Unfortunately, a disease like type 2 diabetes affects more and more people every year. In terms of mortality, it ranks second only to oncology. The danger of such a disease lies not only in constantly rising glucose levels, but in the failure of almost all bodily functions.
The "sweet" disease is not cured, 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. Type 2 diabetes diet and nutritional therapy turned out to be the main and primary treatment.
If it is not possible to achieve the desired results with diet therapy, you should start taking hypoglycemic drugs. It is also necessary to monitor blood counts with a glucometer at home.
Causes and symptoms
Diabetes refers to diseases of the endocrine system when the level of sugar in the blood is constantly elevated. This is due to a decrease in the sensitivity of cells and tissues to the hormone insulin produced by the pancreas.
It is noteworthy that the body produces this hormone in sufficient quantities, but the cells do not react with it. This condition is called insulin resistance.
Type 2 diabetes does not have a single, specific cause, but doctors have identified risk factors, one of which is age 40. At this age, DM is often diagnosed. But this does not mean that the disease has developed dramatically. Most likely, the patient ignored the symptoms of prediabetes for years, thereby depleting the body.
SD symptoms:
- thirst;
- dry mouth;
- slow healing of wounds and abrasions;
- frequent urge to go to the toilet;
- rapid fatigue;
- numbness.
If at least one of the symptoms appears, it is recommended to visit an endocrinologist for an analysis to exclude or confirm the presence of a disease. The diagnosis is quite simple - the introduction of venous and capillary blood. If you know the symptoms and treatment will be effective.
Diabetes is more common in the following categories of people:
- over 40 years old;
- excess weight by type of abdomen;
- malnutrition, when light carbohydrates (sweets, flour products) predominate in the diet;
- sedentary lifestyle without appropriate physical activity;
- high blood pressure;
- presence of diabetes in a close relative.
When treating a "sweet" disease, it is necessary to strictly adhere to a diet aimed at lowering blood sugar.
diet therapy
>A properly formulated therapeutic diet, combined 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. The last supper is 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 in the daily menu should be present cereals, fruits, meat or fish and dairy products.
The body of a person with diabetes suffers from a lack of vitamins and minerals. This is simply due to a failure in the metabolic processes of the endocrine system. That's why a balanced diet is so important.
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 is worth limiting yourself to a glass of fermented milk product or 150 grams of cottage cheese;
- fruits should be included in breakfast;
- use only seasonal products in the preparation of vegetable dishes;
- Select products by 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 aimed at the absence of bad cholesterol in dishes.
Cooking is allowed in the following ways:
- boiling;
- for a couple;
- in the microwave;
- bake in the oven;
- in a multicooker;
- stew using a small amount of vegetable oil.
It is necessary to separately study the concept of GI and learn on your own how to create a diet based on personal taste preferences.
After all, the choice of products for diabetics is quite wide 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 eating a particular food on raising blood sugar. Products with a low GI 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 food categories with a low GI. Foods with an average indicator can be in the diet only occasionally, no more than twice a week. High GI products can raise the glucose level to 4 mmol/l in a fairly short time.
The glycemic index of foods falls into three categories. But in addition to this value, you should also pay attention to the calorie content of food. Therefore, some foods have zero unit value, but at the same time contain bad cholesterol and high calorie content.
The bright one takes fat, which does not contain carbohydrates and has 0 units, but is categorically contraindicated for diabetics. GI section:
- 0 - 50 units - low;
- 50 - 69 units - medium;
- More than 70 units - high.
To make it easier for the patient to create a menu for himself, there is a special product table with an index. Some products after heat treatment can significantly increase the index - these are beets and carrots. They are allowed raw, but boiled under the ban.
The therapeutic diet allows you to cook from such vegetables:
- onion;
- all varieties of cabbage - white and red, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli;
- Garlic;
- aubergine;
- tomatoes;
- string and asparagus beans;
- lentil;
- pea;
- squash;
- cucumber.
Many people are accustomed to having potatoes on their table. But in a "sweet" disease, it is better to refuse it because of the high GI. In very rare cases, when it is decided to use tubers, they should be soaked in water the night before. 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, thyme, basil, dill and parsley.
Fruits are an equally important component of the diet. The permissible daily norm should not exceed 150 - 200 grams. Fruits cannot be juiced, even if they have a low index. With this treatment, they lose fiber and glucose quickly enters the bloodstream.
When dieting, the following fruits and berries are allowed:
- Cherry;
- apricot;
- pear;
- peach;
- Trabzon Persimmon;
- black and red currants;
- all citrus varieties - orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, grapefruit and lime;
- Golden strawberry;
- Sweet Cherry;
- peach.
There are many valuable substances in dried fruits, no more than 50 grams per day is allowed. Dried fruits are good for adding to cereals, thus making a complete dinner plate. 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 a week in the diet. Choose lean meats and fish. Skin and fat residues are removed from them, where there are no vitamins, only bad cholesterol.
Endocrinologists recommend the following products:
- Chicken;
- rabbit meat;
- turkey;
- steak;
- Quail;
- chicken livers;
- beef liver;
- beef tongue;
- beef lung.
There are no restrictions on the choice of seafood. From 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 have a high GI, especially white rice. An alternative would be brown (brown) rice with a GI of 50 units. It takes a little longer to cook - about 45 minutes.
Barley is considered the most valuable grain, its GI is only 22 units. Other types of cereals are also allowed:
- barley semolina;
- buckwheat;
- Rolled oats;
- wheat porridge.
By the way, the thicker the porridge, the lower its index.
There are few restrictions on milk and sour-milk products. All of them are based on the fat content of the products. Therefore, it would be logical to refuse sour cream, margarine and butter.
Medical treatment
If it is not possible to achieve the desired results with the help of diet therapy, the doctor is forced to prescribe hypoglycemic drugs. Their selection in the pharmaceutical market is wide.
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 the characteristics of the body and the course of the disease.
The purpose of hypoglycemic drugs is to increase the production of insulin hormone by stimulating the pancreatic cells and to ensure that it is present in the blood in the required amount.
If in this case it is not possible to normalize the level of glucose in the blood, the treatment includes several groups of hypoglycemic tablets.
Additional precautions
In the presence of type 2 diabetes, treatment should include viable physical activity. This acts as an excellent compensation for high sugar levels.
In other words, while doing 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 class. If you can't work every day, you should at least walk for forty minutes in the fresh air.
For type 2 diabetes patients, you can choose the following types of physical activity:
- yoga;
- nordic walking;
- sports walking;
- light jogging;
- cycling;
- swimming.
If a person wants to study at home, there are many video courses on the Internet specifically dedicated to diabetics.
If the training is held outside the house, and after them there is a feeling of hunger, an additional meal - snack is allowed. An ideal option would be 50 grams of hazelnuts, which contain nutritious protein, have a low GI and perfectly fight appetite. Just do not exceed the permissible daily allowance, because such a product is high-calorie.
From all of the above, it should be concluded that the manifestation of diabetes can be minimized using only two rules: follow the principles of diet therapy for diabetes and exercise regularly.