of disease course is mild, moderate and severe. But there are two types of this disease - the first type (insulin dependent) and the second type (non-insulin dependent).
It is very important for such patients to adhere to the rules of rational nutrition, because in this case it is the correction of the diet that is the main method of treatment.
Why diet?
In type 2 diabetes, tissue sensitivity to insulin is impaired and insulin resistance occurs. Even though the production of this hormone is sufficient, glucose cannot be absorbed and enter the cells in the right amount, which causes an increase in its level in the blood. As a result, the patient develops complications of the disease that affect the nerve fibers, blood vessels, tissues of the lower extremities, retina of the eye, etc.
Most patients with type 2 diabetes are overweight or even obese. Due to a slow metabolism, the process of losing weight is not as fast as healthy people, but it is very important for them to lose weight. Normalization of body weight is one of the conditions for good health and keeping blood sugar at a targeted level.
What to eat with diabetes to normalize tissue sensitivity to insulin and lower blood sugar? The patient's daily menu should be reduced in calories, and mostly contain slow carbohydrates, not fast carbohydrates. Usually, doctors advise sticking to diet number 9. At the stage of weight loss, the amount of fat in the dish should be reduced (it is better to give preference to fats of vegetable origin). It is important for diabetics to get enough protein, as it is a building material and contributes to the gradual replacement of adipose tissue with muscle fibers.
Rational nutrition increases the sensitivity of tissues to insulin and normalizes the regulation of blood sugar levels.
The main goals of the diet for type 2 diabetes:
- weight loss and body fat reduction;
- normalization of blood glucose levels;
- maintain blood pressure within acceptable limits;
- lowering cholesterol levels in the blood;
- prevention of severe disease complications.
A diet for type 2 diabetes is not a temporary measure, but a system that must be followed constantly. This is the only way to keep blood sugar at a normal level and maintain good health for a long time. In most cases, simply switching to proper nutrition is enough to control diabetes. But even if the doctor advises the patient to take hypoglycemic pills, this does not mean canceling the diet. Without nutritional control, no medical method will bring about a lasting effect (even insulin injections).
Healthy natural foods help maintain normal blood sugar levels and control blood pressure.
Food preparation method
In type 2 diabetes, patients are advised to prepare food in a gentle way. The best types of cooking are culinary processes such as steaming, boiling and grilling. Fried foods can only be eaten occasionally by diabetics, and it's best to cook them in a little vegetable oil, or even better, on a grill with a non-stick coating. With this cooking method, the maximum amount of vitamins and nutrients is preserved. In finished form, such a dish does not overload the pancreas and other organs of the digestive tract.
You can also boil the dish with your own juices, while choosing only low-calorie, low-fat foods. It is undesirable to add store-bought sauces, seasonings and large amounts of salt to food. To improve the taste, it is better to use the allowed spices: greens, lemon juice, garlic, pepper and dry aromatic herbs.
Meat
Meat is a very important source of protein for diabetics because it contains essential amino acids that the human body cannot produce. But choosing it, you need to know certain rules so as not to accidentally harm your health. First, meat must be diet. For the sick, lean chicken, turkey, rabbit, and beef are best. Second, it must be really fresh, it should not contain a lot of blood vessels and muscle layers, because it is digested for a long time and can cause a feeling of heaviness, slowing down the intestines.
The amount of meat in the diet should be limited, but at the same time, the daily dose should provide a person with a sufficient amount of protein. The distribution of protein, fat and carbohydrates is selected individually for each patient by the attending physician. It depends on many factors - body weight, body mass index, age, anatomical features and the presence of comorbidities. A properly selected ratio of calories and nutrients ensures a normal supply of energy, vitamins and minerals to the body.
Types of meat that are prohibited for diabetes:
- Swan;
- duck;
- Pig;
- sheep's meat;
- fatty beef.
Patients should not eat bacon, smoked meats, sausages and rich meat broths. It is okay to cook soup with poultry, but the water must be changed after the first boiling. You cannot cook soup with bone broth, as it is difficult to digest and puts an extra burden on the pancreas and liver. Poultry skin should always be removed during the cooking process to prevent excess fat from getting into the dish. It is always better to give preference to fillets and white meat, where there is a minimum amount of connective tissue and streaks of fat.
It is desirable to replace animal fat with vegetable fat as much as possible. Olive, corn and flaxseed oils are considered the most beneficial for diabetic patients.
A fish
Fish should be in the diet of diabetic patients at least once a week. It is a healthy source of protein, fat and amino acids. Eating fish products helps to improve the condition of bones and muscles, and also contributes to the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The most useful fish that is allowed, according to dietary rules, for diabetics is lean fish, cooked in the oven or steamed.
Diabetics can eat tilapia, hake, pollock, tuna, cod. It is also advisable to periodically include red fish (trout, salmon, salmon) in your diet, as they are rich in omega acids. This biologically active substance protects the body from the development of cardiovascular disease and helps reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol.
Patients should not eat smoked and salted fish, as they can cause problems with the pancreas, as well as provoke the appearance of edema and the development of hypertension. Since type 2 diabetes usually develops in middle-aged and elderly people, the problem of high blood pressure is relevant for many of them. The use of very salty foods (including red fish) can trigger a spike in pressure and worsen the condition of the heart and blood vessels.
When cooking fish, it is better to add a minimum of salt, replacing it with other spices and seasonings. It is desirable to bake it without adding oil, as this product itself already contains a certain amount of healthy fats. So that the fillet does not dry out, it can be cooked in the oven in a special plastic sleeve. Fish cooked this way contains more water and has a melty texture.
Diabetics are prohibited from eating white fish of fatty varieties (for example, catfish, notothenia, herring, catfish and mackerel). Despite their pleasant taste, these products, unfortunately, can provoke the appearance of extra pounds and cause problems with the pancreas. Fish and low-fat seafood are natural sources of vitamins and minerals that are healthy and perfectly absorbed by the body.
It is very useful for diabetics to eat boiled seafood. Shrimp, squid and octopus contain large amounts of protein, vitamins and phosphorus.
Vegetables
The diet for type 2 diabetes is based on the predominance of plant foods in the diet, so vegetables in any form should be an important part of the diet that sufferers eat. They contain very little sugar, and at the same time are rich in fiber, vitamins and other valuable chemical elements. The most useful vegetables for diabetes are greens and reds. This is due to the fact that they contain a large number of antioxidants that prevent the formation of harmful free radicals. Eating tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers and green onions can boost human immunity and improve digestion.
The following vegetables are also useful for patients:
- cauliflower;
- Jerusalem artichokes;
- pumpkin;
- onions and blue onions;
- Broccoli;
- turnip;
- zucchini and eggplant.
Beets are also very useful for diabetics, because they contain amino acids, enzymes and slow carbohydrates. These vegetables contain absolutely no fat, so they are low in calories. Beets have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, increase immunity and strengthen the walls of blood vessels. Another important property of beets for diabetics is the smooth regulation of intestinal motility, which helps to avoid constipation and a feeling of heaviness in the stomach.
A balanced diet for type 2 diabetes even allows potatoes to be included in the diet, but this vegetable should not be the basis when choosing and preparing meals. It contains a lot of starch and has a relatively high calorie content (compared to other vegetables), so the amount should be strictly limited.
In order for vegetables to bring only benefit to the body, they must be properly prepared. If the vegetable can be eaten raw, and diabetics do not have problems with digestion, it is better to use it in this form, as it retains the maximum amount of useful trace elements, vitamins and minerals. But if the patient has problems with the digestive tract (for example, inflammatory diseases), then all vegetables should be subjected to preliminary heat treatment.
It is undesirable to fry vegetables or boil them in a lot of butter and vegetable oil, as they absorb fat, and the benefits of such a dish will outweigh the harm. Fatty and fried foods not only interfere with the functional activity of the pancreas, but also often lead to weight gain.
Vegetables cooked in excess oil are high in calories and can increase blood cholesterol levels.
Fruit
Some patients, having been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, try to eliminate all fruits from the diet, leaving only tamarind, green apples and sometimes pears in them. But this is not necessary, because most fruits have a low glycemic index and contain very few carbohydrates and calories. For diabetics, all fruits and berries with a low and moderate glycemic index are beneficial, as they contain a lot of vitamins, organic acids, pigments and mineral compounds.
- Apple;
- pear;
- tangerine;
- Orange;
- wine;
- apricot;
- plums;
- raisins;
- cherry;
- cranberries;
- raspberry.
Fruits contain carbohydrates, so their amount in the diet should be limited. It is recommended to eat it in the morning (maximum until 16: 00) so that the sugar does not turn into body fat. Before going to bed and on an empty stomach in the morning, it is also better not to eat fruits, as this can cause irritation of the gastric mucosa and a set of extra pounds.
Fruits that are prohibited for type 2 diabetes are melons, watermelons and figs because they have a high glycemic index and are high in sugar. For the same reason, it is undesirable for patients to consume dried fruits like dates and dried figs.
Peaches and bananas may be in the diet of diabetics, but it is recommended to eat them no more than once or twice a week. For daily use, it is better to give preference to prunes, apples and oranges, as they help improve digestion and contain a lot of crude fiber. They contain many vitamins and minerals necessary for the well-coordinated work of the whole organism.
Fruit is a healthy and delicious food that can help you overcome cravings for forbidden sweets. Patients who regularly eat fruit find it easier to follow their diet and daily routine.
Cereals and pasta
What can the patient eat from cereals and pasta? There are many permitted products on this list, from which you can cook delicious and healthy dishes. Cereals and pasta should be sources of slow carbohydrates that patients need for brain function and energy. Doctor-recommended products include:
- buckwheat;
- oats that need to be cooked (not instant cereal);
- bulgur;
- peas;
- durum wheat pasta;
- wheat groats;
- unpolished rice;
- millet.
It is highly undesirable for diabetics to eat plain white rice, semolina and instant oatmeal. These products are high in carbohydrates, calories and few valuable biological substances. In general, this cereal only fills the body and satisfies hunger. Excessive consumption of cereals can lead to weight gain and problems with the digestive system.
But even allowed cereals need to be cooked and eaten properly. It is best to cook porridge in water without adding oil and fat. It is better to eat it for breakfast, as carbohydrates should provide the patient with energy for the whole day. This simple recommendation should always be remembered, because properly selected and cooked cereals will only bring benefit and will not harm human health.
With type 2 diabetes, you need to eat small portions. It is recommended to divide the daily diet into 5-6 meals.
What to give up?
Patients with type 2 diabetes should completely exclude such dishes and foods from the diet:
- sugar and products containing it;
- fatty dishes prepared using a lot of vegetables or butter;
- smoked meat;
- semi-finished products and fast food;
- marinade;
- salty and spicy hard cheese;
- premium flour bakery products.
You can't make exceptions to the rule and sometimes use something from the forbidden list. With type 2 diabetes, the patient does not receive insulin injections, and the only chance to keep blood sugar at a normal level is to eat right, while observing the other recommendations of the attending physician.
Example of today's menu
It is better to make a menu for the day in advance, calculating the calorie content and ratio of fat, protein and carbohydrates in the dish. Table 1 shows the caloric content and chemical composition of some foods allowed under diet No. 9. Guided by these data, the recommendations of the attending physician and the composition, which is always indicated on the product packaging, you can easily create a diet with optimal energy value.
An example menu for today might look like this:
- breakfast - oatmeal, a slice of low-fat cheese, whole wheat bread without yeast;
- snack - nuts or apples;
- lunch - vegetable broth, boiled chicken or turkey breast, buckwheat porridge, berry juice;
- afternoon snack - allowed fruit and a glass of rosehip broth;
- dinner - steamed fish with vegetables or low-fat cottage cheese, a glass of compote without sugar;
- snack before bed - 200 ml of low-fat kefir.
The diets of people with type 2 diabetes can be very varied and delicious. The lack of sweets in it is compensated by healthy fruits and nuts, and fatty meats are replaced with dietary options. The plus value of this menu is that it can be cooked for the whole family. Restriction of animal fats and sugars is useful even for healthy people, and in diabetes it is a prerequisite for maintaining normal health for many years.