Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by metabolic disorders due to absolute or relative lack of insulin. The pancreas is the only organ that weighs 70-100 grams and is located in the abdominal cavity of the goat in the duodenum. It plays a key role in the digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It also produces insulin, which regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates in the body. In the article we will talk about what nutrition should consist of in diabetes mellitus.
Types of Diabetes
Doctors distinguish between several types of diabetes due to the cause and course of the disease:
- type I diabetes, insulin dependent;
- type II diabetes, which usually occurs later in life, especially in obese patients.
Type I diabetes is usually the result of damage to the pancreas. That is, primary damage to beta cells (those that produce insulin in the pancreas) and an absolute lack of insulin secretion.
The first signs of type I diabetes are intense thirst and hunger, unexplained weight loss, frequent urination of large amounts of urine, blurred vision, fatigue, chronic infections. In some cases, the onset is accompanied by seizures, confusion, slurred speech, loss of consciousness. Type I diabetes mellitus is considered an immunological disease.
Type II diabetes is more common in the obese. The disease may be congenital or acquired and is characterized by a decrease in the secretion of insulin in the pancreas as well as insulin resistance. This means that even the right amount of insulin in the body is not able to perform the task.
The disease is accompanied by excessive thirst and abundant urination, which slowly increases blood sugar. The patient feels weak and sleepy. The disease often begins in middle-aged people and the elderly. In recent years, however, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of young patients with type II diabetes. And an alarmingly large number of children and adolescents with this condition who are overweight and obese.
Hyperglycemia what is it
Hyperglycaemia - blood sugar levels are above normal. Symptoms of hyperglycemia include excessive thirst, dry mouth, frequency of urination, weight loss, excessive daytime sleepiness.
The most common cause of hyperglycaemia is undiagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes. In people with diabetes, this situation can occur due to insufficient insulin.
Less often, hyperglycaemia is the result of infectious and endocrine diseases (acromegaly, Cushing's syndrome). There is a high risk of developing late complications, especially in the cardiovascular system.
Chronic hyperglycemia is associated with dysfunction and dysfunction of various organs - eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels.
Proper nutrition for diabetes
In diabetes prevention, diet is a very important part of treatment. It is necessary to maintain proper blood sugar and lipid levels and optimal blood pressure. A well-chosen diet reduces the risk of developing complications of diabetes and minimizes the risk of developing vascular disease. An appropriate dietary pattern for diabetes plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of chronic complications of diabetes. Including microvascular complications, retinopathy, nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy and others.
Eating diabetes mellitus is one of the major factors affecting diabetes outcomes.
Sugar is essential for life, but in this case it is better to remove the sugar bowl! In diabetes, the metabolism of mainly carbohydrates is reduced. People diagnosed with diabetes should limit their sugar or carbohydrate intake.
Sugar:
- monosaccharides - glucose and fructose are found in fruits and honey;
- Sucrose disaccharide is sugar from a sugar bowl;
- polysaccharides - flour products, cakes, pastries and breads, potatoes, bananas, noodles, dumplings, pastas, pancakes and more.
Carbohydrates for diabetes
Carbohydrates are part of our diet. Their consumption should cover 55-60% of the total demand. Much depends on the shape and structure of carbohydrate origin. Carbohydrates in the gastrointestinal tract are digested and broken down into simple sugars - mainly glucose.
Note that excess carbohydrates cause continuous stimulation of the beta cells in the pancreas to produce and secrete insulin.
As our sugar levels rise, our pancreas secretes insulin. Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to enter cells. Simple sugar, like glucose, is rapidly transported into the cells in about an hour.
Unfortunately, insulin is a hormone that lasts a few hours and does not like to be "without work". Thus, elevated insulin levels cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels and carbohydrate starvation.
A hungry person opens the fridge and starts eating to satisfy the feeling of this hunger. The adrenal glands receive information: fluctuations in blood sugar. All of these reactions are signals for the adrenal glands to secrete adrenaline. This creates a vicious circle that leads to stress, depression and autonomic neurosis (neurasthenia).
Therefore, it is advisable to reduce your carbohydrate intake to a minimum. In such a situation, fluctuations in blood sugar levels and excessive production of the hormones insulin and adrenaline do not occur.
Glucose passes through the walls of the digestive tract and enters the bloodstream with various organs, where it is converted and becomes a source of energy. In the absence of adequate exercise, the need for energy decreases, glucose is stored as glycogen in muscles and liver.
In case of excess conversion of glycogen to fat, leading to fatty liver and further accumulation of excess body fat. The metabolic process of glucose is controlled by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas.
Carbohydrates as the main energy material can only enter the cell through insulin, which distributes simple sugar throughout the body. However, insulin deficiency, for example, causes an increasing increase in blood sugar levels followed by severe cellular metabolism. A general lack of insulin leads to diabetes in children and adolescents - type I diabetes.Protein in diabetes mellitus
Protein should cover 10-15% of energy needs. A larger amount is needed for children during the growth period for pregnant women. The most valuable - animal protein is found in lean meats, cottage cheese, eggs and sour milk.
Since our body can produce 56 g of sugar per100 g of protein, it is also important to limit protein intake. In order not to harm the body, eat high quality protein (egg yolks, offal). Sources of vegetable protein are - soybeans, legumes, dark bread made from whole grain flour.
Diet for diabetes mellitus do's and don'ts
The diet with diabetes mellitus in the first stage of treatment should include foods such as egg yolk, butter, sour cream, milk and unsweetened vegetables.
At this point, reduce or significantly eliminate from the diet: egg whites, lean meats, fish, poultry and nuts.
People with diabetes should not eat meals or foods high in protein in the evening. At night, the body is unable to use it. As the pancreas does not release enough insulin, blood sugar levels rise in the morning. In this case, a dinner consisting mainly of carbohydrates and fats is recommended.
Fats contain the most energy. They can only cover 30% of the daily energy consumption. Excess, they contribute to the development of obesity.
Spices such as cinnamon, garlic, cloves, turmeric and bay leaf lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Can diabetics eat fruits and vegetables? Yes, because they are a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Fresh vegetables, including broccoli, are ideal for diabetics as a great source of chromium. An onion that can work to release insulin. Skin-on potatoes (boiled potatoes raise blood sugar too quickly), asparagus, raw carrots, fresh cucumbers, sauerkraut, elderberry leaves and stalk tea and garlic.
Vegetables you can eat without significant restrictions:
- tomatoes;
- fresh and pickled cucumbers
- raw and sauerkraut;
- chicory;
- kohlrabi;
- radise;
- paprika;
- salad
- mushrooms;
- zucchini.
An excellent antidiabetic remedy - fresh blueberry leaves that are harvested before the fruit is ripe. Blueberries Can Prevent Diabetic Retinopathy - Studies have shown significant improvements in vision in people suffering from eye diseases during diabetes. This disease leads to changes in the fundus, which significantly impairs blood flow to the eye.
Overweight diabetics (BMI over 25) are advised to limit their calorie intake for weight loss.
Food Glycemic Index
Blood glucose is affected not only by the amount of carbohydrates but also by their type. Therefore, it is necessary to control the amount and quality of carbohydrates in the diet, but it is also desirable to calculate the glycemic index of the product.
Low GI feeds are slow to digest and absorb, do not raise blood sugar rapidly and do not stimulate insulin secretion. A low GI diet reduces the risk of developing insulin-dependent diabetes.
The higher the GI value of a food, the higher the blood sugar level after consuming this food. Foods with high GI boost like blood sugar. Slow absorption and gradual rise and fall in blood sugar after eating foods with low GI helps control blood sugar in diabetics. It is best to eat food that has a GI of less than 60.
GI for foods is significantly lower when ingested in their natural form, ie. raw and unprocessed.
Diabetics are also advised not to drink alcohol.