Unfortunately, a disease like type 2 diabetes affects more and more people every year. In terms of mortality, it ranks second, second only to oncology. The risk of such a disease is not only in constantly elevated glucose levels, but in the failure of almost all body functions.
The "sweet" disease is not treated, you can only minimize the risk of complications and avoid insulin-dependent diabetes. To normalize sugar levels, endocrinologists mainly 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 with the help of dietary therapy it is not possible to achieve the desired results, 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 increases continuously. 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 worth noting 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 age 40. It is at this age that DM is often diagnosed. 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;
- rapid fatigue;
- slumber
If at least one of the symptoms is manifested, it is recommended to visit an endocrinologist for an analysis in order to rule out or confirm the presence of a disease. The diagnosis is quite simple - sending 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 type of abdomen;
- malnutrition, when light carbohydrates (sweets, flour products) dominate the diet;
- sedentary lifestyle without adequate physical activity;
- high blood pressure;
- the presence of diabetes in relatives.
When treating a "sweet" disease, it is necessary to strictly adhere to a diet aimed at lowering blood glucose.
diet therapy
>A properly formulated therapeutic diet, accompanied by moderate physical activity, will become the main treatment for diabetes. One of the main rules is not to eat when you are hungry and not to 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 the daily diet should be vegetables. Also, the daily menu should include cereals, fruits, meat or fish and dairy products.
A diabetic's body suffers from a lack of vitamins and minerals. This is due to a failure in metabolic processes not only of the endocrine system. This is why it is so important to eat a balanced diet.
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 the breakfast;
- in the preparation of vegetable dishes, use only seasonal products;
- select products by GI.
All diabetic foods should have a low glycemic index. Endocrinologists adhere to this indicator when compiling diet therapy.
In addition to respecting the principles of nutrition, one should not forget the permissible heat treatment, which aims at the lack of bad cholesterol in the vessels.
Cooking is allowed in the following ways:
- boil;
- for a couple;
- in the microwave;
- bake in the oven;
- in a pot with many;
- stew, using a small amount of vegetable oil.
It is necessary to study the GI concept separately and learn for yourself 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 a certain food after eating it on increasing the level of sugar in the blood. Products with a low GI contain soluble complex 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 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. High GI products are able to 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 should pay attention to the caloric content of the food. So, some foods have zero unit value, but at the same time contain bad cholesterol and high calorie content.
A bright one will take fat, which does not contain carbohydrates and has 0 units, but it is categorically contraindicated for diabetics. GI Division:
- 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. They are allowed raw, but boiled under ban.
The therapeutic diet allows you to cook dishes from such vegetables:
- onion;
- all varieties of cabbage - white and red, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli;
- garlic;
- eggplant;
- tomatoes;
- string beans and asparagus;
- lenses;
- peas;
- pumpkin;
- cucumber.
Many people are used to having potatoes on their table. But with a "sweet" disease, it is better to refuse it because of the high GI. In very rare cases, when the use of tubers is still decided, they should be pre-soaked in water overnight. Thus, you can get rid of starch and slightly reduce the index.
Vegetables for a diabetic 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 rate 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.
When you are on 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, pomelo and lime;
- eggplant;
- sweet cherry;
- peach.
There are many valuable substances in dried fruits, no more than 50 grams per day is allowed. Dried fruits are good to add to cereals, thus creating a complete food dish. Low GI dried fruits - dried apricots, prunes and figs.
Meat, offal, fish and seafood are also part of the daily 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 residues are removed from them, in which there are no vitamins, but only bad cholesterol.
Endocrinologists recommend the following products:
- chicken;
- rabbit meat;
- Turkey;
- beef;
- quail;
- chicken liver;
- beef liver;
- beef tongue;
- beef lungs.
There are no restrictions on the choice of seafood. From fish, you can choose pollock, cod, 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. 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 grains;
- buckwheat;
- oatmeal;
- wheat porridge.
By the way, the thicker the porridge, the lower its index.
There are few restrictions on dairy products and sour milk. All of them are based on the fat content of the products. Therefore, it would be rational to refuse sour cream, margarine and butter.
Medical treatment
If with the help of dietary therapy it is not possible to achieve the desired results, the doctor is forced to prescribe hypoglycemic drugs. Their choice in the pharmaceutical market is wide.
Self-medication is prohibited, as 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 necessary 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 serves as an excellent compensation for high sugar levels.
This means, when you play sports in the body, all metabolic processes accelerate, and glucose is absorbed faster.
You should devote at least half an hour a day to this lesson. If you can't practice every day, then at least you should walk in the fresh air on your feet for forty minutes.
You can choose the following types of physical activity for type 2 diabetics:
- yoga;
- Nordic walking;
- sports walking;
- easy running;
- cycling;
- Swiming.
If a person wants to study at home, then there are many video courses on the Internet specifically 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 prepare 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 appetite. Just do not exceed the allowed daily dose, 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 using only two rules: follow the principles of dietary therapy for diabetes and exercise regularly.