Unfortunately, a disease like type 2 diabetes affects more and more people every year. In terms of mortality, it is second only to oncology. The danger of such a disease is not only in constantly elevated glucose levels, but also in the failure of almost all body functions.
The "sweet" disease is not cured, you can only minimize the risk of complications and avoid insulin-dependent diabetes. To normalize sugar levels, endocrinologists primarily prescribe a low-carbohydrate diet and regular exercise therapy. It turns out that diet and nutrition in type 2 diabetes is the main and main therapy.
If with the help of diet therapy you cannot achieve the desired results, 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 diseases of the endocrine system, when the level of sugar in the blood constantly rises. This is due to a decrease in the sensitivity of cells and tissues to the hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas.
It should be noted that the body produces this hormone in sufficient quantities, but the cells do not react with 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 over 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 ignored the symptoms of prediabetes for many years, thus exhausting the body.
Signs of SD:
- thirst;
- dry mouth;
- slow healing of wounds and abrasions;
- frequent urge to go to the toilet;
- rapid fatigue;
- drowsiness.
If at least one of the symptoms appears, it is recommended to visit an endocrinologist for an analysis to rule out or confirm the presence of a disease. The diagnosis is quite simple - venous and capillary blood supply. If you know the symptoms and the treatment will be effective.
Diabetes is more common in the following categories of people:
- age over 40 years;
- abdominal obesity;
- malnutrition, when the diet is dominated by light carbohydrates (sweets, flour);
- sedentary lifestyle without adequate physical activity;
- high blood pressure;
- the presence of diabetes in the nearest relative.
In the treatment of "sweet" disease, it is necessary to strictly adhere to a diet aimed at lowering blood sugar.
dietary therapy
>A properly formulated therapeutic diet combined with moderate physical activity will become the main treatment for diabetes. One of the main rules is not to starve and not to overeat. The number of meals is six times a day. Last dinner at least a few hours before going to bed.
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 should include cereals, fruits, meat or fish and dairy products.
The diabetic's body suffers from a lack of vitamins and minerals. This is due to a failure in the metabolic processes not only of the endocrine system. This is why it is so important to eat a balanced diet.
The main principles of the diet can be distinguished from the above:
- small meals, six times a day;
- minimum fluid intake - two liters;
- do not starve or overeat;
- dinner should be light, it is worth limiting yourself to a glass of fermented milk product or 150 grams of cottage cheese;
- fruits should be included in the breakfast;
- when preparing vegetable dishes, use only seasonal products;
- select products according to GI.
All diabetes foods should have a low glycemic index. Endocrinologists adhere to this indicator when formulating dietary therapy.
In addition to observing the principles of nutrition, we must not forget about the permissible heat treatment, which is aimed at the absence of bad cholesterol in the dishes.
Cooking is permitted in the following ways:
- boiling;
- for a couple;
- in a microwave;
- bake in the oven;
- in a multicooker;
- sauté using a small amount of vegetable oil.
It is necessary to separately study the concept of GI and learn for yourself how to compose a diet based on personal taste preferences.
After all, the selection of products for diabetics is quite extensive and allows you to cook many healthy dishes.
GI of products in diet therapy
The glycemic index is a measure that reflects the effect of a certain food on raising blood sugar levels after consumption. Low GI products contain complex digestible carbohydrates, which are not only necessary for the patient, but also give him a feeling of satiety for a long time.
Diabetics should choose from these food categories that have a low GI. Food with an average indicator can be in the diet only from time to time, no more than twice a week. Products with a high GI are able to raise the glucose level 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 should pay attention to the calorie content of food. So, some foods have a value of zero units, but at the same time contain bad cholesterol and high calorie content.
The bright one will take fats that do not contain carbohydrates and have 0 units, but are strictly contraindicated for diabetics. GI Division:
- 0 - 50 units - low;
- 50 - 69 units - medium;
- over 70 units - high.
There is a special table of products with indexes to make it easier for the patient to make a menu for himself. Some products after heat treatment can significantly increase the index - these are beets and carrots. Raw is allowed, but cooked under the ban.
The therapeutic diet allows you to cook dishes from such vegetables:
- onion;
- all types of cabbage - white and red, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli;
- garlic;
- eggplant;
- tomato;
- string beans and asparagus;
- lentils;
- peas;
- squash;
- cucumber.
Many people are used to having potatoes on their table. But with a "sweet" disease, it is better to refuse it because of the high GI. In very rare cases, when it is still decided to use the tubers, they must be pre-soaked in water overnight. In this way, you canget rid of the starch and slightly reduce the index.
Vegetables for diabetics are a source of vitamins, trace elements and fiber. They prepare not only fresh salads, but also side dishes, as well as complex dishes. It is allowed to diversify the taste qualities with greens - spinach, lettuce, oregano, basil, dill and parsley.
Fruits are an equally important component of the diet. The daily allowed rate should not exceed 150 - 200 grams. Fruits, even with a low index, cannot be squeezed. In this treatment, they lose fiber and glucose quickly enters the blood.
During the diet, the following fruits and vegetables are allowed:
- cherry;
- apricot;
- pear;
- nectarine;
- persimmon;
- black and red currants;
- all varieties of citrus fruits - orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, pomelo and lime;
- gooseberry;
- sweet cherry;
- peach.
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. Low GI dried fruits - dried apricots, prunes and figs.
Meat, offal, fish and seafood are also a daily part of the menu. At the same time, fish should be present at least three times in the weekly diet. Choose lean meat and fish. From them, the skin and the remains of fat are removed, in which there are no vitamins, only bad cholesterol.
Endocrinologists recommend the following products:
- chicken;
- rabbit meat;
- turkey;
- beef;
- quails;
- chicken liver;
- beef liver;
- veal tongue;
- veal livers.
There are no restrictions in the choice of seafood. From the fish you can choose pollock, hake, pike or perch.
Cereals are a source of energy, so they give a feeling of satiety for a long time. Some of them have a high GI, especially white rice. Its alternative will be brown (brown) rice, whose GI is 50 units. Cooking takes a little longer - about 45 minutes.
Barley is considered the most valuable cereal, its GI is only 22 units. Other types of cereals are also allowed:
- barley meal;
- buckwheat;
- oatmeal;
- wheat porridge.
By the way, the thicker the porridge, the lower its index.
There are few restrictions on dairy and sour-milk products. They are all based on the fat content of the products. Therefore, it would be 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 results, the doctor is forced to prescribe hypoglycemic drugs. Their selection in the pharmaceutical market is extensive.
Self-medication is prohibited, as all pills have their own side effects. Only an endocrinologist can choose the right pills for the patient, taking into account his body characteristics and the course of the disease.
The purpose of hypoglycemic drugs is to stimulate the cells of the pancreas 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 the therapy includes several groups of hypoglycemic tablets.
Additional measures
In the presence of type 2 diabetes, treatment should include feasible physical activity. This serves as an excellent compensation for high sugar levels.
That is, when you do 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 cannot practice daily, then at least you should walk in the fresh air for forty minutes.
You can choose the following types of physical activity for type 2 diabetics:
- yoga;
- Nordic walking;
- sport walking;
- jogging;
- Cycling;
- swimming.
If one wants to study at home, then there are many video courses on the Internet dedicated specifically to diabetics.
If training takes place outside the home and there is a feeling of hunger after them, then it is allowed to have an additional meal - a snack. An ideal option would be 50 grams of nuts, which contain nutritious proteins, have a low GI and perfectly fight appetite. Just do not exceed the permissible daily dose, as such a product is high in calories.
From all that has been said above, it must be concluded that the manifestation of diabetes can be minimized using only two rules: follow the principles of dietary therapy for diabetes and exercise regularly.