Diet for diabetes: a weekly menu, what you can and can't do

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine pathology in which the metabolism is disrupted due to insulin hormone deficiency or dysfunction.

There are insulin-dependent (type 1) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes (type 2).

In the first case, patients have to inject insulin because their bodies produce insufficient or no hormone.

In the second type, the interaction of insulin with cells is disrupted.

Despite the various mechanisms of development of the pathology, the main role in its therapy is given to diet.

Features of the diet for diabetics

In the past, the food prevention system was the only way to control hyperglycemia or high glucose levels. Now the diet of patients has expanded significantly. Diabetics are advised to follow a few important rules for effective blood glucose control.

Patients should not go hungry or overeat. These conditions are dangerous for their health. It is necessary to eat so that the amount of carbohydrates consumed is evenly distributed throughout the day.

General dietary requirements:

• fractional feeding (at least 6 times a day);
• calculation of carbohydrates consumed;
• restriction of animal fats;
• inclusion of plant foods in the diet;
• prefer food cooked in the oven, steamed;
• avoid or limit foods that increase the carbohydrate load;
• balanced diet;
• replacement of sugar with substitutes;
• consumption of coarse fiber foods;
• compliance with the drinking regime;
• reduce salt intake;
• elimination of alcohol.

You can diversify your diet by buying dishes that allow you to cook without fat.

It is worth following the following recommendations to slow down the absorption of carbohydrates and not cause an increase in blood sugar:

1. Eat coarse or whole grains, such as whole grains, instead of mashed or boiled foods.
2. Food should not be hot, as temperature affects glucose absorption.
3. Dietary fiber prevents the absorption of simple carbohydrates and helps remove cholesterol.
4. Simple carbohydrates are best consumed after a main meal.

The menu may include foods high in fiber and simple carbohydrates such as fruits and berries. Glucose absorption slows down when consumed with proteins (protein creams) or fats. But keep in mind that "slow" carbohydrates are also absorbed into the bloodstream, raising blood sugar.

Differences in nutrition in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Since the causes of high blood sugar in the first and second types of the disease are different, there are several approaches to feeding patients. Nutrition is more varied for insulin-dependent patients. High-calorie foods are included in the diet because they suffer more from this pathology at a young age. Consumed grain units are taken into account when compiling the diet.

The main task of nutrition in type 2 diabetes is to lose weight. In this case, the menu is calculated according to the caloric content of products. The patient's diet is stricter. They are not allowed sugar, fatty foods and foods that increase cholesterol.

Unit of bread

The concept of "bread unit" (XE) has been introduced to take into account the quantitative composition of carbohydrates. For 1 XE is considered 25 g of bread or 12 g of sugar (carbohydrates). A chart of bread units is needed to calculate the short insulin administered to diabetics.

1 XE requires 2-4 units. insulin. The individual need for additional insulin administration according to XE is determined using a self-management diary to be maintained by the patient.

A diabetic patient should not have more than 7 XE in one meal. The main carbohydrate load occurs in the first half of the day.

In order not to constantly calculate the units of bread by the weight of the products, we created tables of products, taking into account their energy value.

What is the glycemic index of foods?

The glycemic index (GI) is an indicator of how much blood sugar can increase with the use of a particular product compared to glucose intake.

High GI foods (70 or more):

• honey,
• glucose;
• sugar;
• mashed potatoes;
• sweet soda;
• sweets - corn sticks, swollen rice.

Medium GI (56-69):

• melon;
• banana;
• oatmeal;
• black bread.

It has the lowest GI:

• dairy products;
• milk;
• fruits;
• peas, beans, lentils and other legumes.

The rate of absorption is affected by food, food integrity and temperature.

In diabetes mellitus, only medium and low GI foods are allowed.

List of permitted and prohibited products

Dietary principles are different for diabetics with different diseases. However, there are foods that endocrinologists do not recommend.

The list of prohibited foods includes:

• fried potatoes, fries, chips;
• sweet fruits - grapes;
• fatty meat;
• smoked meat;
• canned food in oil;
• pastes;
• sweet cottage cheese, cottage cheese mass;
• sweet yogurts;
• margarine;
• white bread and white flour dough;
• juices from the store;
• soda;
• alcohol;
• sweets, chocolate;
• jam;
• condensed milk;
• fast food.

Patients will have to fall in love with these foods and drinks:

• mineral water;
• rose compote;
• vegetable juices;
• freshly squeezed juices from sweet and sour berries and fruits;
• unsweetened citrus fruits;
• frozen and fresh berries;
• low-fat dairy products without sugar;
• diet meat - chicken, turkey, veal, rabbit;
• cabbage;
• legumes;
• mushrooms;
• tomato;
• eggplant;
• greens;
• asparagus;
• broccoli;
• milk;
• bran bread products;
• sea products;
• fish.

To reduce the starch of vegetables and grains, it is recommended to soak them before cooking.

Menu design rules

When designing the menu, it is worth taking into account not only the carbohydrate load and calories of food, but also the activity of the diabetic. Exercise lowers blood sugar levels. In type 1 diabetes, it is recommended to eat 1 XE for every hour of physical activity. This will prevent you from changing your bolus insulin dose.

With obesity, the dietitian helps to formulate a diet, taking into account the energy content of foods (calorie intake) and daily energy expenditure during physical activity. The calculation takes into account the patient's sex, age and degree of obesity. It is allowed to organize fasting days (with type 2 diabetes). However, fasting is contraindicated in such patients.

The general condition of the diabetic patient is taken into account when preparing the menu. Pregnant and lactating women, adolescents and debilitated patients need protein intake. If the patient has renal or hepatic insufficiency, ketoacidosis, protein intake is reduced.

Do not forget about other foods involved in metabolism: vitamins, zinc, copper, manganese. Due to the tendency of patients to pathologies of the cardiovascular system, the amount of salt in food is reduced.

Sample menu for a week

Monday

• breakfast: buckwheat porridge, protein-bran bread with butter, tea;
• snack: cabbage salad with eggs;
• dinner: chicken soup, vegetable salad with greens, green beans with white meat cutlet, compote, diabetic rye bread;
• afternoon snack: bread with yogurt;
• dinner: steamed zrazy with fish, rye bread, vegetable salad;
• snack: fermented milk drink.

Tuesday

• breakfast: oatmeal, whole grain bread with butter, tea;
• snack: parsley, onion and mushroom salad;
• dinner: pea soup, chicken cooked with vegetables, vegetable salad, whole grain bread, drink;
• afternoon snack: fermented baked milk with biscuits;
• dinner: baked fish with vegetables, whole grain bread, juice;
• snack: yogurt.

Wednesday

• breakfast: porridge "Artek", protein-bran bread with butter, coffee;
• snack: celery, apple and carrot salad;
• dinner: borscht, buckwheat porridge with steamed cutlet, sauerkraut salad, protein-bran bread, compote;
• afternoon snack: cottage cheese with fruit;
• dinner: bigos with sauerkraut and meat, protein-bran bread, juice;
• snack: baked apples.

Thursday

• breakfast: eggs, rye bread with butter, tea;
• snack: cottage cheese with yogurt;
• dinner: green borscht, meaty baked eggplant, tomato salad with low-fat sour cream, rye bread, compote;
• afternoon snack: cottage cheese pudding with tea;
• dinner: meat stew with vegetables, rye bread, drink;
• snack: bread with kefir.

Friday

• breakfast: pearl barley porridge, whole grain bread with butter, tea (candy, coffee);
• snack: fruit salad with yogurt;
• dinner: fish soup, fish cutlet with vegetable garnish, bell pepper and cucumber salad, whole grain bread, citrus drink;
• afternoon snack: milk bread;
• dinner: steamed cutlet with milk sauce, porridge, whole grain bread, lemonade;
• snack: fruit.

Saturday

• breakfast: omelet with veal, protein-bran bread with cheese, tea;
• snack: cottage cheese with berries;
• dinner: mushroom soup, boiled (porridge) meat porridge, canned peas with onions and greens, protein-bran bread, compote;
• afternoon snack: oatmeal cookies with fermented baked milk;
• dinner: pumpkin stuffed with meat, porridge, protein-bran bread, drink;
• snack: fermented baked milk.

Sunday

• breakfast: brown rice (cabbage rolls) with minced meat and cabbage, rye bread with butter, tea;
• snack: bread with yogurt;
• dinner: soup with meatballs, omelet with chicken, red cabbage salad, rye bread, drink;
• afternoon snack: kefir with biscuits;
• dinner: fish cakes, baked potatoes, rye bread, drink;
• snack: milk biscuit.

The test menu is designed by a nutritionist. In the future, the diabetic will add to the diet, taking into account the recommendations of the doctor.

Ready meals for diabetics

With diabetes mellitus, you have to spend a lot of time and effort to eat properly. Most diabetics simply do not have enough time to properly prepare the menu and prepare food, so now I would like to tell you about the company Cryodieta, which helps make life easier for people with diabetes.

Cryodieta is a delivery service of ready and delicious meals not only for diabetics, but also for those who want to lose weight. The menu is prepared by authorized specialists - nutritionists and doctors.

Thanks to the use of special "shock ice cream" technology, you simply heat the food in the microwave or multivark and eat delicious food. At the same time, ice cream retains all the nutrients.

The main advantages of Cryodiet:

• Production in the ecologically clean region of Novgorod region;
• personal delivery without delay;
• various dishes;
• shock ice cream (preserves foods without preservatives);
• more affordable prices compared to competitors.

Food samples

In large cities, there is a ready-made food delivery service for diabetics, so if you want to eat a healthy diet and not spend too much time on it, order a weekly menu on the official website.

Sugar substitutes

Sweeteners can be added to foods so that patients do not suffer from a lack of sweets. They are divided into three groups:

1. Carbohydrates - fructose, sorbose, xylitol, sorbitol, molasses.
2. Protein sweeteners - mirakulin, monelin.
3. Synthetic - aspartame, sodium cyclamate.

Endocrinologists recommend the use of natural sweetener stevia. Its leaves contain a complex of glycosides that are 200 times sweeter than sugar. Sweetener is good for obesity, high cholesterol and high blood sugar. Due to its ability to normalize metabolism, stevia helps to restore the antitoxic function of the liver.

Plant glycosides stimulate immunity, reduce sugar levels, have beneficial effects on the digestive and endocrine systems. Drinks containing stevia extract correct cravings for sugary and fatty foods and help you get rid of extra pounds.

If you learn to diet and use healthy sweets instead of sugar, high blood sugar is not a death sentence for patients. Also, do not forget to consult an endocrinologist.