Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by metabolic disorders due to absolute or relative lack of insulin. The pancreas is the only organ, weighing 70-100 grams, located in the abdominal cavity in the arch of the duodenum. It plays an important role in the digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It also produces insulin, which regulates carbohydrate metabolism in the body. In that article, we will discuss what nutrition should be in diabetes mellitus.
Type of diabetes
Doctors distinguish between several types of diabetes, due to the cause and course of the disease:
- type I diabetes, insulin dependent;
- type II diabetes, usually occurs later, especially in obese patients.
Type I diabetes is usually caused by damage to the pancreas. That is, major damage to beta cells (cells that produce insulin in the pancreas) and absolute deficiency in insulin secretion.
Early signs of type I diabetes are intense thirst and hunger, unexplained weight loss, frequent urination, blurred vision, fatigue, chronic infections. In some cases, onset is accompanied by cramps, confusion, blurred speech, loss of consciousness. Type I diabetes is considered an immunological disease.
Type II diabetes is more common in obese people. The disease can be congenital or infected and is characterized by a decrease in insulin secretion by the pancreas, as well as insulin resistance. This means that the right amount of insulin in the body cannot complete its task.
The disease is accompanied by excessive thirst and excessive urination, slowly increasing blood sugar levels. The patient feels weak and drowsy. The disease often begins in middle-aged and elderly people. However, in recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of young patients with type II diabetes. And a large number of children and adolescents with this condition are overweight and obese.
What is hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia - blood glucose levels are above normal. Symptoms of hyperglycemia include excessive thirst, dry mouth, frequent urination, weight loss, excessive drowsiness during the day.
The most common cause of hyperglycemia is undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes. In people with diabetes, this condition can occur due to insulin deficiency.
More rarely, hyperglycemia is the result of infectious and endocrine diseases (acromegaly, Cushing's syndrome). There is a high risk of complications late, especially in the cardiovascular system.
Chronic hyperglycemia is associated with dysfunction and impaired function of various organs - eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels.
Proper nutrition for diabetes
In the prevention of diabetes, diet is a very important part of therapy. It is necessary to maintain proper blood glucose and lipid levels and optimal blood pressure. A well-chosen diet can reduce the risk of developing complications of diabetes and minimize the risk of developing vascular disease. An appropriate dietary pattern for diabetes plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of chronic diabetes complications. Includes microvascular complications, retinopathy, nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, and others.
Eating diabetes mellitus is one of the main factors influencing diabetes outcomes.
Sugar is very important for life, but in this case it is better to throw away the sugar bowl! In diabetes, carbohydrate metabolism is particularly disrupted. People diagnosed with diabetes should limit their sugar or carbohydrate intake.
Sugar:
- monosaccharides - glucose and fructose are found in fruits and honey;
- sucrose disaccharide is sugar from a sugar bowl;
- polysaccharides - flour products, cakes, biscuits and breads, potatoes, bananas, noodles, dumplings, pasta, pancakes and more.
Carbohydrates for diabetes
Carbohydrates are part of our diet. Their consumption should account for 55-60% of total demand. Much depends on the original shape and structure of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates in the gastrointestinal tract are digested and broken down into simple sugars - mainly glucose.
Please note that excess carbohydrates cause constant stimulation of beta cells in the pancreas to produce and release insulin.
As sugar levels rise, the pancreas secretes insulin. Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to enter cells. Simple sugars, like glucose, are quickly transported into the cell in about an hour.
Unfortunately, insulin is a hormone that lasts for several hours and does not like "not working". Thus, increased insulin levels cause fluctuations in blood glucose levels and carbohydrate starvation.
Hungry people open the fridge and start eating to satisfy this hunger. The adrenal glands receive information: blood glucose fluctuations. All of these reactions are signals for the adrenal glands to release adrenaline. This creates a vicious cycle that leads to stress, depression and autonomic neurosis (neurasthenia).
Therefore, it is recommended to reduce your carb intake to a minimum. In such situations, fluctuations in blood glucose levels and excessive production of the hormones insulin and adrenaline do not occur.
Glucose passes through the walls of the gastrointestinal tract, and with the blood enters various organs, where it is exchanged and becomes a source of energy. If there is not enough exercise, the need for energy is reduced, glucose is stored as glycogen in muscles and liver.
When excess, glycogen is converted into fat, causing fatty liver and accumulation of excess body fat. The metabolic process of glucose is controlled by insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas.
Carbohydrates as the main energy material can enter the cell only with the help of insulin, which carries medium sugar in the body. However, insulin deficiency, for example, causes an increase in blood sugar levels, followed by severe cell metabolism. Insulin deficiency generally leads to diabetes in children and young people - type I diabetes.
Protein in diabetes mellitus
Protein should include 10-15% of energy requirements. A larger amount is needed for children during the growth period, for pregnant women. Most valuable - animal protein is found in lean meats, cottage cheese, eggs, and sour milk.
Since our body can produce 56 g of sugar per 100 g of protein, it is also important to limit protein intake. In order not to harm the body, you need to eat high quality protein (egg yolk, meat litter). Vegetable protein sources are - soybeans, legumes, dark bread made from wheat flour.
Diet for diabetes mellitus should and should not be done
In a diabetes mellitus diet, in the first stage of treatment, foods such as egg yolks, butter, sour cream, milk, and sugar-free vegetables should be present.
At this time, significantly reduce or eliminate food: egg whites, lean meats, fish, poultry and nuts.
People with diabetes should not eat foods or foods high in protein in the evening. At night, the body cannot use it. Because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, blood glucose levels rise in the morning. In this case, a dinner consisting of carbohydrates and fats is recommended.
Fat contains the most energy. They can only cover 30% of daily energy consumption. In excess, they contribute to the development of obesity.
Spices such as cinnamon, garlic, cloves, turmeric, and bay leaf lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels.
Can diabetics eat fruits and vegetables? Yes, because they are a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Fresh vegetables, including broccoli, are ideal for diabetics as a great source of chromium. Onions that can work to produce insulin. Peeled potatoes (boiled potatoes raise blood sugar too quickly), asparagus, raw carrots, fresh cucumber, sauerkraut, elderberry leaves and tea stalks, and garlic.
Vegetables you can eat without significant restrictions:
- tomato;
- fresh cucumbers and pickles;
- raw and sauerkraut;
- chicory;
- kohlrabi;
- radish;
- paprika;
- lettuce
- mushrooms;
- zucchini.
An excellent anti-diabetic agent - fresh blueberry leaves, harvested before the fruit ripens. Blueberry Can Prevent Diabetes Retinopathy - Studies have shown a dramatic increase in vision in people suffering from eye disease during diabetes. The disease leads to changes in the fundus, which significantly disrupts blood flow to the eyes.
Overweight diabetics (BMI over 25) are advised to limit their calorie intake to lose weight.
Food Glycemic Index
Blood glucose is affected not only by the amount of carbohydrates, but also by its type. Therefore, it is necessary to control the amount and quality of carbohydrates in food, but it is also desirable to calculate the glycemic index of the product.
Low GI foods are slow to digest and absorb, do not raise blood glucose quickly, and do not stimulate insulin secretion. A low GI diet reduces the risk of developing insulin-dependent diabetes.
The higher the GI value of a food, the higher the blood glucose level after eating the food. Foods with high GI such as blood glucose. Slow absorption and gradual increase and decrease in blood sugar after eating low GI foods help control blood sugar in diabetics. It is best to eat foods that have a GI less than 60.
GI foods are much lower when eaten in natural, raw and unprocessed form.
Diabetics are also advised to stay away from alcohol.