Unfortunately, diseases like type 2 diabetes affect more people every year. In terms of mortality, it ranks second, second only to oncology. The danger of such a disease is not only in the constantly rising level of glucose, but in the failure of almost all body functions.
"Sweet" disease is not treated, you can only minimize the risk of complications and avoid insulin-dependent diabetes. To normalize sugar levels, endocrinologists mainly prescribe a low-carbohydrate diet and frequent exercise therapy. It turns out that type 2 diabetes diet and nutritional treatment is the main and main therapy.
If with the help of diet therapy it is not possible to achieve the desired result, you should start taking hypoglycemic drugs. It is also necessary to monitor the blood count with a glucometer at home.
Causes and symptoms
Diabetes refers to a disease of the endocrine system, when the level of sugar in the blood constantly increases. This is due to a decrease in the sensitivity of cells, as well as tissues to the hormone insulin, produced by the pancreas.
It should be noted that the body produces this hormone in sufficient quantities, but the cells do not respond to it. This condition is called insulin resistance.
There is no single and specific cause of type 2 diabetes, but doctors have identified risk factors, one of which is age 40. It is at this age that DM is often diagnosed. But this does not mean that the disease has developed dramatically. Most likely, the patient simply ignores the symptoms of prediabetes for many years, thereby exhausting the body.
Signs of SD:
- thirst;
- dry mouth;
- slow healing of wounds and abrasions;
- frequent urge to go to the toilet;
- fatigue quickly;
- sleepiness.
If at least one of the symptoms is shown, it is recommended to visit an endocrinologist for an analysis to exclude or confirm the presence of the disease. Diagnosis is quite simple - venous and capillary blood delivery. If you know the symptoms and treatment will be effective.
Diabetes is more common in the following categories of people:
- age over 40;
- overweight according to the type of stomach;
- malnutrition, when light carbohydrates (sweets, flour products) dominate in the diet;
- sedentary lifestyle without proper physical activity;
- high blood pressure;
- the presence of diabetes in the next of kin.
When treating "sweet" disease, it is necessary to adhere to a diet aimed at lowering blood glucose.
diet therapy
>A properly formulated therapeutic diet, coupled with moderate physical activity, will be the main treatment for diabetes. One of the main rules is not to be hungry and not to overeat. The number of meals is six times a day. Last dinner at least a few hours before bedtime.
Type 2 diabetes Diet and nutritional therapy stabilize blood sugar levels. Up to half of the daily diet should be vegetables. Also, the daily menu must include grains, fruits, meat or fish and dairy products.
The body of a diabetic patient suffers from vitamin and mineral deficiency. This is due to failure in the metabolic process not only the endocrine system. That is why it is so important to eat a balanced diet.
From the above, the main principles of the diet can be distinguished:
- small meals, six times a day;
- minimum fluid intake - two liters;
- do not starve and do not overeat;
- dinner should be light, it should limit yourself to a glass of fermented milk products or 150 grams of cottage cheese;
- fruits should be included in breakfast;
- in the preparation of vegetable dishes, use only seasonal products;
- choose products according to GI.
All diabetic foods should have a low glycemic index. Endocrinologists adhere to these indicators when arranging diet therapy.
In addition to observing the principles of nutrition, one should not forget about the permitted heat treatment, which aims at the absence of bad cholesterol in the dish.
Cooking is allowed in the following ways:
- boiling;
- for couples;
- in a microwave oven;
- bake in the oven;
- in a multicooker;
- boiled, using a little vegetable oil.
It is necessary to separately study the concept of GI and learn for yourself how to form a diet based on personal taste preferences.
After all, the selection of products for diabetics is quite wide and allows you to cook many healthy dishes.
GI products in diet therapy
The glycemic index is a measure that reflects the effect of certain foods after eating them on increasing blood sugar levels. Products with a low GI contain easily digestible carbohydrates, which are not only necessary for the patient, but also give him a feeling of fullness for a long time.
Diabetics should choose from food categories that have a low GI. Foods with average indicators can be in the diet only occasionally, no more than twice a week. High GI products are able to increase glucose levels to 4 mmol/l in a relatively short period of time.
The glycemic index of foods is divided into three categories. But in addition to this value, you need to pay attention to the calorie content of food. So, some foods have zero unit value, but at the same time contain bad cholesterol and high calorie content.
The bright one will take fat, which does not contain carbohydrates and has 0 units, but it is contraindicated for diabetics. GI Section:
- 0 - 50 units - low;
- 50 - 69 units - medium;
- over 70 units - high.
There is a special table of products with an index to make it easier for the patient to create a menu for himself. Some products after heat treatment can significantly increase the index - these are beets and carrots. They are allowed raw, but boiled under the ban.
A therapeutic diet allows you to cook dishes from such vegetables:
- onion;
- all types of cabbage - white and red, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli;
- garlic;
- brinjal;
- tomatoes;
- strings and asparagus beans;
- lentils;
- peas;
- squash;
- cucumber.
Many people are used to having potatoes on their table. But with "sweet" disease, it is better to refuse it because of the high GI. In very rare cases, when it is still decided to use tubers, they should be soaked in water overnight. Therefore, you can get rid of starch and slightly reduce the index.
Vegetables for diabetics are a source of vitamins, microelements and fiber. They prepare not only fresh salads, but also side dishes, as well as complex dishes. It is allowed to diversify the quality of taste with vegetables - spinach, lettuce, oregano, basil, dill and parsley.
Fruits are an equally important component of the diet. The allowed daily norm should not exceed 150 - 200 grams. Fruits, even with a low index, should not be juiced. With this treatment, they lose fiber and glucose quickly enters the bloodstream.
During the diet, the following fruits and berries are allowed:
- cherries;
- apricots;
- pears;
- nectarines;
- persimmon;
- black and red currants;
- all types of citrus fruits - orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, pomelo and lime;
- gooseberries;
- sweet cherries;
- peaches.
There are many valuable substances in dried fruits, no more than 50 grams per day is allowed. Dried fruits are good to add to cereals, thus creating a complete meal. Dried fruits with low GI - dried apricots, prunes and figs.
Meat, offal, fish and seafood are also on the daily menu. At the same time, fish should be present at least three times in the weekly diet. Choose lean meat and fish. The skin and remnants of fat are removed from them, where there are no vitamins, but only bad cholesterol.
Endocrinologists recommend the following products:
- chicken;
- rabbit meat;
- Turkey;
- beef;
- quail;
- chicken liver;
- beef liver;
- beef tongue;
- cow lungs.
No restrictions on seafood choices. From fish, you can choose pollock, hake, pike or perch.
Cereals are a source of energy, so they provide a feeling of fullness for a long time. Some of them have a high GI, especially white rice. The alternative is brown (brown) rice, the GI of which is 50 units. It takes longer to cook - about 45 minutes.
Barley is considered the most valuable grain, its GI is only 22 units. Other types of grain are also allowed:
- barley grits;
- buckwheat;
- oatmeal;
- wheat porridge
In this way, the thicker the porridge, the lower the index.
There are few restrictions on dairy products and sour milk. All of them are based on the fat content of the product. Therefore, it is rational to refuse sour cream, margarine and butter.
Medical treatment
If with the help of diet therapy it is not possible to achieve the desired result, the doctor is forced to prescribe hypoglycemic drugs. Their choice in the pharmaceutical market is wide.
Self-medication is prohibited, because all pills have their own side effects. Only an endocrinologist can choose the right pill for the patient, taking into account the characteristics of the body and the course of the disease.
The purpose of hypoglycemic drugs is to stimulate pancreatic cells to increase the production of the hormone insulin so that it is in the blood in the required amount.
If in this case it is not possible to normalize the level of glucose in the blood, then therapy includes several groups of hypoglycemic tablets.
Additional steps
In the presence of type 2 diabetes, treatment should include feasible physical activity. This works as an excellent compensation for high sugar levels.
That is, when playing sports in the body, all metabolic processes are accelerated, and glucose is absorbed faster.
You should devote at least half an hour a day to this lesson. If you can't exercise every day, then at least you need to walk in the fresh air for forty minutes.
You can choose the following types of physical activity for type 2 diabetes patients:
- yoga;
- Nordic walking;
- sports walking;
- jogging;
- cycling;
- swim
If someone wants to study at home, then on the Internet there are many video courses dedicated specifically to diabetics.
If the training takes place outside the house and after they feel hungry, then it is allowed to make an additional meal - a snack. The ideal option is 50 grams of nuts, which contain nutritious protein, have a low GI and fight appetite perfectly. Just do not exceed the allowed daily allowance, because such products are high in calories.
From all the above, it should be concluded that the manifestations of diabetes can be minimized using only two rules: follow the principles of diet therapy for diabetes and exercise regularly.