Unfortunately, a disease like type 2 diabetes affects more and more people every year. In terms of mortality, it ranks second, just behind oncology. The danger of such a disease lies not only in constantly elevated glucose levels, but in the failure of almost all body functions.
The "soft" disease is not treated, you can only minimize the risk of complications and avoid the insulin-dependent type of diabetes. To normalize sugar levels, endocrinologists primarily prescribe a low-carb diet and regular exercise therapy. It turns out that diet and nutritional treatment of type 2 diabetes is the main and primary therapy.
If with the help of diet therapy it is not possible to achieve the desired results, you should start taking hypoglycemic drugs. It is also necessary to monitor blood counts with a home glucometer.
Causes and Symptoms
Diabetes refers to diseases of the endocrine system, when the blood sugar level constantly increases. This is due to a decrease in the sensitivity of cells, as well as tissues, to the hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas.
It is worth noting 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, definite cause of type 2 diabetes, but doctors have identified risk factors, including 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 ignored the symptoms of prediabetes for many years, thereby exhausting the body.
Signs of DS:
- the 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 occurs, it is recommended to consult an endocrinologist for an analysis in order to exclude or confirm the presence of a condition. The diagnosis is quite simple - the delivery of venous and capillary blood. If you know the symptoms and the treatment will be effective.
Diabetes is more common in the following categories of people:
- be over 40;
- overweight by type of abdomen;
- malnutrition, when light carbohydrates (sweets, flour products) predominate in the diet;
- sedentary lifestyle without proper physical activity;
- high blood pressure;
- the presence of diabetes in relatives.
When treating a "soft" disease, it is necessary to strictly adhere to a diet aimed at lowering blood sugar.
dietetic
>A well-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 bedtime.
Type 2 diabetes Diet and nutrition therapy stabilizes blood sugar. Up to half of the daily diet should consist of vegetables. Also, the daily menu must include cereals, fruits, meat or fish and dairy products.
The body of a diabetic suffers from lack of vitamins and minerals. This is due to a failure of metabolic processes and not just the endocrine system. This is why it is so important to have a balanced diet.
From the above, the main principles of the diet can be distinguished:
- small meals, six times a day;
- minimum fluid consumption - 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;
- fruit should be included in breakfast;
- in the preparation of vegetable dishes, use only seasonal products;
- choose products according to the GI.
All diabetic foods should have a low glycemic index. Endocrinologists adhere to this indicator when compiling dietary therapy.
In addition to observing the principles of nutrition, one should not forget about the permissible heat treatment, which is aimed at the absence of bad cholesterol in dishes.
Cooking is permitted as follows:
- boiling;
- for a couple;
- in the microwave;
- Cook in the oven;
- in a multicooker;
- stew, using a small amount of vegetable oil.
It is necessary to study the concept of GI separately and learn for yourself how to form a diet based on your personal taste preferences.
After all, the choice of products for diabetics is quite large and allows you to cook a lot of healthy dishes.
GI of dietary products
The glycemic index is a measurement that reflects the effect of a certain food after consuming it on the increase in blood sugar. Low GI products contain carbohydrates with complex digestion, which are not only necessary for the patient, but also give him a feeling of satiety for a long time.
Diabetics should choose from low GI food categories. Foods with an average indicator can be included in the diet only occasionally, no more than twice a week. High GI products are able to raise the glucose level to 4 mmol / l in a fairly 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. Thus, some foods have a value of zero units, but at the same time contain bad cholesterol and high calorie content.
A brilliant will take fat, which does not contain carbohydrates and has 0 units, but it is categorically contraindicated for diabetics. GI cluster:
- 0 - 50 units - low;
- 50 - 69 units - medium;
- more than 70 units - high.
There is a special table of products with indexes 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. Raw they are allowed, but boiled under the ban.
The therapeutic diet allows you to cook dishes from such vegetables:
- onion;
- all varieties of cabbage - white and red, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli;
- Garlic;
- eggplant;
- tomato;
- green beans and asparagus;
- Lenses;
- peas;
- to crush;
- cucumber.
Many people are used to having potatoes on their table. But with a "mild" 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 should be pre-soaked in water overnight. So you can get rid of starch and slightly reduce the index.
Vegetables for a diabetic 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 taste qualities with greens - spinach, lettuce, oregano, basil, dill and parsley.
Fruit is an equally important component of the diet. The permissible daily norm should not exceed 150-200 grams. Fruits, even with a low index, cannot be squeezed. With this treatment, they lose fiber, and glucose quickly enters the blood.
When on a diet, the following fruits and berries are allowed:
- cherry;
- apricot;
- Pear;
- nectarine;
- khaki;
- black and red currants;
- all varieties of citrus fruits - orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, pomelo and lime;
- gooseberry;
- sweet cherry;
- sin.
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, creating a complete dish. Low GI dried fruits - dried apricots, prunes and figs.
Meat, offal, fish and seafood are also part of the daily menu. At the same time, fish should be present at least three times in the weekly diet. Choose lean meats and fish. Skin and remnants of fat are removed from it, in which there are no vitamins, only bad cholesterol.
Endocrinologists recommend the following products:
- chicken;
- rabbit meat;
- turkey;
- beef;
- Quail;
- Chicken liver;
- Liver of beef;
- beef tongue;
- beef lungs.
There are no restrictions on the choice of seafood. Of the fish, you can opt for pollack, hake, pike or perch.
Cereals are a source of energy, so they provide a feeling of satiety for a long time. Some of them have a high GI, especially white rice. His 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 porridge;
- buckwheat;
- groats;
- wheat porridge.
By the way, the thicker the porridge, the lower its index.
There are few restrictions on dairy and curd products. All are 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 obliged to prescribe hypoglycemic drugs. Their choice in the pharmaceutical market is vast.
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 blood sugar lowering drugs is to stimulate the pancreatic cells to increase the production of the hormone insulin so that it is in the blood in the required quantity.
If in this case it is not possible to normalize the blood glucose level, the therapy includes several groups of hypoglycemic tablets.
Additional measures
In the presence of type 2 diabetes, treatment should include feasible physical activity. This is an excellent compensation for high sugar levels.
That is, when you play 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 train daily, you should at least walk in the fresh air for forty minutes.
You can choose the following types of physical activity for type 2 diabetics:
- yoga;
- Nordic's walk;
- fitness walking;
- jogging;
- bike;
- swimming.
If a person wishes to study at home, there are many video courses on the Internet dedicated specifically to diabetics.
If training takes place outside the house and there is a feeling of hunger after them, then it is permissible to prepare an additional meal - a snack. An ideal option would be 50 grams of nuts, which contain nutritious protein, have a low GI and perfectly fight appetite. Do not exceed the permissible daily intake, since such a product is high in calories.
From all of the above, it must be concluded that the manifestation of diabetes can be minimized using only two rules: following the principles of dietary therapy for diabetes and exercising regularly.