Diabetes mellitus does not have clearly defined degrees that can be expressed by numerical indices. Usually, mild, moderate and severe degrees of disease course are distinguished. But there are two varieties of this disease - the first type (insulin dependent) and the second type (insulin independent).
It is especially important that these patients follow the rules of rational nutrition, since 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. Despite sufficient production of this hormone, glucose cannot be absorbed and enters cells in the right amount, which leads to 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, the retina of the eye, etc.
Most patients with type 2 diabetes are overweight or even obese. Due to a slow metabolism, the weight loss process is not as fast for them as it is for healthy people, but it is extremely necessary for them to reduce weight. Normalization of body weight is one of the conditions for good health and maintenance of blood sugar at the desired 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 contain mostly slow, not fast, carbohydrates. Usually, doctors recommend following diet number 9. In the phase of weight loss, the amount of fat in dishes should be reduced (it is better to give preference to fats of vegetable origin). It is important for a diabetic to get enough protein as it is a building material and contributes to the gradual replacement of fatty tissue by muscle fibers.
Rational nutrition improves tissue sensitivity to insulin and normalizes the regulation of blood sugar levels.
The main goals of the diet for type 2 diabetes:
- weight loss and reduction of body fat;
- normalization of blood glucose levels;
- keep blood pressure within acceptable limits;
- lowering the level of cholesterol in the blood;
- prevention of serious complications of the disease.
A type 2 diabetes diet is not a temporary measure, but a system that must be followed constantly. This is the only way to keep your blood sugar at a normal level and maintain good health for a long time. In most cases, just switching to proper nutrition is enough to keep diabetes under control. But even if the doctor recommends the patient to take hypoglycemic pills, this in no way cancels the diet. Without nutritional control, no medical method will have a lasting effect (even insulin injections).
Healthy natural foods help maintain normal blood sugar levels and control blood pressure.
food preparation methods
In type 2 diabetes, it is desirable for patients to prepare food in a gentle manner. The best types of cooking are culinary processes such as steaming, boiling and baking. Fried foods can only be eaten occasionally by diabetics, and it is preferable to cook them in a small amount of vegetable oil, or better yet, on a grill with a non-stick coating. With these cooking methods, the maximum amount of vitamins and nutrients is preserved. In the final form, these dishes do not put a strain on the pancreas and other organs of the digestive tract.
You can also cook dishes in your own juice, choosing only low-calorie, low-fat foods. It is undesirable to add store-bought sauces, marinades, and a large amount of salt to foods. To improve the taste, it is better to use permitted seasonings: greens, lemon juice, garlic, pepper and dried herbs.
Me at
Meat is a very important source of protein for diabetics because it contains essential amino acids that cannot be produced by the human body. But when choosing it, you need to know certain rules so as not to accidentally harm your health. First, the meat must be dietary. For sick people, lean chicken, turkey, rabbit and veal are best. Secondly, it must be perfectly fresh, it must not contain a large number of veins and muscle films, as they are digested for a long time and can create 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 proteins, fats and carbohydrates is selected individually for each patient by the attending physician. It depends on many factors - weight, body mass index, age, anatomical features and the presence of concomitant diseases. The properly selected proportion of calories and nutrients ensures the body's normal supply of energy, vitamins and minerals.
Prohibited types of meat for diabetes:
- Goose;
- Duck;
- pork;
- RAM;
- fat meat.
Patients should not eat bacon, smoked meats, sausages and rich meat broths. It is permissible to cook soups with poultry meat, but the water must be changed after the first boil. You cannot cook soup with bone broth because it is difficult to digest and creates an extra load on the pancreas and liver. The skin of the birds must always be removed during cooking so that excess fat does not enter the dish. It is always best to give preference to fillet and white meat, where there is a minimal amount of connective tissue and fatty streaks.
It is desirable to replace animal fats as much as possible with vegetable fats. Olive, corn and flaxseed oils are considered the most beneficial for diabetic patients.
A fish
Fish should be present in the diet of a diabetic patient at least once a week. It is a source of healthy proteins, fats and amino acids. Eating fish products helps to improve the condition of bones and muscles and also contributes to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The most useful fish allowed, according to the rules of the diet, for diabetics is lean fish, which is 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 it is rich in omega acids. These biologically active substances protect the body from the development of cardiovascular diseases and help to reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol.
Patients should not eat smoked and salted fish as it can cause problems with the pancreas, in addition to causing the appearance of edema and the development of hypertension. As type 2 diabetes often develops in middle-aged and elderly people, high blood pressure issues are relevant to many of them. The use of very salty foods (including red fish) can cause pressure spikes and worsen the condition of the heart and blood vessels.
When cooking fish, it is best to add a minimal amount 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 baked in the oven in a special plastic sleeve. Fish cooked this way contains more moisture and has a melting texture.
Diabetics are prohibited from eating white fish of fatty varieties (eg pangasius, notothenia, herring, catfish and mackerel). Despite the pleasant taste, these products, unfortunately, can cause the appearance of extra pounds and cause problems with the pancreas. Low-fat fish and seafood are a healthy natural source of vitamins and minerals that are perfectly absorbed by the body.
It is helpful for diabetics to eat cooked seafood. Shrimp, squid and octopus contain a lot 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 foods that patients eat. They contain very little sugar and at the same time are rich in fiber, vitamins and other valuable chemicals. The most useful vegetables for diabetes are green and red. This is due to the fact that they contain a large amount of antioxidants that prevent the formation of harmful free radicals. Eating tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and chives can boost human immunity and improve digestion.
The following vegetables are also helpful for patients:
- cauliflower;
- Jerusalem artichoke;
- pumpkin;
- onions and blue onions;
- broccoli;
- radish;
- zucchini and eggplant.
Beetroot is also very useful for diabetics as it contains amino acids, enzymes and slow carbohydrates. There is no fat in this vegetable, so its calorie content is low. Beetroot dishes have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, boost immunity and strengthen the walls of blood vessels. Another important property of beetroot for diabetics is the smooth regulation of intestinal motility, which helps to prevent constipation and heaviness in the stomach.
A balanced diet for type 2 diabetes allows even potatoes to be included in the diet, but this vegetable should not be essential when choosing and preparing meals. It contains a lot of starch and has a relatively high calorie content (compared to other vegetables), so its quantity should be strictly limited.
For vegetables to bring only benefits to the body, they must be properly prepared. If vegetables can be eaten raw and the diabetic does not have digestion problems, it is better to use them that way, as this preserves the maximum amount of useful elements, vitamins and minerals. But if the patient has concomitant problems with the gastrointestinal tract (for example, inflammatory diseases), then all vegetables must undergo a preliminary heat treatment.
It is highly undesirable to fry vegetables or stew them with a lot of butter and vegetable oil, as they absorb fat, and the benefits of such a dish will be much less than the harm. Fatty and fried foods not only disrupt the functional activity of the pancreas, but also cause a set of extra pounds.
Vegetables cooked with excess oil are high in calories and can increase blood cholesterol levels.
Fruit
Some patients, after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, try to eliminate all fruit from their diet, leaving only green, sour apples and sometimes pears. But this is not necessary, as most fruits are low on the glycemic index and contain a small amount of carbohydrates and calories. For diabetics, all fruits and berries with a low and medium glycemic index are useful, because they contain a lot of vitamins, organic acids, pigments and mineral compounds.
- apples;
- pears;
- tangerines;
- oranges;
- grapefruits;
- apricots;
- plums;
- currant;
- Cherry;
- cranberries;
- raspberries.
Fruits contain carbohydrates, so their amount in the diet should be limited. It is advisable to eat them 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 fruit, as this can lead to irritation of the gastric mucosa and a set of extra pounds.
Fruits banned for type 2 diabetes are cantaloupe, watermelon 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 such as dates and dried figs.
Peaches and bananas can be present in a diabetic's diet, but it is advisable to eat them no more than once or twice a week. For daily use, it is best to give preference to plums, apples and citrus fruits, as they help improve digestion and contain a lot of coarse fiber. They contain many vitamins and minerals necessary for the well-coordinated and complete work of the whole organism.
Fruit is a healthy and tasty treat that can help you overcome cravings for forbidden sweet foods. Patients who eat fruit regularly find it easier to follow a diet and daily routine.
Cereals and Pasta
What can patients eat from cereals and pasta? There are many allowed products on this list, from which you can cook delicious and healthy dishes. It is cereals and pasta that should be the source of slow carbohydrates that the patient needs for brain function and energy. Doctor-recommended products include:
- buckwheat;
- oatmeal that requires cooking (not instant cereal);
- bulgur;
- peas;
- durum wheat pasta;
- Wheat semolina;
- unpolished rice;
- millet.
It is highly undesirable for diabetics to eat white rice, semolina and instant oatmeal. These products are rich in carbohydrates, calories and few biologically valuable substances. In general, these cereals simply saturate the body and satisfy the feeling of hunger. Excessive consumption of such cereals can lead to weight gain and problems with the digestive system.
But even permitted cereals need to be cooked and eaten properly. It is better to cook porridge in water without adding oils and fats. It is preferable to eat them for breakfast, as carbohydrates should provide the patient with energy throughout the day. These simple recommendations must always be remembered, as properly selected and cooked cereals will only bring benefits and will not harm human health.
With type 2 diabetes, you need to eat fractionally. It is advisable to divide the daily diet into 5-6 meals.
What should be abandoned?
Patients with type 2 diabetes should completely exclude these dishes and foods from their diet:
- sugar and products containing it;
- fatty dishes prepared with a lot of vegetables or butter;
- smoked meats;
- semi-finished products and fast food;
- marinades;
- salty and spicy hard cheeses;
- premium flour bakery products.
You cannot make exceptions to the rules and occasionally use something from the prohibited list. With type 2 diabetes, the patient does not receive insulin injections, and the only chance to keep blood glucose at a normal level is to eat right, observing other recommendations from the treating physician.
Sample menu of the day
It is best to make a menu for the day in advance, calculating its calorie content and the proportion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates in the dishes. Table 1 shows the caloric content and chemical composition of some foods allowed with diet #9. Guided by these data, the recommendations of the attending physician and the composition, always indicated on the packaging of the products, you can easily create a diet with value. ideal energy.
A sample menu for the day might look like this:
- breakfast - oatmeal, a slice of low-fat cheese, whole wheat bread without yeast;
- snack - nuts or an apple;
- lunch - vegetable broth, boiled chicken breast or turkey, buckwheat porridge, berry juice;
- afternoon snack - fruit allowed and a glass of rosehip broth;
- dinner - steamed fish with vegetables or low-fat cottage cheese, a glass of unsweetened compote;
- a snack before bed - 200 ml of low-fat kefir.
A type 2 diabetic's diet can be truly varied and delicious. The lack of sweet foods is made up for by healthy fruits and nuts, and fatty meat is replaced by food options. A big advantage of this menu is that it can be cooked for the whole family. Restriction of animal fats and sugar is useful even for healthy people, and in diabetes it is a prerequisite for maintaining normal health for many years.