Diet for diabetes: a menu for a week, what you can and cannot do

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine pathology in which the metabolism is disturbed due to the lack of or incorrect action of the hormone insulin.

A distinction is made between insulin-dependent (type 1) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes (type 2).

In the first case, patients should inject insulin preparations in syringes because the hormone is not produced sufficiently in their body or is absent.

The second type disrupts the interaction of insulin with cells.

Despite the different mechanisms of the development of pathology, dietary nutrition is assigned the main role in its therapy.

Features of the diet for diabetics

In the past, a food inhibition system was the only way to contain hyperglycemia or high glucose levels. Now the patient's diet has expanded significantly. Diabetics are advised to follow some important rules for effective blood sugar control.

Patients should not go hungry or overeat. These conditions are dangerous to your health. You need to eat in such a way that the amount of carbohydrates ingested is evenly distributed throughout the day.

General dietary requirements:

• fractional nutrition (at least 6 times a day);
• Calculation of carbohydrates consumed;
• Limit animal fats;
• the introduction of plant foods into the diet;
• Preference for steamed foods, in the oven, boiled;
• Avoiding or restricting foods that increase carbohydrate loads;
• balanced nutrition;
• Replace sugar with substitutes;
• Consumption of coarse-fiber foods;
• compliance with the drinking regime;
• Reducing salt intake;
• Elimination of alcohol.

You can add variety to your diet by purchasing utensils that can be used to cook food without oil.

So that carbohydrates are absorbed more slowly and do not provoke jumps in the rise in blood sugar, the following recommendations should be observed:

1. Eat coarse or grainy foods such asB. Crumbly cereals instead of crushed or cooked ones.
2. Meals shouldn't be hot as temperature affects glucose uptake.
3. Fiber in foods inhibits the absorption of simple carbohydrates and helps remove cholesterol.
4. Simple carbohydrates are best consumed after the main meal.

The menu may include foods that contain simple carbohydrates with fiber, such as fruits and berries. The absorption of glucose is slowed down when it is consumed with proteins (protein cream) or fats. Remember, however, that "slow" carbohydrates are also absorbed into the bloodstream, which increases sugar levels.

Diet differences in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Since the reasons for the rise in blood sugar are different in the first and second types of diseases, there are several approaches to feeding patients. The diet is more varied in insulin-dependent patients. Since they are more likely to suffer from this pathology at a young age, foods rich in calories are included in the diet. When compiling a diet, the units of grain consumed are taken into account.

In type 2 diabetes, the main role of diet is weight loss. In this case, the menu is calculated according to the calorie content of the products. The patient's diet is stricter. They are not allowed to eat sugar, fatty foods, and foods that raise cholesterol.

Bread unit

The concept of "bread unit" (XE) was introduced to take into account the quantitative composition of carbohydrates. For 1 XE, 25 g of bread or 12 g of sugar (carbohydrates) apply. Diabetics need a bread unit chart to calculate the amount of insulin administered.

1 XE requires 2-4 units. Insulin. The individual need for additional insulin administration after XE is determined on the basis of a self-monitoring diary, which is to be kept by the patient.

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

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

What is the Glycemic Index of Food?

The glycemic index (GI) is an indicator that shows how much blood sugar can rise when taking a certain product compared to taking glucose.

High GI foods (70 or more):

• Honey,
• Glucose;
• Sugar;
• Mashed potatoes;
• sweet lemonade;
• Sweets - corn sticks, puffed rice.

Average GI (56-69):

• Melon;
• Banana;
• Oatmeal;
• Black bread.

The lowest GI has:

• Dairy products;
• Milk;
• Fruit;
• Peas, beans, lentils and other legumes.

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

Only medium and low GI foods are allowed in diabetes mellitus.

List of permitted and prohibited products

The principles of a diet for diabetics with different clinical pictures differ. However, there are dishes that are not recommended by endocrinologists.

The list of prohibited foods includes:

• Fried potatoes, french fries, chips;
• sweet fruits - grapes;
• Fatty Meat;
• smoked meat;
• Canned food in oil;
• Pies;
• sweet cottage cheese, curd mass;
• sweet yogurts;
• Margarine;
• White bread and white flour biscuits;
• Juices from the store;
• Sparkling water;
• Alcohol;
• Candy, chocolate;
• Jam;
• Condensed milk;
• Fast food.

Patients need to fall in love with these foods and drinks:

• Mineral water;
• Rose hip compote;
• Vegetable juices;
• freshly squeezed juices from sweet and sour berries and fruits;
• unsweetened citrus fruits;
• frozen and fresh berries;
• low-fat dairy products with no sugar;
• dietary meat - chicken, turkey, veal, rabbit meat;
• Cabbage;
• Legumes;
• Mushrooms;
• Tomatoes;
• Aubergine;
• Greens;
• Asparagus;
• Broccoli;
• Milk;
• Whole grain baked goods;
• Seafood;
• Fish.

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

Rules for the composition of the menu

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

If you are obese, a nutritionist will help put together a diet taking into account the energy (calorie) content of food and the daily energy expenditure of physical activity. The calculation takes into account the sex, age and degree of obesity of the patient. It is allowed to hold fasting days (for type 2 diabetes). However, fasting is contraindicated in such patients.

When preparing the menu, the general condition of the diabetic is taken into account. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, adolescents and debilitated patients require protein intake. If the patient has kidney or liver impairment, ketoacidosis, protein intake is reduced.

Do not forget about other nutrients that are involved in metabolism: vitamins, zinc, copper, manganese. Due to the tendency of patients to develop diseases of the cardiovascular system, the salt content in dishes is reduced.

Sample menu for a week

Monday

• Breakfast: buckwheat porridge, protein bran bread with butter, tea;
• Snack: coleslaw with egg;
• Lunch: chicken soup, vegetable salad with herbs, 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, grain bread with butter, tea;
• Snack: salad made from parsley, onions and mushrooms;
• Lunch: pea soup, baked chicken with vegetables, vegetable salad, grain bread, drink;
• Afternoon snack: fermented baking milk with biscuits;
• Dinner: fish stewed with vegetables, grain bread, juice;
• Snack: yogurt.

Wednesday

• Breakfast: "Artek" porridge, egg white bran bread with butter, coffee;
• Snack: salad made from celery, apples and carrots;
• Lunch: borscht, buckwheat porridge with steamed cutlet, sauerkraut salad, protein bran bread, compote;
• Afternoon snack: cottage cheese with fruits;
• Dinner: bigos with sauerkraut and meat, protein bran bread, juice;
• Snack: baked apple.

Thursday

• Breakfast: eggs, rye bread with butter, tea;
• Snack: cottage cheese with yogurt;
• Lunch: green borscht, baked eggplant with meat, tomato salad with low-fat sour cream, rye bread, compote;
• Afternoon snack: curd cheese with tea;
• Dinner: meat stew with vegetables, rye bread, drink;
• Snack: bread with kefir.

Friday

• Breakfast: pearl barley, grain bread with butter, tea (chicory, coffee);
• Snack: fruit salad with yogurt;
• Lunch: fish soup, fish schnitzel with vegetables, pepper and cucumber salad, grain bread, citrus drink;
• Afternoon snack: bread with milk;
• Dinner: steamed cutlet with milk sauce, porridge, whole grain bread, lemonade;
• Snack: fruit.

Saturday

• Breakfast: omelette with veal, protein bran bread with cheese, tea;
• Snack: cottage cheese with berries;
• Lunch: mushroom soup, porridge with boiled (baked) meat, canned peas with onions and herbs, protein bran bread, compote;
• Afternoon snack: oat biscuits with fermented baking milk;
• Dinner: zucchini stuffed with meat, porridge, egg white bran bread, a drink;
• Snack: fermented baking milk.

Sunday

• Breakfast: brown rice with minced meat and cabbage (cabbage rolls), rye bread with butter, tea;
• Snack: bread with yogurt;
• Lunch: soup with meatballs, omelette with chicken, red cabbage salad, rye bread, drink;
• Afternoon snack: kefir with biscuits;
• Dinner: fish cakes, baked potatoes, rye bread, drink;
• Snack: biscuit with milk.

The sample menu is put together by a nutritionist. In the future, the diabetic himself will supplement the diet, taking into account the recommendations of the doctor.

Ready meals for diabetics

In order to properly eat yourself with diabetes mellitus, you need to spend a lot of time and effort. Most diabetics simply do not have enough time to put the menu together and prepare the food correctly, so I would now like to introduce you to the company Cryodieta, which makes life easier for people with diabetes.

Cryodieta is a delivery service for ready-made and tasty food not only for diabetics, but also for people who want to lose weight. The menu was prepared by competent specialists - nutritionists and doctors.

Thanks to the special "Shock Freezing" technology, all you have to do is reheat food in a microwave or multi-cooker and have a delicious meal. At the same time, all nutrients are retained during freezing.

The main advantages of "Cryodiet":

• Manufacture of products in an ecologically clean area of the Novgorod Region;
• Delivery immediately in person;
• Variety of food;
• Shock freezing (keeps food without preservatives);
• cheaper prices compared to competitors.

Examples of dishes

In large cities there is a delivery service for ready meals for diabetics. So, if you want to eat healthy and don't want to spend a lot of time on it, order a weekly menu from the official website.

Sugar substitute

So that patients do not suffer from a lack of sweets, sweeteners can be added to the dishes. They are divided into three groups:

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

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

Vegetable glycosides stimulate immunity, lower sugar levels and have a beneficial effect on the digestive and endocrine systems. Drinks that contain stevia correct sugar and fatty food cravings and help you shed extra pounds.

High blood sugar isn't a death sentence for patients if you learn to put together a diet and use healthy candy instead of sugar. Also, do not forget about the mandatory consultation with an endocrinologist.