Unfortunately, a disease like type 2 diabetes affects more and more people every year. In terms of mortality, it ranks second, only second only to oncology. The danger of such a disease lies not only in constantly elevated blood sugar levels, but in the failure of almost all bodily functions.
The "sweet" disease is not treated, you can only minimize the risk of complications and avoid an insulin-dependent form of diabetes. To normalize the sugar level, endocrinologists primarily prescribe a low-carbohydrate diet and regular exercise therapy. It turns out that diet and nutritional treatment for 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, then you should start taking hypoglycemic drugs. It is also necessary to monitor the blood count with a home blood glucose meter.
causes and symptoms
Diabetes refers to diseases of the endocrine system, in which the level of sugar in the blood constantly increases. This is due to a decrease in the susceptibility of cells and tissues to the hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas.
It is noteworthy that the body produces this hormone in sufficient quantities, but the cells do not respond to 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 being in your 40s. At this age, DM is often diagnosed. However, 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 SD:
- Thirst;
- dry mouth;
- slow healing of wounds and abrasions;
- frequent urges to go to the toilet;
- quick fatigue;
- Sleepiness.
If at least one of the symptoms appears, it is recommended to see an endocrinologist for analysis to exclude or confirm the presence of a disease. The diagnosis is quite simple - the discharge of venous and capillary blood. If you know the symptoms, the treatment will be effective.
Diabetes is more common in the following groups of people:
- age over 40;
- obesity by abdominal type;
- malnutrition, when light carbohydrates (sweets, flour products) predominate in the diet;
- sedentary lifestyle without adequate physical activity;
- high blood pressure;
- the presence of diabetes in the next of kin.
When treating a "sweet" disease, it is necessary to strictly follow a diet to lower blood sugar.
diet therapy
>A properly formulated therapeutic diet, coupled with moderate physical activity, becomes the main treatment for diabetes. One of the most important rules is not to starve or overeat. The number of meals is six times a day. Last dinner at least a few hours before bedtime.
Type 2 diabetes Diet and nutritional therapy stabilize blood sugar levels. Up to half of your daily diet should consist of vegetables. In addition, the daily menu must include cereals, fruit, meat or fish and dairy products.
The body of a diabetic suffers from a lack of vitamins and minerals. This is due to a failure of metabolic processes not only of the endocrine system. That is why it is so important to eat a balanced diet.
From the above, the main principles of nutrition can be distinguished:
- small meals, six times a day;
- minimum fluid intake - two liters;
- don't 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 part of breakfast;
- Use only seasonal products when preparing vegetable dishes.
- Select products according to GI.
All foods for diabetics should have a low glycemic index. Endocrinologists adhere to this indicator when compiling diet therapy.
In addition to observing the principles of nutrition, one should not forget about permissible heat treatment, aimed at the absence of bad cholesterol in dishes.
Cooking is allowed in the following ways:
- Cook;
- for a couple;
- in the microwave;
- bake in the oven;
- in a multicooker;
- Stew, with a small amount of vegetable oil.
It is necessary to study the concept of GI separately and learn how to form a diet based on personal taste preferences yourself.
After all, the choice of products for diabetics is quite extensive and allows you to cook a lot of healthy dishes.
GI of products in diet therapy
The glycemic index is a measure that reflects the effect of a particular food after consumption on raising blood sugar levels. 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 need to choose from the food categories that have a low GI. Food with an average indicator is allowed to be included in the diet only occasionally, no more than twice a week. High GI products can raise glucose levels to 4 mmol/L in a relatively short period of time.
The glycemic index of foods is divided into three categories. However, in addition to this value, you need to pay attention to the calorie content of food. So, some foods have a value of zero units, but at the same time they contain bad cholesterol and high calorie content.
A bright one will take fat, which does not contain carbohydrates and has 0 units, but is categorically contraindicated for diabetics. GI department:
- 0 - 50 units - low;
- 50 - 69 units - medium;
- over 70 units - high.
There is a special product table with indexes that make it easier for the patient to compose a menu for themselves. Some products after heat treatment can significantly increase the index - these are beets and carrots. They are permissible raw, but forbidden when cooked.
The therapeutic diet allows you to cook dishes from such vegetables:
- Onion;
- all types of cabbage - white and red, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli;
- Garlic;
- Aubergine;
- Tomato;
- runner and asparagus beans;
- Lenses;
- Peas;
- to squeeze;
- Cucumber.
Many people are used to having potatoes on the table. But with a "sweet" disease, it is better to refuse it because of the high GI. In very rare cases, when it is decided to use the tubers, they should be pre-soaked in water overnight. This allows you to get rid of starch, and the index slightlyto reduce.
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 taste qualities with greens - spinach, lettuce, oregano, basil, dill and parsley.
Fruits are an equally important part of the diet. The daily allowed norm should not exceed 150 - 200 grams. Fruits, even with a low index, cannot be juiced. With this treatment, they lose fiber and glucose quickly enters the bloodstream.
During a diet, the following fruits and berries are allowed:
- Cherry;
- Apricot;
- Pear;
- Nectarine;
- Persimmon;
- black and red currants;
- all varieties of citrus fruits - orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, grapefruit and lime;
- gooseberry;
- Sweet cherry;
- Peach.
There are many valuable substances in dried fruit, a maximum of 50 grams per day are allowed. Dried fruit is great to add to muesli, creating a full-fledged dish. Low GI dried fruits - dried apricots, prunes and figs.
Meat, offal, fish and seafood are also on the menu every day. At the same time, fish should be present in the weekly diet at least three times. Choose lean meat and fish. The skin and fat remnants are removed from them, in which there are no vitamins, only bad cholesterol.
Endocrinologists recommend the following products:
- Chicken;
- rabbit meat;
- Turkey;
- Beef;
- Quail;
- chicken liver;
- beef liver;
- beef tongue;
- beef lung.
There are no restrictions on the choice of seafood. When it comes to fish, you can choose pollock, hake, pike or perch.
Cereals are an energy source that provides a long feeling of satiety. Some of them have high GI, especially white rice. His alternative will be brown (brown) rice, the GI of which is 50 units. Cooking takes a little longer - about 45 minutes.
Barley is considered the most valuable grain, its GI is only 22 units. Other types of grain are also allowed:
- barley groats;
- buckwheat;
- Oatmeal;
- wheat porridge.
By the way, the thicker the porridge, the lower its index.
There are few restrictions for milk and sour milk products. All are based on the fat content of the products. Therefore, it would be reasonable to refuse sour cream, margarine and butter.
Medical treatment
If the desired results cannot be achieved with the help of diet therapy, the doctor is forced to prescribe hypoglycemic drugs. Your choices in the pharmaceutical market are extensive.
Self-medication is prohibited, since 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 pancreatic cells to increase the production of the hormone insulin so that it is present in the blood in the required amounts.
If in this case it is not possible to normalize the level of glucose in the blood, then therapy includes several groups of hypoglycemic tablets.
Additional measures
If type 2 diabetes is present, treatment should include feasible physical activity. This serves as an excellent balance for high sugar levels.
That is, when 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 lesson. If you cannot practice daily, then you need to walk at least forty minutes in the fresh air.
For type 2 diabetics, you can choose between the following types of physical activity:
- Yoga;
- nordic walking;
- athletic walking;
- Jog;
- To go biking;
- Bathe.
If a person wants to study at home, there are many video courses on the Internet specifically for diabetics.
If the training takes place outside the house, and after it there are feelings of hunger, it is allowed 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. Just do not exceed the permissible daily dose, since such a product is high-calorie.
From all 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.