Healthy eating for diabetics

Many people don't know, but healthy eating for diabetics is something that requires a lot of attention!

And it was with this in mind that we created this special content, where the main theme is Diabetes and how a healthy diet can make all the difference in the quality of life of a diabetic.

What is Diabetes?

Despite being a very common disease, there are still many doubts about the disease. Diabetes is a disease characterized by high blood glucose levels in the patient.

This increase, if not properly treated and controlled, can cause damage to various organs and be harmful to health in general.

Differences between Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes?

Like so many other existing diseases, Diabetes is also divided into Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes.

Each of them has its own particularities and characteristics. Below, we will talk a little more about each of them.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is characterized by excess sugar – glucose – in the blood. 

This excess concentration gives rise to a series of complications in our body.

In the case of type 1 diabetes, the patient's immune system begins to attack the pancreas, the organ responsible for producing insulin.

This means that the treatment for this type of disease is the constant replacement of this hormone.

This type of Diabetes is very common and affects children and adolescents and, according to estimates, accounts for around 5 to 101% of all people with Diabetes.

It is also worth noting that, in cases of this type, Diabetes can be considered to have an autoimmune origin, since it is the body's own defense units that attack our organism.

In this type, the most frequent symptoms are: constant thirst, dry mouth, frequent urge to urinate and weight loss. 

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes is the most common type of disease among sufferers.

Like type 1 diabetes, this type is also characterized by chronic excess sugar in the blood, resulting in a series of effects on our body.

However, unlike type 1, in type 2 the cause of high blood sugar is due to an effect known as insulin resistance.

This resistance means that the hormone cannot act properly in our body. Therefore, to compensate, the pancreas begins to accelerate insulin production.

This acceleration causes the organ to become overloaded, until it reaches a point where it can no longer cope. And this causes blood sugar levels to skyrocket and remain high. 

This type of disease is directly related to the lifestyle habits of the sufferer, and factors such as obesity, inadequate diet and a sedentary lifestyle directly contribute to the development of the disease.

The main symptoms include: tingling in the legs and feet, constant thirst, dry mouth, frequent tiredness and wounds that take a long time to heal.

Diabetes in Brazil and in the world

To give you an idea, according to data from the International Diabetes Federation, it is estimated that the number of adults who have the disease – both type 1 and type 2 – is 537 million in 2021. 

Here in Brazil, the most recent estimates indicate that around 16.8 million Brazilians live with the disease across the country. 

This number represents approximately 7% of the entire Brazilian population.

Healthy eating for diabetics

Although there are a number of foods that should be avoided – as you will see in the next topic – following a healthy diet for diabetics is not rocket science. Quite the opposite.

Below, we list some of the foods that should be prioritized when it comes to healthy eating for diabetics.

– Whole grains, such as whole wheat flour, whole rice and pasta, oat flakes and quinoa;

– Popular legumes, such as beans, soybeans, chickpeas, lentils and peas;

– Vegetables in general are also welcome. Lettuce, tomatoes, arugula, chard, pumpkin, green beans, and onions can be eaten – give preference to fresh vegetables.

– Lean meats: white fish, chicken, lean beef, such as muscle and flank;

– Fruits in general, prioritizing fresh and whole or in pieces, such as orange, papaya, pear, pineapple, peach and tangerine;

– Milk and dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt: in this case, it is recommended to opt for skimmed versions without added sugar. 

What foods should be avoided in a healthy diet for diabetics?

As the main point of a healthy diet for diabetics is to avoid foods that are rich in sugars and carbohydrates in their composition, there are a series of foods that should be avoided.

A healthy diet for diabetics is useless when there is excessive consumption of these products.

To help you, we have listed here which ones should be avoided in this eating routine for diabetics.

– Sugar and sweets in general

– Honey and products such as fruit jelly, jams, marmalade, confectionery and pastry products;

– Sweets in general, such as chocolates, candies, sweets and chewing gum

– Drinks with a high sugar content, such as soft drinks, processed juices, chocolate drinks;

– Tubers, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava and yams.
Even though they are natural products, these foods have a very high concentration of carbohydrates. Therefore, it is recommended to consume them in small portions. 

– All types of processed meats, such as ham, turkey breast, sausage, salami, bacon, mortadella and salami;

– Alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine and spirits.

In addition to avoiding excessive consumption of the products mentioned here, it is also extremely important for diabetics to always keep an eye on product labels.

This is because sugar can also be present in the composition of a product with different names.

Among them are: glucose, glucose or corn syrup, fructose, maltose, maltodextrin or invert sugar.

Therefore, it is important to always keep an eye on the label before consuming!

Conclusion

As you can see throughout the text, the eating routine for people with Diabetes can be a little difficult.

And these dietary restrictions tend to be even more difficult for children with diabetes – since they are deprived of eating different types of food and often do not yet have the discernment to understand that this is a practice in favor of their own health.

But it is essential to always keep an eye on your diet and try to adopt healthier habits. This way, you will be able to live with greater well-being and quality of life.

ATTENTION: the tips contained in this content are for informational purposes only.
To obtain more specific information regarding your eating routine and what you can or cannot eat, it is recommended that you seek medical assistance or guidance from a specialist, such as a nutritionist.

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