Diabetes mellitus is a disease that has troubled a person for a lifetime. It occurs due to a total or partial deficiency in the pancreatic hormone - insulin. Insulin is a carrier of glucose into the cells of our body to enrich the blood with nutrients and to saturate the cells with energy.
Many people underestimate the importance of a diabetic diet. This disease is essentially caused by an improper diet that leads to metabolic disorders. It has been scientifically proven that it is foolish to deny that a diabetic diet is a unique and proper way to fight a disease.
Hyperglycemia is the main pathogenetic stage in the development of diabetes mellitus in order to avoid the need to adhere to a diet. The basis of diet in diabetes mellitus is an increase in protein intake, a decrease in carbohydrates in the daily diet, as well as fats, which are easily converted into carbohydrate components and their components, which complicates and exacerbates this disease. It turns out that following simple and clear dietary rules, you can return to normal metabolism and blood sugar levels.
How to eat with diabetes
The question of which nutritional therapy is necessary for diabetes mellitus and how effective it can be is always important for a diabetic. The main foods should be dairy products, vegetables and fruits. Adequate meat intake is required. It is important to prevent protein breakdown in the body and to monitor the preservation of glycogen, the natural production of the energy component of the substance in our bodies. It directly depends on daily food intake, which is rich in proteins, as well as trace elements, vitamins and minerals that satiate our body.
The Importance of Consuming Beans in Diabetes
Beans are one of the richest sources of protein and amino acids. A prominent variety is the white kidney bean. It contains a large accumulation of non-essential and irreplaceable amino acids that cannot be synthesized in our body and must be supplied with food sources, these are valine, tryptophan, leucine, methionine, lysine, histidine, phenylalanine, threonine. The product contains vitamins C, B, PP, potassium, zinc, iron and phosphorus.
Red beans are a legal food for diabetics and are rich in minerals and vitamins.
Beans contribute to the formation of gas in the intestines, which is a somewhat limiting factor when using large amounts. However, when enzyme preparations using beans are used, such undesirable property can be avoided.
Cereals against diabetes mellitus
It is worth noting that one of the most important aspects to consider when dieting is the use of buckwheat porridge. The originality of this cereal is that it does not greatly affect the metabolism of carbohydrates in the body and maintains the level of glucose at a stable level without an impulsive increase than other foods.
In addition to buckwheat, you should include oatmeal, porridge, pearl barley and corn in your diet, this is the right breakfast for a diabetic. Grains are enriched with a variety of vitamins and minerals that are necessary for the stable and proper functioning of our body, and they are also easy to digest. One important factor is that the cereals listed above are an excellent source of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to help fill muscle cells with energy.
Fruits to eat in diabetes mellitus
Fruits are the main source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber that are necessary for the normal functioning of the human body. The concentration of these nutrients in this food group is many times higher than in any other food source. An important feature is the almost complete absence of glucose and the predominance of fructose and sucrose in the composition.
Citrus fruits are the most useful fruits for diabetics, which are characterized by a low glycemic index.
Let's take a look at what fruits and berries to include in the diet for diabetes.
From fruits:
- Grenades;
- Oranges;
- dried fruits (plums, dried apricots, dried apples);
- Pears;
- Mandarins;
- Grapefruit;
- Nectarines;
- Lemons;
- Apricots;
- Apples.
From berries:
- any kind of currant;
- Gooseberry;
- Blackberry;
- Cherry;
- Blueberry.
Melon and watermelon should be consumed in moderation and in limited quantities, as these foods are higher in carbohydrate content.
Anyone with diabetes should pay more attention to fruits like grapefruit, lemon, and tangerine for several reasons:
- rich in vitamin C. The importance of vitamin C for the human body can hardly be overestimated. Scientifically proven to be important for strengthening blood vessel walls, as well as for enzyme systems to work;
- One of the best things about citrus fruits is their low glycemic index. This is explained by the fact that the effect of the carbohydrate components in these fruits has very little effect on blood sugar levels;
- They have powerful antioxidant abilities that inhibit the development of diabetes complications by stopping the negative effects of hyperglycemia on the cells of our bodies.
Fresh juice. Diabetes diet is not a reason not to pamper yourself!
A quick note about citrus juices. Try not to buy juices, including natural juices, from regular stores as they contain carbohydrate components and sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise. The best thing to do is to buy fresh fruit and make the juice from a truly naturally grown product.
What should not be taken in diabetes mellitus?
Every diabetic should know what not to eat with diabetes mellitus. If you consume all foods without first knowing their glycemic index, this can lead to the progressive development of hyperglycemia and subsequent hyperglycemic coma.
A diabetic diet should not include prohibited foods.
Flour and baked goods:
- White bread, in particular fresh baked goods;
- All rich products;
- Puff pastry.
Meat products and seafood:
- Smoked products;
- Abundant meat broths;
- Some bird meat (duck, goose);
- Fat pork and beef;
- Oily fish.
In the case of diabetes, fatty and spicy meat products must be avoided in favor of diet meat (in limited quantities).
Fruits and dried fruits forbidden in diabetes mellitus:
- Bananas;
- Grape;
- Events;
- Coward;
- Strawberries;
- Raisin.
Dairy products:
- Fatty acid cream;
- Whole milk;
- High fat kefirs and yogurts;
- Butter (especially homemade).
Vegetable dishes:
- Potato;
- Peas;
- Some pickled vegetables.
Other food:
- Sugar;
- Candy;
- Shortbread;
- Fruit juices (shop);
- Any meal in fast food restaurants.
About the dangers and benefits of dates, coffee, and honey for people with diabetes
It is not an exaggeration to say that everyone loves these products and that diabetes mellitus makes it difficult to do without these little joys of life. Therefore, we will separately analyze whether or not you can use them in your diet.
Darling
As they say, how many people, so many opinions. There are many articles in magazines and various health blogs about the use of honey in people with diabetes. Let's think logically, there is a high level of fructose in the structure of honey, this carbohydrate ingredient cannot significantly change the level of glucose in a person's blood. However, we cannot overlook the fact that we need insulin for the uptake and metabolism of fructose, which in type 2 diabetes, for example, simply cannot serve its purpose completely. Consumption of honey in this case leads to an increase in blood sugar in people with diabetes, while it does not bring anything bad to a healthy person.
Can honey be used or not in diabetes? It is constantly discussed, but it is unanimously accepted that 1 spoonful on an empty stomach is not painful, but useful.
Based on these facts, conclusions can be drawn for diabetics:
- Honey, as a substance useful for the body, should be included in food.
- Do not consume more than two tablespoons a day.
- For greatest effects, it is best to take a spoonful of honey on an empty stomach and drink it with a glass of water. This is due to the fact that honey is converted into glycogen and serves as the beginning of energy production and synthesis of useful substances in the body that work throughout the day. Most of the time, a small amount of this product is included in various diabetes diet reminders.
Events
A very controversial product that should be included in the diet for diabetes. They're high in calories and quick carbohydrates, but they're high in potassium and vitamin A, which serves as a bias for diabetic complications.
Based on these facts, it is recommended:
- Diabetics with a severe form of this disease are strictly prohibited from using dates.
- With a mild form of diabetes, which is corrected by following a diet and drugs to lower blood sugar, the use of a small amount is allowed, provided that the daily intake does not exceed 100 grams.
Diabetics are strongly advised to refuse coffee.
coffee
People with severe diabetes are strongly advised to avoid this product regardless of the coffee concentration. With an average form of the severity of this disease, the use of a small amount of weak coffee is allowed.
Although coffee has practically no effect on carbohydrate metabolism, coffee activates the vasomotor center and relaxes the walls of blood vessels. As a result, the vessels of the muscles of the skeleton, heart and kidneys expand and increase the activity of the cerebral arteries. Therefore, the diet for diabetics excludes coffee.
Nuts and their beneficial properties
Without exaggeration, nuts are just a "breeding ground" of beneficial properties and nutrients necessary for our bodies. These include vitamins D-3, K, Ca, fiber and polyunsaturated fatty acids. In the fight against diabetes, nuts play an important role, as they have a direct effect on carbohydrate metabolism and lower blood sugar levels. In addition, the use of nuts helps restore the damaged cells of the internal organs and stop the development of complications from diabetes. Hence, the introduction of this product into the diet of a person with diabetes is vital.
Let us consider separately the effect of different types of nuts on sugar reduction.
walnut
We all know from childhood that these types of nuts are food for the brain. The diet for diabetes should include walnuts, this is one of the most important foods because the brain lacks energy compounds due to insufficient absorption of glucose.
Nutrient-rich walnuts must be included in the diet of a diabetic.
Walnuts are rich in manganese, alpha-linolenic acid, and zinc. These trace elements have a direct effect on lowering blood sugar levels. Also included in the composition of essential fatty acids, inhibit the progression of angiopathy of internal organs and the defeat of atherosclerosis of the lower extremities. An important role is played by the fact that the walnut contains practically no carbohydrates, this is a simple answer to all questions about the role of the walnut. It can be consumed as a separate dish or as a dietary supplement for diabetes.
peanut
This is a diet product that is particularly rich in amino acid composition and its protein is vegetable, so it cannot be replaced with protein from animal products. Hence, peanuts need to be added to breakfast, lunch or dinner every day. The protein found in peanuts is quickly absorbed and broken down by the body's metabolism, creating high-density glycoproteins in the liver to reduce sugar. As a result, cholesterol is "displaced" from the blood vessels and broken down.
Almond nuts
They have the greatest amount of calcium in their composition. Almonds are highly recommended for developing diabetic osteoarthropathy that affects bones and joints. If you eat 10-13 almonds a day, you will provide the body with the necessary trace elements, they have a positive effect on the metabolism of carbohydrates. The diet for diabetes in adults should include almonds.
Pine nuts
First and foremost, pine nuts are delicious. In addition, they contain a large amount of K, Ca, vitamins B and D, ascorbic acid, phosphorus and magnesium, they are needed for proper nutrition. Pine nuts are used to prevent microangiopathy, inflammatory processes on the legs and ARVI in people with diabetic foot syndrome.
What you need to know about the glycemic index
The glycemic index is a measure of the effect a food has on blood sugar levels after ingestion. Each product has its own glycemic index. If it is low (10-40 units), the blood sugar level rises slowly, if the index is high (more than 70 units), then quickly. In this regard, every diabetic has an obligation to know the glycemic index of their diet.
If you are unsure, we strongly advise you not to take any chances, even if the disease is still in its early stages. Because all foods with a high index need to be stopped. Products with an average index (if they are not on the prohibited list), you just need to limit their use.
Diabetes brings many ailments to the patient, but by following proper diet and constantly monitoring blood sugar levels, you can lead a fulfilling lifestyle.
The article gives basic recommendations on how to eat well with diabetes. Which Diet Is Right For You? A qualified specialist who knows the individual characteristics of your body will understand you. He will be on a low-sugar diet, compliance with which will help fight an insidious disease.
Eat right in the case of diabetes, harmonize the glycemic index of the food, pay attention to all important aspects.
Bless you!