The diabetic diet

The diabetic diet

t.Essentuki

THE DIABETIC DIET.

Abstract on English by Kuranov Alina Olegovna – a student of Essentuki

medical college group № 261.

2002г. | |

DIABETES.

Diabetes Mellitus (when the term diabetes is used alone, it always

refers to diabetes mellitus) is a condition in which the body is unable to

use sugar properly. Sugar (carbohydrate) is the substance our body uses as

its major source of energy. Once this sugar is absorbed in the blood, it is

referred to as blood sugar or blood glucose. Insulin (a hormone made in

the pancreas that regulates the blood sugar) is either missing or

deficient. As a result, the body cannot use energy nutrients

(carbohydrates, fat, protein) effectively and the cells of the body

"starve". The sugar in the blood may rise to high levels instead of being

used for energy. Blood sugar is excreted through urine, which makes extra

work for the kidneys causing frequent urination and excessive thirst.

Treatment

Diet, exercise and medication are important factors that must be

coordinated for diabetes to be kept in control. Medication is not used to

treat all cases of diabetes. Medication when used can either be in the form

of a pill (oral hypoglycemic agents) or insulin, which must be injected.

Diet, exercise and medication all affect treatment but unless the diet plan

is followed carefully no method of treatment will be effective. By eating

the right foods in the right amounts diet can actually help control the

basic problem of diabetes.

According to Control Your Diabetes Education Program for Life, a

program sponsored by the National Diabetes Education Program, people who

take control of diabetes will, in the short run, feel better, have more

energy, and prevent the following signs and symptoms of high blood sugar:

thirst, fatigue, frequent urination, weight loss, blurred vision, and slow

healing of cuts and bruises. In the long run, they decrease their chances

of developing eye disease, kidney disease, and nerve damage, and add years

to their lives.

THE DIABETIC DIET.

Purpose: The diabetic diet is designed to achieve and maintain

desirable body weight and near normal blood glucose levels, reduce

hyperglycemia, glycosuria, and associated symptoms of diabetes in order to

minimize the complications frequently associated with this disease.

Use: It is used for the person with either insulin-dependent diabetes

mellitus or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The calorie-controlled

diet may be adapted for weight reduction and weight maintenance.

The calorie level prescribed for the diabetic is based on whether the

person needs to lose or gain weight or simply maintain the present weight.

The calorie level specified is determined from the height, body build,

ideal weight and physical activity level.

General Guidelines for the Diabetic Diet.

1. Avoid concentrated sources of carbohydrates (sugars) such as table

sugar, honey, jelly, jam, molasses, syrup, corn syrup, candy, regular

soft drinks, pies, doughnuts, cookies, pastries, regular chewing gum,

and sweet pickles.

2. Avoid sweetened fruits, juices and fruit drinks. Choose fruit, which

is fresh, frozen or packed in water or its own juice. Avoid fruits

canned in heavy syrup.

3. Avoid sweetened carbonated sodas, juices and water.

4. Learn foods both high and low in sugar that are presented in the No

Concentrated Sweet Food List

5. Three meals at regular times should be consumed daily. Do not skip

meals.

6. A nutritionally adequate meal plan that limits the amount of saturated

fat, cholesterol and salt in the diet. Fat intake should be 30% or

less of caloric intake and less than 10% of daily caloric intake from

saturated fat. Dietary cholesterol should be limited to 300 mg or less

daily. 2,400 mg or less per day of sodium is recommended.

7. Daily consumption of 20-35 g of dietary fiber from a wide variety of

foods is recommended.

8. Mild to moderate weight loss (10-20 pounds. has been shown to improve

diabetes control, even if desirable body weight is not achieved.)

9. Read the label to determine the sugar content of packaged foods. In

addition to sugar, brown sugar and corn syrup, other names that are

used on ingredient labels include: sucrose, glucose, dextrose,

fructose, maltose, lactose, sorbitol, mannitol, honey, corn syrup,

corn syrup solids, high fructose corn syrup, molasses, maple syrup.

10. Monitoring of lipids, blood pressure and body weight is crucial.

11. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) and daily monitoring of blood glucose are

standard tools to measure glucose control.

. For individuals with Type 1 diabetes, self-monitoring 4 times daily or

more is recommended to maintain near-normal blood glucose levels and

gain control. Testing 4 times a day, before each meal, and at

bedtime, facilitates adjustments to insulin, meals, and exercise

program.

. For individuals with Type 2 diabetes, self-monitoring 1-2 times daily

or more is recommended to avoid hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia

symptoms.

. Newly diagnosed individuals should test blood glucose 4 times a day,

before each meal, and at bedtime, or more is recommended to maintain

near-normal blood glucose levels and gain control. Testing

facilitates adjustments to insulin, meals, and exercise program.

. After a stable pattern has been established in blood glucose levels,

individuals should test before breakfast, 3-7 times each week. Once

or twice each month you should return to testing 4 times a day (before

each meal, and at bedtime) to assure maintenance of a stable pattern.

NO CONCENTRATED SWEETS, LOW FAT DIET.

(LOW SUGAR-LOW FAT)

Purpose: The no concentrated sweets, low fat diet is designed to limit

the total amount of fat and sugar in the diet to reduce serum lipid levels

and to achieve and maintain near normal blood glucose levels. This diet is

for people who find the exchange system too confusing or restricting to

follow.

Use: It is used for the person with either non-insulin-dependent

diabetes mellitus or for people who need or want to cut down on their sugar

and fat intake. The calorie-controlled diet may be adapted for weight

reduction and weight maintenance for individuals that do not have diabetes.

It is also used for persons with elevated serum cholesterol levels or those

who are high-risk candidates for heart disease.

General Guidelines.

. Limit total fat intake to less than 30% of total daily calories.

. Reduce saturated fat intake (red meat, cheese, whole milk, butter, ice

cream, etc.)

. Eat less trans fat (stick margarine, shortening, cakes, pies, French

fries, snack chips.)

. Eat less cholesterol (limit egg yolks to more than 4 per week and

meat, fish, poultry to no more than 6 ounces a day)

. Reduce sugar intake.

. Eat more fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grain breads, and cereals.

. Maintain a healthy weight.

. Exercise at least 30 minutes on most days (brisk walking, aerobics,

biking, etc.)

. Experiment with recipes by gradually reducing the amount of sugar by

1/4th then l/3rd then 1/2.

. Use the "sweet" spices—cinnamon cloves ginger or nutmeg—to bring out

sweetness in baked goods.

. Be careful when using special diet or dietetic foods such as dietetic

cake, cookies, candy and ice cream. These foods contain some form of

sweetener and, therefore, calories.

NO CONCENTRATED SWEET FOOD LIST.

Purpose: The no concentrated sweets diet is designed to achieve and

maintain near normal blood glucose levels, and reduce associated symptoms

of diabetes in order to minimize the complications frequently associated

with this disease. This diet is for people who find the exchange system too

confusing or restricting to follow.

Use: It is used for the person with either non-insulin-dependent

diabetes mellitus or for people who need or want to cut down on their sugar

intake. It is not intended for the person with diabetes taking insulin. The

calorie-controlled diet may be adapted for weight reduction and weight

maintenance.

. Eat three meals at regular times. Do not skip meals.

. Limit total fat intake to less than 30% of total daily calories.

. Reduce saturated fat intake (red meat, cheese, whole milk, butter, ice

cream, etc.)

. Eat less trans fat (stick margarine, shortening, cakes, pies, french

fries, snack chips.)

. Eat less cholesterol (limit egg yolks to more than 4 per week and

meat, fish, poultry to no more than 6 ounces a day.)

. Reduce salt intake (canned and dried soups, fast food, frozen dinners,

pizza, processed meats and cheese.)

. Eat more fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grain breads, and cereals.

. Maintain a healthy weight. Mild to moderate weight loss (10-20 lbs.

has been shown to improve diabetes control, even if desirable body

weight is not achieved.)

. Recommend 20-35 grams/day of dietary fiber from a wide variety of

foods.

. Be careful when using special diet or dietetic foods such as dietetic

cake, cookies, candy and ice cream. These foods contain some form of

sweetener and, therefore, calories.

. Monitor blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, lipids, blood pressure and

body weight.

. Exercise at least 30 minutes on most days (brisk walking, aerobics,

biking, etc). Regular exercise improves control of blood sugar and is

an important part of any healthy lifestyle.

. Experiment with recipes by gradually reducing the amount of sugar by

1/4th then l/3rd then 1/2.

. Use the "sweet" spices—cinnamon cloves ginger or nutmeg—to bring out

sweetness in baked goods.

. Read the label to determine the sugar content of packaged foods. In

addition to sugar, brown sugar and corn syrup, other names that are

used on ingredient labels include: sucrose, glucose, dextrose,

fructose, maltose, modified food starch, natural sweeteners, lactose,

sorbitol, mannitol, honey, corn syrup, corn syrup solids, high

fructose corn syrup, molasses, maple syrup.

ABOUT THE MAJOR NUTRIENTS IN THE DIABETIC DIET.

CARBOHYDRATES are made up of simple sugars, complex carbohydrates, and

fiber. Simple carbohydrates are commonly known as sugars, sources of simple

carbohydrates include table sugar, candies and other sweets, sodas and

bakery goods. The sugar in these foods is in a form that is absorbed easily

by the body, as opposed to the slower-digesting complex carbohydrates.

Complex carbohydrates include all the complex starches and fiber, such

as those found in grains, cereals, breads and starchy vegetables like

potatoes, corn, peas and beans. Milk, fruit and vegetables also contribute

significant amounts of carbohydrate in the diet.

100% of the carbohydrates eaten are broken down into glucose. Therefore

carbohydrates elevate the blood sugar at a faster rate than either protein

or fat so only measured amounts should be consumed. Complex carbohydrates

contain many essential nutrients and are the body's most effective source

of energy.

PROTEIN provides amino acids for your body to build, maintain, and

repair cells and muscle tissue, heal wounds, and support the immune system.

It is very easy to get protein in our diet, in fact, most Americans consume

2-3 times more protein than necessary. Excess protein does not create

muscle, as many hope, but is stored as fat. Excess protein can put strain

on the liver and kidneys. The best protein sources are milk, yogurt,

cheese, lean meat, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts. Breads, cereals

and vegetables contribute small amounts of protein in the diet. About 60%

of the protein eaten are broken down into glucose.

Nutritionists recommend about 45 to 50 grams of protein a day for most

women and 50 to 60 grams a day for most men or 10 percent to 20 percent of

daily calories. Children and infants, who are growing rapidly, need more

protein, as do pregnant women.

FAT, like carbohydrates, are used by the body for fuel and are

essential for the absorption of certain vitamins. Although some fat in the

diet is necessary, too much fat can lead to heart disease, obesity and

other health problems. Fats should comprise no more than 30 % of daily

calories, or even lower.

Fats in the diet may be of animal or vegetable origin. Examples of fat

in the diet are gravy, bacon, margarine, butter, cream, salad dressings and

nuts. Meats and some milk products also contain significant amounts of fat.

About 10% of the fat eaten is broken down into glucose. The remainder is

stored as fat for future use