Nutrition diabetes

nutritional factors in diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by metabolic disorders due to total or relative lack of insulin. The pancreas is the only organ that weighs 70-100 grams, located in the abdominal cavity of 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 this article we will discuss what nutrition should consist of diabetes.

Types of diabetes

Doctors differentiate between several types of diabetes due to the cause and course of the disease:

  • type I diabetes, insulin dependent;
  • type II diabetes usually occurs later in life, especially in obese patients.

Type I diabetes is usually caused by damage to the pancreas. There is primary damage to beta cells (those that produce insulin in the pancreas) and a complete lack of insulin secretion.

The original symptoms of type I diabetes are severe thirst and hunger, unexplained weight loss, frequent urination in large amounts of urine, blurred vision, fatigue, chronic infections. In some cases, the onset of seizures, confusion, dizziness, unconsciousness. Type I diabetes is considered an immune disorder.

Type II diabetes is more common in obese people. The disease may be congenital or acquired and is characterized by a decrease in insulin secretion in the pancreas, as well as insulin resistance. This means that even the right amount of insulin in the body is not able to cope with the task.

The disease is accompanied by a great thirst and heavy urination, which slowly increases blood sugar levels. The patient feels weak and drowsy. The disease often begins in middle-aged and elderly people. In recent years, however, there has been a sharp increase in the number of young patients with type II diabetes. And an alarming number of children and adolescents with this condition who are overweight and obese.

Blood sugar what is it

the need to follow a diet for diabetes

Hyperglycaemia - Blood glucose levels are above normal. Symptoms of high blood sugar include high thirst, dry mouth, urination, weight loss, excessive daytime sleepiness.

The most common cause of hypoglycaemia is undiagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes. In people with diabetes, this condition can occur due to insufficient insulin.

Hypoglycaemia is less common as a result of infectious diseases and acromegaly, Cushing's syndrome. There is a high risk of late complications, especially in the cardiovascular system.

Chronic hyperglycaemia is associated with dysfunction and failure of various organs - eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels.

Proper nutrition for diabetes

In diabetes prevention, diet is a very important part of the treatment. It is necessary to maintain proper blood sugar and blood lipid levels and optimal blood pressure. A well-chosen diet reduces the risk of developing complications of diabetes and minimizes the risk of vascular disease. A proper diet for diabetes plays an important role in preventing and treating chronic diabetes complications. Including vascular complications, retinopathy, kidney disease, diabetic neuropathy and more.

Eating diabetes is one of the major factors influencing the outcome of diabetes.

Sugar is vital, but in this case it is better to remove the sugar bowl! In diabetes, the metabolism of carbohydrates is mainly impaired. People diagnosed with diabetes should limit their consumption of sugar or carbohydrates.

what can and can not be eaten with diabetes

Sugar:

  • monosaccharide - glucose and fructose are found in fruits and honey;
  • Sucrose disaccharides are sugar bowls;
  • polysaccharides - flour products, cakes, cookies and breads, potatoes, bananas, noodles, dumplings, pasta, pancakes and much more.

Carbohydrates for diabetes

Carbohydrates are part of our diet. Their consumption should reach 55-60% of total demand. Much depends on the form and structure of the hydrocarbon source. Carbohydrates in the gastrointestinal tract are digested and broken down into simple sugars - mainly glucose.

Note that excess carbohydrates cause a constant stimulation of beta cells in the pancreas to produce and secrete insulin.

As sugar levels rise, our pancreas secretes insulin. Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to enter cells. Simple sugars, like glucose, are rapidly transferred to cells in about an hour.

Unfortunately, insulin is a hormone that lasts for several hours and does not like to be "out of 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 hunger. The adrenal glands receive information: fluctuations in blood sugar. All of these reactions are signs of the adrenal glands secreting adrenaline. This creates a vicious circle that leads to stress, depression and independent neurosis (neurosis).

Therefore, it is advisable to reduce your carbohydrate intake to a minimum. In such a situation, there are no fluctuations in blood sugar levels and excessive production of the hormones insulin and adrenaline.

how to eat right with diabetes

Glucose travels through the walls of the gastrointestinal tract and carries the blood into various organs, where it transforms and becomes an energy source. If there is not enough exercise, the need for energy decreases, glucose is stored as glycogen in the muscles and liver.

When it is in excess, glycogen is converted into fat, leading to fatty liver and further accumulation of excess body fat. Glucose metabolism is controlled by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas.

Carbohydrates, as the main energy source, can only enter the cell with the help of insulin, which distributes simple sugars throughout the body. Insulin deficiency, for example, causes an increase in blood sugar levels and then severe metabolism in cells. General Insulin Deficiency Leads to Diabetes in Children and Adolescents - Type I Diabetes

Diabetic Protein

Protein should reach 10-15% of energy needs. Larger amounts are needed for children during the growing season, for pregnant women. The most valuable animal protein is found in lean meats, cottage cheese, eggs and buttermilk.

Since our body can produce 56 g of sugar per 100 g of protein, it is also important to limit protein intake. In order not to harm the body, you need to eat high quality protein (egg yolk, slaughter arm). Sources of vegetable protein are - soybeans, legumes, dark bread made from wholemeal flour.

Diabetes diet can and should not

In the first stage of diabetes treatment, foods such as egg yolks, butter, sour cream, milk and unsweetened vegetables should be present.

During this time, significantly reduce or eliminate diets: egg whites, lean meats, fish, poultry and nuts.

People with diabetes should not eat meals or high in protein at night. At night, the body can not use it. Because 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.

Fat contains the most energy. They can only achieve 30% of daily energy consumption. In addition, they contribute to the development of obesity.

Spices such as cinnamon, garlic, cloves, turmeric and bay leaves lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Can diabetics eat fruits and vegetables? Yes, because they are rich in vitamins and minerals. Fresh vegetables, incl. m. t. broccoli, is ideal for diabetics as a great source of chromium. Onions that can work to release insulin. Skin potatoes (boiled potatoes raise blood sugar too fast), asparagus, raw carrots, fresh cucumbers, sauerkraut, elderberry leaves and stalk tea and garlic.

permitted and prohibited foods for diabetes

Vegetables that you can eat without significant restrictions:

  • tomatoes;
  • fresh and pickled cucumbers;
  • raw and sauerkraut;
  • sigo;
  • kálrabi;
  • radish;
  • paprika;
  • salad
  • mushrooms;
  • zucchini.

An excellent antidiabetic medicine - fresh blueberry leaves, which are collected before the fruit ripens. Blueberries can prevent diabetic retinopathy - Studies have shown significant visual improvement in people suffering from eye diseases during diabetes. This disease leads to changes in the fundus that significantly reduce blood flow to the eye.

Diabetics who are overweight (BMI over 25) are advised to limit their calorie intake to lose weight.

Food Glucose Index

Blood sugar affects not only the amount of carbohydrates but also 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 blood glucose index of the product.

Low-digestive foods 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 that food. Foods with high GI boost like blood sugar. Slow absorption and gradual increase and decrease in blood sugar after eating small amounts of gastrointestinal tract helps to control blood sugar in diabetics. It is best to eat food that has a gastrointestinal tract below 60.

GI foods are significantly lower when consumed in their natural form, they are raw and unprocessed.

Diabetes is also advised to avoid alcohol.