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 a key role in the digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It also produces insulin, which regulates carbohydrate metabolism in the body. In this article we will talk about what the diet should consist of diabetes.
Types of diabetes
Doctors distinguish between several types of diabetes due to the cause and course of the disease:
- insulin-dependent type I diabetes;
- type II diabetes usually occurs later in life, especially in obese patients.
Type I diabetes is usually the result of damage to the pancreas. That is, primary damage to beta cells (those that produce insulin in the pancreas) and an absolute deficiency in insulin secretion.
The initial signs of type I diabetes are intense thirst and hunger, unexplained weight loss, frequent urination of large amounts of urine, blurred vision, fatigue, chronic infections. In some cases, the onset is accompanied by convulsions, confusion, slurred 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 acquired and is characterized by a decrease in insulin secretion by the pancreas, as well as insulin resistance. This means that even the right amount of insulin in the body is not able to perform the task.
The disease is accompanied by excessive thirst and profuse urination, slowly raising blood sugar levels. The patient feels weak and sleepy. The disease often begins in middle-aged and elderly people. In recent years, however, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of young patients with type II diabetes. And an alarming number of children and adolescents with this condition who are overweight and obese.
Hyperglycemia what is it
Hyperglycemia - blood sugar level is above normal. Symptoms of hyperglycemia include excessive thirst, dry mouth, frequency of urination, weight loss, and excessive daytime sleepiness.
The most common cause of hyperglycemia is undiagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes. In people with diabetes, this situation can occur as a result of insufficient insulin.
Less commonly, hyperglycaemia is the result of infectious and endocrine diseases (acromegaly, Cushing's syndrome). There is a high risk of developing late complications, especially in the cardiovascular system.
Chronic hyperglycemia is associated with dysfunction and dysfunction of various organs - eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels.
Proper nutrition in diabetes
In the prevention of diabetes, diet is a very important part of therapy. It is necessary to maintain proper levels of glucose and lipids in the blood and optimal blood pressure. A well-chosen diet reduces the risk of developing complications of diabetes and minimizes the risk of developing vascular disease. An appropriate diet for diabetes plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of chronic complications of diabetes. Including microvascular complications, retinopathy, nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy and others.
Eating with diabetes is one of the main factors influencing the results of diabetes treatment.
Sugar is essential for life, but in this case it is better to remove the sugar! In diabetes, the metabolism of mainly carbohydrates is impaired. People diagnosed with diabetes should limit their intake of sugar or carbohydrates.
Sugar:
- monosaccharides - glucose and fructose are found in fruits and honey;
- sucrose disaccharide is sugar from a sugar bowl;
- polysaccharides - flour products, cakes, cookies and bread, potatoes, bananas, noodles, dumplings, pasta, pancakes and more.
Carbohydrates for diabetes
Carbohydrates are part of our diet. Their consumption should cover 55-60% of total demand. Much depends on the shape and structure of the carbohydrate origin. Carbohydrates in the gastrointestinal tract are digested and broken down into simple sugars - mainly glucose.
Please note that excess carbohydrates cause continuous stimulation of pancreatic beta cells to produce and secrete insulin.
When our sugar levels rise, our pancreas secretes insulin. Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to enter cells. Simple sugar, like glucose, is rapidly transported into cells in about an hour.
Unfortunately, insulin is a hormone that lasts for several hours and does not like to be "out of work". Thus, elevated insulin levels cause fluctuations in blood glucose levels and carbohydrate starvation.
A hungry person opens the refrigerator and starts eating to satisfy the feeling of hunger. The adrenal glands receive information: fluctuations in blood glucose. All these reactions are a signal for the adrenal glands to secrete adrenaline. This creates a vicious circle leading to stress, depression and autonomic neurosis (neurasthenia).
It is therefore advisable to reduce carbohydrate intake to a minimum. In such a situation, there are no fluctuations in blood glucose levels and excessive production of the hormones insulin and adrenaline.
Glucose passes through the walls of the digestive tract and enters the bloodstream in various organs, where it is converted and becomes a source of energy. In the absence of sufficient exercise, the need for energy decreases, glucose is stored as glycogen in the muscles and liver.
When in excess, glycogen is converted to fat, leading to liver obesity and additional 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 penetrate the cell only with the help of insulin, which distributes simple sugar in the body. However, insulin deficiency, for example, causes a rising rise in blood sugar levels, followed by heavy cellular metabolism. The general lack of insulin leads to diabetes in children and young people - type I diabetes.Protein in diabetes
Protein should cover 10-15% of energy needs. A larger amount is needed for children during the growing season, for pregnant women. The most valuable - animal protein is contained in lean meat, cottage cheese, eggs and yogurt.
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 yolks, meat offal). Sources of vegetable protein are - soy, legumes, dark bread from wholemeal flour.
Diet for diabetes does and does not
In the diet of diabetes in the first stage of treatment should be present foods such as egg yolk, butter, sour cream, milk and unsweetened vegetables.
At this time, significantly reduce or eliminate from the diet: egg white, lean meat, fish, poultry and nuts.
People with diabetes should not eat in the evening or foods high in protein. At night, the body is unable to use it. Because the pancreas does not make enough insulin, blood sugar levels rise in the morning. In this case, a dinner consisting mainly of carbohydrates and fats is recommended.
Fats contain the most energy. They can cover only 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 release insulin. Potatoes on the skin (boiled potatoes raise blood sugar too quickly), asparagus, raw carrots, fresh cucumbers, sauerkraut, elderberry tea and elderberry and garlic leaves
Vegetables you can eat without significant restrictions:
- tomatoes;
- fresh and pickled cucumbers;
- raw and sauerkraut;
- chicory;
- kohlrabi;
- radish;
- red pepper;
- lettuce
- mushrooms;
- zucchini.
An excellent remedy for diabetes - fresh blueberry leaves, which are collected before the fruit ripens. Blueberries can prevent diabetic retinopathy - Studies show a significant improvement in vision in people suffering from eye diseases during diabetes. This disease leads to changes in the fundus, which significantly impairs blood flow to the eye.
It is recommended that overweight diabetics (BMI over 25) limit their calorie intake to lose weight.
Food glycemic index
Blood glucose is affected not only by the amount of carbohydrates, but also by their type. It is therefore necessary to control the amount and quality of carbohydrates in the diet, but it is also desirable to calculate the glycemic index of the product.
Low GI foods are digested and digested slowly, do not raise blood sugar 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 consuming that food. Foods with a high GI rise like glucose in the blood. The slow absorption and gradual increase and decrease of blood sugar after eating foods with low GI helps to control blood sugar in diabetics. It is best to eat foods that have a GI of less than 60.
The GI of food is significantly lower when consumed in its natural form, ie raw and unprocessed.Diabetics are also advised to abstain from alcohol.