Unfortunately, a disease such as type 2 diabetes affects more and more people every year. In terms of mortality, it is in second place, right after oncology. The danger of such a disease is not only in the constantly elevated level of glucose, but in the failure of almost all body functions.
"Sweet" disease is not cured, you can only minimize the risk of complications and avoid insulin-dependent type of diabetes. To normalize sugar levels, endocrinologists primarily prescribe a low-carbohydrate diet and regular exercise therapy. It turns out that diet and nutrition for type 2 diabetes is the main and primary therapy.
If it is not possible to achieve the desired results with the help of dietary therapy, 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 is important to note 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 the age of 40 years. DM is often diagnosed at this age. 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 scratches;
- frequent desire to go to the toilet;
- fast fatigue;
- drowsiness.
If at least one of the symptoms appears, it is recommended to visit an endocrinologist for analysis to rule out or confirm the presence of the disease. The diagnosis is quite simple - 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:
- age over 40 years;
- overweight according to the abdominal type;
- malnutrition, when the diet is dominated by light carbohydrates (sweets, flour products);
- sedentary lifestyle without proper physical activity;
- High blood pressure;
- the presence of diabetes in close relatives.
When treating a "sweet" disease, it is necessary to strictly adhere to a diet aimed at lowering blood glucose.
dietary therapy
>A properly formulated therapeutic diet, together 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. The 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 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 failure in metabolic processes not only of the endocrine system. That is why it is very 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;
- 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;
- fruit should be included in breakfast;
- in the preparation of vegetable dishes, use only seasonal products;
- choose products according to GI.
All food for diabetics should have a low glycemic index. Endocrinologists adhere to this indicator when composing dietary therapy.
In addition to respecting the principles of nutrition, we should not forget about permitted heat treatment, which is aimed at the absence of bad cholesterol in dishes.
Cooking is allowed in the following ways:
- to boil;
- for a couple;
- in the microwave;
- bake in the oven;
- in multivark;
- stew, using a small amount of vegetable oil.
It is necessary to study the concept of GI and independently learn how to form 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 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. 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 must choose from those food categories that have a low GI. Food with an average indicator can be in the diet only occasionally, no more than twice a week. Foods with a high GI can 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 must also pay attention to the calorie content of food. So, some food has a value of zero units, but at the same time contains bad cholesterol and high calorie content.
Light will take fat, which does not contain carbohydrates and has 0 units, but it is categorically contraindicated for diabetics. GI Department:
- 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 create a menu for himself. Some products after heat treatment can significantly increase the index - these are beets and carrots. Raw is allowed, but cooked is prohibited.
Therapeutic diet allows you to cook dishes from such vegetables:
- onions;
- all varieties of cabbage - white and red, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli;
- garlic;
- Eggplant;
- tomato;
- legumes and asparagus;
- lenses;
- peas;
- squash
- cucumber.
Many people are used to having potatoes on the table. But with a "sweet" disease, it is better to reject it because of the high GI. In very rare cases, when it is decided to use the tubers, they should be soaked in water overnight. So you can get rid of starch and reduce the index a little.
Vegetables for diabetics 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 daily permissible norm should not exceed 150 - 200 grams. Fruit, even with a low index, cannot be juiced. With this treatment, they lose fiber and glucose quickly enters the bloodstream.
During the diet, the following fruits and berries are allowed:
- cherry;
- apricot;
- pear;
- nectarine;
- dragoon;
- black and red currants;
- all types of citrus fruits - orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, pomelo and lime;
- gooseberry;
- cherry;
- peach.
There are many valuable substances in dried fruit, no more than 50 grams per day is allowed. Dried fruit is good to add to cereals, creating a complete food dish. Dried fruits with low GI - 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. The skin and fat remains are removed from them, in which there are no vitamins, but only bad cholesterol.
Endocrinologists recommend the following products:
- chicken;
- rabbit meat;
- turkey;
- beef;
- quails;
- chicken liver;
- beef liver;
- beef tongue;
- beef lungs.
There is no limit to the choice of seafood. For fish, you can choose pollack, 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 grain, its GI is only 22 units. Other types of cereals are also allowed:
- barley groats;
- buckwheat;
- oatmeal;
- wheat porridge.
By the way, the thicker the porridge, the lower its index.
There are several restrictions on dairy and fermented milk products. All are based on the fat content of the products. Therefore, it would be rational to refuse cream, margarine and butter.
Treatment
If it is not possible to achieve the desired results with the help of dietary therapy, the doctor is forced to prescribe hypoglycemic drugs. Their choice on the pharmaceutical market is extensive.
Self-medication is prohibited, because all pills have their 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 can't exercise every day, then at least you have to walk in the fresh air for forty minutes.
For type 2 diabetics, you can choose the following types of physical activity:
- yoga;
- Nordic walking;
- sports walking;
- jogging;
- cycling;
- swimming.
If a person wants to study at home, then there are many video courses on the Internet dedicated to diabetics.
If the training takes place outside the house and there is a feeling of hunger after them, then it is allowed to make 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 against appetite. Just do not exceed the allowed daily amount, because such a product is high in calories.
From all of the above, it should be concluded that the manifestation of diabetes can be minimized by applying only two rules: adhere to the principles of dietary diabetes therapy and exercise regularly.