Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by metabolic disturbances due to an 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 the metabolism of carbohydrates in the body. In the article we will talk about what nutrition should consist of in diabetes mellitus.
Types of diabetes
Doctors distinguish several types of diabetes, based on the cause and progression of the disease:
- type I diabetes
- , insulin-dependent;
- type II diabetes, usually occurring 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 first 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 mellitus 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 from the pancreas, as well as insulin resistance. This means that even the right amount of insulin in the body is not able to do the job.
The disease is accompanied by excessive thirst and profuse urination, slowly raising blood sugar. The patient feels weak and drowsy. The disease often begins in middle-aged and elderly people. However, in recent years 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 disease who are overweight and obese.
Hyperglycemia what is it
Hyperglycemia - your blood sugar level is above normal. Symptoms of hyperglycemia include excessive thirst, dry mouth, frequent urination, weight loss, excessive daytime sleepiness.
The most common cause of hyperglycemia is undiagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes. In people with diabetes, this situation can occur due to insufficient insulin.
Less often, hyperglycemia 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 the dysfunction and dysfunction of various organs - the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels.
Good nutrition for diabetes
In the prevention of diabetes, diet is a very important part of therapy. It is necessary to maintain proper blood sugar and lipid levels and optimal blood pressure. A well-chosen diet reduces the risk of developing complications from 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.
Diabetes mellitus is one of the major factors influencing diabetes outcomes.
Sugar is essential for life, but in this case, it is better to remove the sugar bowl! In diabetes, the metabolism mainly of carbohydrates is impaired. People with diabetes should limit their intake of sugar or carbohydrates.
Sugar:
- monosaccharides - glucose and fructose are found in fruits and honey; Sucrose disaccharide
- is the sugar of 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 to 60% of the total demand. Much depends on the form and structure of carbohydrate origin. Carbohydrates from the gastrointestinal tract are digested and broken down into simple sugars - mainly glucose.
Please note that an excess of carbohydrates causes continuous stimulation of the beta cells in the pancreas to produce and secrete insulin.
When our sugar levels increase, our pancreas secretes insulin. Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to enter cells. Simple sugar, such as glucose, is quickly transported to cells in about an hour.
Unfortunately, insulin is a hormone that lasts for several hours and doesn't like to be "out of work". So, high insulin levels cause blood sugar fluctuations and carbohydrate hunger.
A hungry person opens the refrigerator and begins to eat to satisfy the feeling of hunger. The adrenal glands receive information: fluctuations in blood sugar. All of these reactions are signals for the adrenal glands to secrete adrenaline. This creates a vicious cycle leading to stress, depression and autonomic neurosis (neurasthenia).
Therefore, it is advisable to keep your carbohydrate intake to a minimum. In such a situation, blood sugar fluctuations and excessive production of the hormones insulin and adrenaline do not occur.
Glucose passes through the walls of the digestive tract and, together with the blood, enters 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 the liver.
When in excess, glycogen is converted to fat, resulting in fatty liver disease and further 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 source can only enter the cell with the help of insulin, which distributes simple sugar throughout the body. However, an insulin deficiency, for example, leads to an increasing increase in blood sugar levels, followed by severe cell metabolism. A general lack of insulin leads to diabetes in children and young people - type I diabetes.
Proteins in diabetes mellitus
Protein should cover 10-15% of energy requirements. A larger amount is needed for children during the period of growth, for pregnant women. The most valuable animal proteins are found in lean meat, cottage cheese, eggs, and sour milk.
Since our body can produce 56g of sugar per 100g of protein, it is also important to limit protein intake. In order not to harm the body, you need to eat high-quality protein (yolks, organ meats). The sources of vegetable proteins are: soybeans, legumes, black bread made from wholemeal flour.
Dos and Don'ts for Diabetes Mellitus
In the diet for diabetes mellitus, at the first stage of treatment, such foods as egg yolk, butter, sour cream, milk and unsweetened vegetables should be present.
At this point, significantly reduce or eliminate from the diet: egg whites, lean meats, fish, poultry and nuts.
People with diabetes should not eat high protein meals or foods in the evening. At night, the body is unable to use it. Since the pancreas does not release enough insulin, blood sugar levels rise in the morning. In this case, a dinner consisting mainly 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 like cinnamon, garlic, cloves, turmeric and bay leaves lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Can people with diabetes 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. An onion that can work to release insulin. Potatoes with the skin on (boiled potatoes raise blood sugar too quickly), asparagus, raw carrots, fresh cucumbers, sauerkraut, elderberry leaves and stem tea and garlic.
Vegetables that you can eat without significant restrictions:
- tomatoes;
- fresh and pickled cucumbers;
- raw and sauerkraut;
- chicory;
- kohlrabi;
- radish;
- paprika;
- lettuce mushrooms
- ;
- zucchini.
An excellent anti-diabetic agent - leaves of fresh blueberries, which are harvested before the fruit is ripe. Blueberries May Prevent Diabetic Retinopathy - Studies have shown significant improvements in vision in people with eye disease during diabetes. This disease causes changes in the fundus, which drastically impairs blood flow to the eye.
Overweight diabetics (BMI over 25) are advised to limit their caloric intake to reduce their weight.
Food glycemic index
Blood sugar is influenced not only by the amount of carbohydrate, but also by their type. Therefore, it is 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 slow to digest and absorb, 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 of a product, the higher the blood sugar levels after consuming that product. Foods with a high GI such as blood sugar. Slow absorption and a gradual rise and fall in blood sugar after eating low GI foods help control blood sugar levels in diabetics. It is best to consume foods with a GI below 60.
The GI of foods is significantly lower when consumed in their natural form, that is, raw and unprocessed.
Diabetics are also advised to refrain from alcohol consumption.