Unfortunately, a disease like type 2 diabetes affects more and more people every year. In terms of mortality, it ranks second after oncology. The danger of such a disease is not only a constantly elevated level of glucose, but also a violation of almost all body functions.
"Sweet" disease is not cured, you can only minimize the risk of complications and prevent insulin-dependent diabetes. To normalize sugar levels, endocrinologists primarily prescribe a low-carbohydrate diet and regular exercise therapy. It turns out that type 2 diabetes diet and nutritional treatment is the main and primary therapy.
If it is not possible to achieve the desired result with the help of diet therapy, you should start taking hypoglycemic drugs. It is also necessary to monitor blood analysis at home with a glucometer.
Causes and symptoms
Diabetes refers to diseases of the endocrine system, when the level of sugar in the blood 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 should be noted that the body produces this hormone in sufficient quantity, but the cells do not react 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 the age of 40. 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 tiring the body.
Signs of SD:
- thirst;
- dry mouth
- slow healing of wounds and abrasions;
- frequent desire to go to the toilet;
- rapid fatigue;
- Drowsiness.
If any symptoms are detected, it is recommended to visit an endocrinologist for an analysis to rule out or confirm the presence of the disease. The diagnosis is quite simple - venous and capillary blood supply. 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;
- Excess weight according to the type of abdomen;
- Malnutrition, when the diet is dominated by light carbohydrates (sweets, flour products);
- Sedentary lifestyle without proper physical activity;
- high blood pressure;
- Presence of diabetes in close relatives.
In the treatment of "sweet" disease, it is necessary to strictly follow a diet aimed at reducing blood glucose.
Diet therapy
>A properly formed therapeutic diet, along with moderate physical activity, will become the main treatment for diabetes. One of the main rules is not to starve and do not eat. The number of meals is six times a day. Last meal at least a few hours before bedtime.
Type 2 Diabetes Diet and nutritional therapy stabilize blood sugar levels. Half of the daily diet should be vegetables. Also, the daily menu must include cereals, fruits, meat or fish and dairy products.
The body of diabetics suffers from a lack of vitamins and minerals. This is caused not only by the failure of the metabolic processes of the endocrine system. Therefore, a balanced diet is very important.
The main principles of the diet can be distinguished from the above:
- Small meals, six times a day;
- minimum fluid intake - two liters;
- Do not starve yourself and do not overeat;
- dinner should be light, it is worth limiting yourself to one glass of fermented milk product or 150 grams of cottage cheese;
- Fruits should be included in breakfast;
- When preparing vegetable dishes, use only seasonal products;
- Select products according to GI.
All diabetic foods should have a low glycemic index. Endocrinologists adhere to this indicator when prescribing diet therapy.
In addition to following the principles of nutrition, one should not forget the permissible heat treatment, which aims at the absence of bad cholesterol in dishes.
Cooking is allowed in the following way:
- to cook
- for a couple;
- in a microwave oven;
- Bake in the oven;
- in a multicooker;
- Boil using a small amount of vegetable oil.
It is necessary to study the concept of GI separately 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 prepare many healthy dishes.
GI of diet therapy products
The glycemic index is a measure of the effect of certain foods on raising blood sugar levels after eating them. Low GI products contain hard-to-digest carbohydrates, which are not only necessary for the patient, but also give him a feeling of satiety for a long time.
Diabetics should choose foods from those categories that have a low GI. Food with an average indicator can be in the diet only occasionally, no more than twice a week. High GI foods can raise glucose levels up to 4 mmol/L in a fairly short period of time.
The glycemic index of food products is divided into three categories. But in addition to this value, you should pay attention to the calorie content of food. So, some foods have zero units, but at the same time contain bad cholesterol and high calorie content.
Clear will accept fat that does not contain carbohydrates and has 0 units, but is strictly contraindicated for diabetics. GI Department:
- 0 - 50 units - low;
- 50 - 69 units - average;
- 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 is allowed, but cooked is prohibited.
Therapeutic diet allows you to prepare dishes from such vegetables:
- onion
- All varieties of cabbage - white and red, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli;
- garlic;
- eggplant;
- tomato;
- string beans and asparagus;
- Lentils;
- peas
- pumpkin
- Cucumber.
Many people are used to having potatoes on the table. But with the "sweet" 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. Thus, you can remove starch and slightly reduce the index.
For diabetics, vegetables 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 the taste qualities with greens - spinach, lettuce, oregano, basil, dill and parsley.
Fruits are an equally important component of the diet. The allowed daily 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.
The following fruits and berries are allowed during the diet:
- cherry
- Apricot
- pear
- nectarine;
- Persimmon
- black and red currants;
- All kinds of citrus fruits - orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, pomelo and lime;
- gooseberry
- sweet cherry;
- Peach.
There are many valuable substances in dried fruit, no more than 50 grams per day is allowed. Dried fruit is a good addition to grains, thus creating a complete nutritious meal. Dried fruits low GI - dried apricots, prunes and figs.
Meat, offal, fish and seafood are also part of the daily menu. At the same time, fish should be at least three times in the weekly diet. Choose lean meat and fish. Skin and fat residues are removed from them, which do not contain vitamins, but only bad cholesterol.
Endocrinologists recommend the following products:
- chicken
- rabbit meat;
- turkey
- Beef;
- Quail
- chicken liver;
- beef liver;
- beef tongue;
- Cow lungs.
There are no restrictions on the choice of seafood. You can choose pollock, hake, pike or perch from the fish.
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. Its alternative would be brown (brown) rice, whose GI is 50 units. It takes a little longer to cook - about 45 minutes.
Barley is considered the most valuable cereal, its GI is only 22 units. Other types of cereals are also allowed:
- barley grains;
- Buckwheat;
- oatmeal;
- Wheat porridge.
By the way, the thicker the porridge, the lower its index.
There are few restrictions on milk and dairy products. All of them are based on the fat content of the products. Therefore, it will be rational to refuse sour cream, margarine and butter.
medical treatment
If the desired result cannot be achieved with the help of diet therapy, the doctor is forced to prescribe hypoglycemic drugs. Their choice in the pharmaceutical market is wide.
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 the characteristics of his body 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 possible physical activity. This is an excellent compensation for high sugar levels.
That is, during 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 exercise every day, then you need to walk in the fresh air for at least forty minutes.
For people with type 2 diabetes, you can choose the following types of physical activity:
- yoga;
- Scandinavian walking;
- sports walking;
- running;
- by bicycle
- Swimming.
If a person wants to study at home, then there are many video courses on the Internet specifically dedicated to diabetics.
If training is carried out outside the house and there is a feeling of hunger after them, then additional food - food is allowed. 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, because such a product is high in calories.
From all of the above, we must conclude that the manifestations of diabetes can be minimized by using only two rules: follow the principles of diabetes diet therapy and exercise regularly.