Diabetes diet: a menu for a week, what you can and what you can not

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

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

In the first case, patients must inject insulin preparations because 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 pathology development, the main role in its therapy is given to dietary nutrition.

Characteristics of the diet for diabetics

In the past, the food inhibition system was the only way to limit hyperglycemia or high glucose levels. Patients' diets have now expanded significantly. Diabetics are advised to adhere to several important rules for effective blood sugar control.

Patients should not starve or overeat. These conditions are dangerous to their health. You need to eat so that the amount of carbohydrates consumed is evenly distributed throughout the day.

General nutritional requirements:

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

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 to provoke spikes in raising blood sugar, it is worth adhering to the following recommendations:

1. Eat foods that are coarse or grainy, such as crumbly cereals instead of puree or cooked.
2. Meals should not be hot, as temperature affects the absorption of glucose.
3. Fiber in food inhibits the absorption of simple carbohydrates and helps eliminate cholesterol.
4. Simple carbohydrates are best consumed after a main meal.

The menu may include foods that contain simple carbohydrates with fiber, such as fruits and berries. Glucose absorption is delayed if consumed with protein (protein cream) or fat. Remember, however, that "slow" carbohydrates are also absorbed into the bloodstream, increasing sugar.

Dietary differences in type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Because the causes of high blood sugar in the first and second types of disease are different, there are several approaches to the diet of patients. In insulin-dependent patients, the diet is more varied. As they suffer from this pathology more often at a young age, high-calorie foods are included in the diet. When compiling a diet, the consumed grain units are taken into account.

In type 2 diabetes, the main task of nutrition is weight loss. In this case, the menu is calculated according to the caloric content of the products. The patient's diet is stricter. They are not allowed 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. 1 XE is considered to be 25 g of bread or 12 g of sugar (carbohydrates). Diabetics need a chart of bread units to calculate short insulin.

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

A diabetic should eat no more than 7 XE per meal. The main carbohydrate load occurs in the first half of the day.

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

What is the glycemic index of food

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

Foods with a high GI (70 or more):

• honey,
• glucose;
• sugar;
• mashed potatoes;
• sweet soda;
• pastries - corn sticks, puffed rice.

Average GI (56-69):

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

The lowest GIs have:

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

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

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

List of permitted and prohibited products

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

The list of prohibited foods includes:

• french fries, french fries, chips;
• sweet fruits - grapes;
• fatty meats;
• smoked meats;
• canned butter;
• pate;
• sweet cottage cheese, boiled mass;
• sweet yogurts;
• margarine;
• white bread and white flour cakes;
• juices from the store;
• Carbonated drinks;
• alcohol;
• pastries, chocolate;
• sweet;
• condensed milk;
• fast food.

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

• mineral water;
• rosehip compote;
• vegetable juices;
• freshly squeezed juices from sweet and sour fruits and berries;
• unsweetened citrus fruits;
• fresh and frozen fruits;
• low-fat dairy products without sugar;
• dietary meat - chicken, turkey, beef, rabbit meat;
• cabbage;
• legumes;
• mushrooms;
• tomatoes;
• eggplant;
• green;
• asparagus;
• broccoli;
• milk;
• whole grain baked goods;
• Seafood;
• fish.

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

Rules for compiling the menu

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

In obesity, the nutritionist helps to compose a diet, taking into account the energy content (caloric content) of food and daily energy expenditure during physical activity. The calculation takes into account the patient's gender, age and degree of obesity. It is allowed to organize hungry days (with type 2 diabetes). However, fasting is contraindicated in such patients.

The general condition of the diabetic is taken into account when preparing the menu. Pregnant and lactating women, adolescents and debilitated patients need protein intake. If the patient has kidney or liver damage, 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 the dishes is reduced.

Sample menu for a week

Monday

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

Tuesday

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

Wednesday

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

Thursday

• breakfast: eggs, rye bread with butter, tea;
• snack: cottage cheese with yogurt;
• lunch: green borsch, roasted eggplant with meat, 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;
• breakfast: bread with kefir.

Friday

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

Saturday

• breakfast: omelet with beef, protein-bran bread with cheese, tea;
• breakfast: cottage cheese with berries;
• lunch: mushroom soup, oatmeal with boiled (roasted) meat, canned peas with onions and herbs, protein-bran bread, compote;
• afternoon breakfast: oatmeal cookies with fermented baked milk;
• dinner: zucchini stuffed with meat, oatmeal, protein-bran bread, drink;
• breakfast: fermented baked milk.

Sunday

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

The test menu is compiled by a nutritionist. In the future, the diabetic himself supplements the diet, following the recommendations of the doctor.

Ready meals for diabetics

To eat properly with diabetes, you need to spend a lot of time and effort. Most diabetics just don't have enough time to put together the right menu and prepare food, so now I'd like to tell you about the company Cryodieta, which helps make life easier for people with diabetes.

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

Thanks to the use of special "shock freezing" technology, you just need to heat the food in a microwave or multicooker and eat deliciously. At the same time, freezing preserves all the nutrients.

The main advantages of "Cryodiet":

• production of products in an ecologically clean region of the Novgorod region;
• delivery without delay in person;
• variety of foods;
• shock freezing (preserves food without preservatives);
• more affordable prices compared to competitors.

Examples of dishes

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

Sugar substitutes

Sweeteners can be added to dishes 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 - miraculin, monelin.
3. Synthetic - aspartame, sodium cyclamate.

Endocrinologists recommend the use of the natural sweetener stevia. Its leaves contain a complex of glycosides that is 200 times sweeter than sugar. The sweetener is useful in 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 a beneficial effect on the digestive and endocrine systems. Drinks containing stevia extract correct the craving for sweet and fatty foods and help you lose weight.

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