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

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

We distinguish between insulin-dependent (type 1) and non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes.

In the first case, patients need to inject insulin preparations into 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 development of pathology, the main role in its therapy is assigned to dietary nutrition.

Features of the diabetic diet

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

Patients must not go hungry or overeat. These conditions are dangerous for their 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 steamed, baked, boiled foods;
• avoid foods that increase or restrict carbohydrates;
• balanced diet;
• replace sugar with substitutes;
• consumption of coarse fiber foods;
• compliance with the consumption regime;
• reduce salt intake;
• elimination of alcohol.

You can diversify your diet by purchasing 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 adhering to the following recommendations:

1. Eat coarse or grainy foods, such as crumbly grains instead of mashed or boiled ones.
2. Meals do not have to be hot as temperature affects glucose absorption.
3. Fiber in food 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. Glucose absorption is slowed down when consumed with protein (protein cream) or fat. However, don't forget that "slow" carbohydrates are also absorbed into the bloodstream, increasing sugar.

Dietary 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 the disease are different, there are different approaches to the diet of patients. For insulin-dependent patients, the diet is more varied. Since they suffer from this pathology most often at a young age, high-calorie foods are included in the diet. When compiling a diet, the units of grain 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 strict. Sugar, fatty foods and foods that raise cholesterol are not allowed.

Bread unit

The concept of "bread unit" (XE) was introduced to take into account the quantitative composition of carbohydrates. For 1 XE, 25g of bread or 12g of sugar (carbohydrates) are considered. A bread unit diagram is needed for diabetics to calculate shortly administered insulin.

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

At one meal, a diabetic should eat no more than 7 XE. The main carbohydrate load occurs in the first half of the day.

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

What is the glycemic index of foods?

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

High GI foods (70 or more):

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

Average GI (56-69):

• melon;
• Banana;
• oatmeal;
• black bread.

The lowest GI has:

• dairy product;
• milk;
• fruit;
• peas, beans, lentils and other legumes.

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

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

List of allowed and prohibited products

The principles of a diet for diabetics with different types of the disease differ. However, there are dishes that endocrinologists advise against eating.

The list of prohibited foods includes:

• french fries, french fries, french fries;
• sweet fruits - grapes;
• fatty meats;
• smoked meats;
• canned food in oil;
• pate;
• sweet curd, curd mass;
• sweet yogurt;
• margarine;
• white bread and white flour pastries;
• juices from the store;
• drink;
• alcohol;
• sweets, chocolate;
• marmalade;
• 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 of 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;
• tomatoes;
• aubergine;
• greens;
• asparagus;
• broccoli;
• milk;
• wholemeal baked goods;
• seafood;
• fish.

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

Rules for filling out the menu

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 dietician helps to compose a diet taking into account the energy content (calorie content) of food and the 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.

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

Do not forget about other nutrients 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, protein bran bread with butter, tea;
• snack: coleslaw with egg;
• lunch: chicken soup, herb vegetable salad, green beans with white meat cutlet, compote, rye bread for diabetics;
• afternoon snack: yogurt bread;
• dinner: steamed zrazy with fish, rye bread, vegetable salad;
• snack: fermented milk drink.

Tuesday

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

Wednesday

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

Thursday

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

Friday

• breakfast: pearl barley porridge, wheat bread with butter, tea (chicory, coffee);
• snack: fruit salad with yogurt;
• lunch: fish soup, fish cutlet with vegetables, pepper and cucumber salad, cereal bread, citrus drink;
• afternoon snack: bread with milk;
• dinner: steamed cutlet with milk sauce, porridge, cereal bread, lemonade;
• snack: fruit.

on Saturday

• breakfast: veal omelette, bran protein bread with cheese, tea;
• snack: ricotta with berries;
• lunch: mushroom soup, porridge with boiled meat (baked), canned peas with onions and herbs, bran protein bread, compote;
• afternoon snack: oatmeal cookies with fermented cooked milk;
• dinner: zucchini stuffed with meat, porridge, bran protein bread, a drink;
• snack: fermented cooked milk.

Sunday

• breakfast: brown rice with minced meat and cabbage (cabbage rolls), rye bread with butter, tea;
• snack: yogurt bread;
• 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: milk biscuit.

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

Ready meals for diabetics

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

Cryodieta is a home delivery service of ready and tasty foods not only for diabetics, but also for those 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, you just have to heat the food in a microwave or multicooker and have 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;
• delivery without delay in person;
• variety of food;
• shock freezing (keeps food without preservatives);
• cheaper prices than competitors.

Examples of dishes

A diabetic ready food delivery service operates in big cities, so if you want to eat healthy diet foods and don't spend a lot of time on it, order 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, monelin.
3. Synthetic - aspartame, sodium cyclamate.

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

Plant glycosides stimulate immunity, reduce sugar levels and have a beneficial effect on the digestive and endocrine systems. Drinks containing 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 they learn to diet and use healthy sweets instead of sugar. Also, do not forget about the mandatory consultation with an endocrinologist.