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

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

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

In the first case, patients need to inject insulin preparations in injections, since the hormone in their body is produced in insufficient quantities or is completely absent.

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

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

Characteristics of the diet for diabetics.

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

Patients should not starve or overeat. These conditions are dangerous to your health. You need to eat so that the amount of carbohydrates consumed 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 food steamed, in the oven, boiled;
• avoid foods that increase carbohydrate load or limit them;
• balance diet;
• replace sugar with substitutes;
• consumption of coarse fiber foods;
• compliance with the drinking regime;
• reduce salt intake;
• alcohol removal.

You can diversify your diet by buying utensils that allow you to cook food without oil.

In order for carbohydrates to be absorbed more slowly and not cause jumps in the rise in blood sugar, it is worth following the following recommendations:

1. Eat coarse or granular foods such as crumbly cereals instead of pureed or boiled.
2. Food should not be hot as temperature affects glucose absorption.
3. Fiber in food inhibits the absorption of simple carbohydrates and helps eliminate cholesterol.
4. Simple carbohydrates are best consumed after the main meal.

The menu can include foods that contain simple carbohydrates with fiber, such as fruits and berries. Glucose absorption slows down if consumed with protein (protein cream) or fat. However, don't forget that "slow" carbohydrates are also absorbed into the bloodstream, increasing sugar.

Nutritional differences in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Since the reasons for the increase in blood sugar in the first and second types of disease are different, there are various approaches to the diet of patients. For insulin-dependent patients, nutrition is more varied. Since they most often suffer from this pathology at a young age, high-calorie foods are included in the diet. When developing a diet, the units of cereals consumed are taken into account.

In type 2 diabetes, the main task of nutrition is weight loss. In this case, the menu is calculated based on the calorie content of the products. The patient's diet is more rigid. Sugar, fatty foods, and foods that increase cholesterol are not allowed.

Bread unit

The concept of "bread unit" (XE) was introduced to account for the quantitative composition of carbohydrates. For 1 XE, this is considered to be 25g of bread or 12g of sugar (carbohydrates). A bread unit diagram is necessary for diabetics to calculate the short insulin delivered.

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

In a meal, a diabetic should not eat more than 7XE. The main carbohydrate loading 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 create tables of products taking into account their energy value.

What is the glycemic index of food?

The glycemic index (GI) is an indicator that indicates 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, puffed rice.

Average GI (56-69):

• cantaloupe;
• Plantain;
• oatmeal;
• black bread.

The lowest GI has:

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

The absorption rate depends on the doneness, the integrity of the food and the temperature.

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

List of allowed and prohibited products

The principles of a diet for diabetics with different types of diseases are different. However, there are dishes that endocrinologists do not recommend eating.

The list of prohibited foods includes:

• French fries, French fries, French fries;
• sweet fruits - grapes;
• fatty meats;
• smoked meats;
• canned food in oil;
• patés
• sweet curd, curd mass;
• sweet yogurts;
• margarine;
• white bread and white flour cakes;
• juices from the store;
• soda;
• alcohol;
• sweets, chocolate;
• jelly;
• condensed milk;
• Fast food.

Patients should fall in love with these foods and drinks:

• mineral water;
• rosehip compote;
• vegetable juices;
• freshly squeezed berry juices and sweet and sour fruits;
• unsweetened citrus fruits;
• fresh and frozen berries;
• low-fat dairy products without sugar;
• dietary meat: chicken, turkey, beef, rabbit meat;
• cabbage;
• vegetables
• mushrooms;
• Tomatoes;
• eggplant;
• vegetables;
• 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.

Menu compilation rules

When compiling a menu, it is worth considering 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, a dietitian helps to compose a diet taking into account the energy content (caloric content) of food and the daily energy expenditure during physical activity. The calculation takes into account the sex, age and degree of obesity of the patient. Fasting days are allowed (with type 2 diabetes). However, fasting is contraindicated in these patients.

During menu preparation, the general condition of the diabetic is taken into account. Pregnant and lactating women, adolescents, and debilitated patients need a protein intake. If the patient has kidney or liver failure, 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 pathologies of the cardiovascular system, the salt content in dishes is reduced.

Sample menu for a week

Monday

• breakfast: buckwheat porridge, buttered protein bran bread, tea;
• snack: cabbage salad with egg;
• lunch: chicken soup, vegetable salad with herbs, green beans with white meat cutlet, compote, rye bread for diabetics;
• snack: bread with yogurt;
• dinner: steamed zrazy with fish, rye bread, vegetable salad;
• snack: fermented milk drink.

Tuesday

• breakfast: oatmeal, buttered grain bread, tea;
• snack: parsley, onion and mushroom salad;
• lunch: pea soup, baked chicken with vegetables, vegetable salad, cereal bread, drink;
• snack: fermented baked milk with cookies;
• dinner: fish stewed with vegetables, cereal bread, juice;
• snack: yogurt.

Wednesday

• breakfast: porridge "Artek", protein bran bread with butter, coffee;
• snack: salad of celery, apples and carrots;
• lunch - borscht, buckwheat porridge with steamed cutlet, sauerkraut salad, protein bran bread, compote;
• 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 aubergine with meat, tomato salad with low-fat sour cream, rye bread, compote;
• snack: curd pudding with tea;
• dinner - meat stew with vegetables, rye bread, drink;
• snack: bread with kefir.

Friday

• breakfast: pearl barley porridge, buttered grain bread, tea (chicory, coffee);
• snack: fruit salad with yogurt;
• lunch: fish soup, fish cutlet garnished with vegetables, pepper and cucumber salad, cereal bread, citrus drink;
• snack: bread with milk;
• dinner: steamed cutlet with milk sauce, oatmeal, 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 meat (baked), canned peas with onion and herbs, protein bran bread, compote;
• snack: oatmeal cookies with fermented baked milk;
• dinner - zucchini stuffed with meat, oatmeal, protein bran bread, a drink;
• snack: fermented baked 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;
• snack: kefir with cookies;
• dinner: fish cakes, baked potatoes, rye bread, drink;
• snack: cookie with milk.

The test menu is prepared by a nutritionist. In the future, the diabetic himself supplements the diet, taking into account the doctor's recommendations.

Meals prepared for diabetics

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

Cryodieta is a tasty and prepared food delivery service 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 use of a special "shock freezing" technology, all you have to do is heat food in a microwave or multi-cooker and enjoy a tasty meal. At the same time, freezing retains all the nutrients.

The main advantages of "Cryodiet":

• production of products in an ecologically clean area of the Novgorod region;
• prompt delivery in person;
• Variety of food;
• shock freeze (keeps food preservative free);
• more affordable prices compared to the competition.

Examples of dishes

A diabetic prepared food delivery service operates in large cities, so if you want to eat healthy diet foods and not spend a lot of time on them, ask for a weekly menu on the official website.

Sugar substitutes

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

1. Carbohydrates: fructose, sorbose, xylitol, sorbitol, molasses.
2. Protein sweeteners: miraculin, monellin.
3. Synthetic: aspartame, sodium cyclamate.

Endocrinologists recommend using the natural sweetener stevia. Its leaves contain a glycoside complex 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.

Plant glycosides stimulate immunity, reduce sugar levels and have a beneficial effect on the digestive and endocrine systems. Drinks that contain stevia extract correct cravings for sugary and fatty foods and help you shed extra pounds.

High blood sugar is not a death sentence for patients if you learn to diet and use healthy sweets instead of sugar. Also, do not forget about the mandatory consultation with an endocrinologist.