What is type 2 diabetes? What are the causes of type 2 diabetes? How does sugar contribute to the risk of type 2 diabetes? What are the complications associated with type 2 diabetes? What are the current sugar intake recommendations and ways to prevent type 2 diabetes?

Understanding Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar to be too high. There are two forms of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 2 diabetes can occur either as a result of insulin receptors becoming desensitised and no longer responding to insulin, or due to the beta cells of the pancreas no longer producing insulin. Often, it is a combination of these two factors that leads to this condition.

Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common type, with 90% of all adults with diabetes having this form. Diabetes is an increasing health problem in the UK, with 3.2 million people diagnosed and an estimated 850,000 undiagnosed. It is predicted that by 2025, 5 million people will have been diagnosed in the UK.

Causes of Type 2 Diabetes

There is a complex combination of genetic and environmental risk factors that play a part in the development of type 2 diabetes. Ethnicity also plays a major role, with people of South Asian descent being six times more likely to contract the disease. Obesity is the most potent risk factor, accounting for 80-85% of the total risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Given that almost 2 in 3 people in the UK are obese or overweight, their chances of developing type 2 diabetes at some point are high unless they take evasive action.

The Role of Sugar in Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes occurs as a result of a lack of insulin production or an increased resistance to insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows for the regulation of the uptake of glucose. A high-sugar diet has been linked with an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes due to the links between high sugar intake and obesity. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has conducted a meta-analysis that suggests there is a relationship between sugars-sweetened beverages and the incidence of type 2 diabetes.

Complications of Type 2 Diabetes

There are several complications associated with type 2 diabetes, including kidney disease, eye disease, amputation, depression, neuropathy, sexual dysfunction, complications in pregnancy, and dementia.

Current Sugar Intake Recommendations and Prevention

The current recommendation for sugar intake is that it does not exceed 10% of daily energy intake. However, the recent review published by the SACN has highlighted the need for this percentage to be further reduced to 5% (30g of sugars). The recommendation for children is 24g/day for children aged 5-11 and 19g/day for children aged 4-6.

To prevent type 2 diabetes, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet, which includes not exceeding the maximum amount of calories per day, reducing sugar intake to a maximum of 6 teaspoons per day (25g), reducing the consumption of sugars-sweetened beverages, exercising for half an hour, 5 times a week, and maintaining a healthy body weight and waist-to-hip ratio.

Key Takeaways

• Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 90% of adults with the condition.
• Obesity is the most potent risk factor for type 2 diabetes, accounting for 80-85% of the total risk.
• A high-sugar diet, particularly sugars-sweetened beverages, has been linked to an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes.
• Type 2 diabetes can lead to a range of serious complications, including kidney disease, blindness, and dementia.
• The current recommendation for sugar intake is to not exceed 10% of daily energy intake, with a further reduction to 5% (30g of sugars) recommended.
• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet, including reducing sugar intake and exercising regularly, can help prevent type 2 diabetes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding the risks and recommendations related to sugars and type 2 diabetes is crucial for maintaining good health and preventing this condition. By reducing sugar intake, maintaining a healthy weight, and adopting a lifestyle that promotes physical activity, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes and its associated complications.

Sugars and type 2 diabetes

What is type 2 diabetes?

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar to be too high. There are two forms of diabetes: type 1 and type 2 [1]. Insulin is a hormone that is key in regulating blood glucose levels. Type 2 diabetes can occur either as a result of insulin receptors becoming desensitised and as a result no longer responding to insulin; or, due to the beta cells of the pancreas no longer producing insulin. Often it is a combination of these two factors that leads to this condition known as type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common type – of all the adults who have diabetes, 90% of them have type 2. Diabetes is an increasing health problem in the UK with 3.2million people diagnosed with diabetes and a further 850,000 estimated to be undiagnosed [1]. Diabetes is a growing health burden and it is estimated that by 2025, 5 million people will have been diagnosed in the UK [2]. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the UK and the disease’s complications cause more than 100 amputations to take place each week. Each year, 24 000 people die early from diabetes-associated complications [3]. Its total cost is estimated at £13.8billion each year [4]. It is predicted that the annual NHS cost of the direct treatment of diabetes in the UK will increase to £16.9 billion over the next 25 years, which is 17 per cent of the NHS budget [5], believed to potentially bankrupt the NHS

What are the causes of Type 2 diabetes?

There is a complex combination of genetic and environmental risk factors that play a part in the development of diabetes – it tends to cluster in families, but there is also a strong link to environmental risk factors. Ethnicity also plays a major role in its development, with people of South Asian descent being six times more likely to contract the disease [1].

Obesity is the most potent risk factor, accounting for 80-85% of the total risk of developing type 2 diabetes [5]. Given that almost 2 in 3 people in the UK are obese or overweight; their chances of developing Type 2 diabetes at some point are high unless they take evasive action[6].
Other risk groups include [1]:

• People over the age of 40
• People with cardiovascular disease
• Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• People who are taking medication for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder

How does sugar contribute to the risk of Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes occurs as a result of a lack of insulin production or an increased resistance to insulin [1]. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows for the regulation of the uptake of glucose. It is released in response to increased glucose levels in the blood and allows for individual cells to take up glucose from the blood to metabolise it.

A high-sugar diet has been linked with an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes due to the links between high sugar intake and obesity. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) also conducted a meta-analysis, which includes nine cohort studies in 11 publications that suggest that there is a relationship between sugars-sweetened beverages and the incidence of type 2 diabetes [7]. The link between sugar consumption and diabetes is both direct and indirect – with sugars-sweetened beverages being directly linked to the incidence of type 2 diabetes, and equally sugar consumption leading to obesity, one of the main risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

Complications associated with type 2 diabetes:

There are several complications associated with type 2 diabetes. The most common are [5]:

• Kidney disease
• Eye disease including blindness
• Amputation
• Depression
• Neuropathy
• Sexual dysfunction
• Complications in pregnancy
• Dementia

Current sugar intake and advice on how to prevent type 2 diabetes:

The current recommendation for sugar intake is that it does not exceed 10% of daily energy intake. The recent review published by the SACN has highlighted the need for this percentage to be further reduced to 5% (30g of sugars). The recommendation for children is 24g/day for children aged 5-11 and 19g/day for children aged 4-6. At present, we consume a much higher proportion of sugar each day, with percentage sugar consumption between 1.5 to 3 year olds at 11.9%; 4 to 10 year olds at 14.7% and 11 to 18 year olds at 15.6% [8].

It is also important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet by [9]:

• Not exceeding the maximum amount of calories per day – 2,000 calories per day for women and 2,500 calories per day for men.
• Reducing sugar intake to a maximum of 6 teaspoons per day (25g).
• Reducing the consumption of sugars-sweetened beverages.
• Exercise for half an hour, 5 times a week (moderate intensity exercise).
• Maintaining body weight at a healthy BMI (between 18.5kg/m2 and 24.9kg/m2).
• Maintaining a healthy waist-to-hip ratio, as it is a good indicator of abdominal fat and thus diabetes.

References:
[1] NHS Choices. 2014. “Diabetes.” URL: <http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetes/pages/diabetes.aspx>. [Accessed 27th January 2015].

[2] Diabetes UK. 2014. “Diabetes Prevalence 2013,” URL: <http://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/What-we-say/Statistics/Diabetes-prevalence-2013/>. [Accessed 27th January 2015].

[3] Diabetes UK. 2014. “The Cost of Diabetes Report”. URL: <http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Documents/Diabetes%20UK%20Cost%20of%20Diabetes%20Report.pdf>. [Accessed 27th January 2015].

[4] Kanavos, van den Aardweg and Schurer. 2012. “Diabetes expenditure, burden of disease and management in 5 EU countries,” LSE.

[5] Diabetes UK. 2014. “Diabetes Facts and Stats,” URL: <http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Documents/About%20Us/Statistics/Diabetes-key-stats-guidelines-April2014.pdf>. [Accessed 27th January 2015].

[6] Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC). 2014. “Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet.” URL: <http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB13648/Obes-phys-acti-diet-eng-2014-rep.pdf>. [Accessed 27th January 2015].

[7] Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. 2014. “Draft Carbohydrates and Health Report” pp.89-90 & 95-96.

[8] Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC). 2014. “Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet.” URL: <http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB13648/Obes-phys-acti-diet-eng-2014-rep.pdf>. [Accessed 27th January 2015].

[9] Mayo Clinic Staff. 2014. “Obesity” URL: <http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obesity/basics/treatment/con-20014834>. [Accessed 27th January 2015].

[10] Key statistics on health inequalities: Summary paper. 2007. The Scottish Government. URL: <http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/09160103/3>. [Accessed 27th January 2015].  

How Much Sugar Can a Person With Diabetes Have?

If you have diabetes, you may have been told to watch your sugar intake or even eliminate sugar altogether. But does that truly mean you can never ever eat any sugar? Or is there a way for your to enjoy a sweet treat every now and then?

Sugar Intake Levels

Generally speaking, a safe level of sugar intake can vary significantly from one person to the next, especially if you have diabetes. The larger problem is that, as Americans, we consume far too much sugar as it is and don’t seem to know where to draw the line, whether we have diabetes or not.

A national survey released in 2016 showed that American adults consumed no less than 77 grams of added sugar per day, while children consumed a startling 82 grams.

That’s far in excess of the amounts recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA): 36 grams (9 teaspoons) for men, 24 grams (6 teaspoons) for women, and less than 24 grams (6 teaspoons) for children ages 2 to 18.

Unfortunately, these statistics reflect the habits of the general U. S. population, not people with diabetes. If you have diabetes, your daily intake may need to fall beneath the AHA’s recommendations.

Putting this into context, 4 grams of sugar equals 1 teaspoon. Based on your doctor’s recommendations, you may quickly reach your maximum intake with just a breakfast pastry and a couple of cups of sweetened coffee.

Identifying Hidden Sugar

As consumers, we don’t often realize how much sugar is hidden in packaged foods and drinks. Even if we religiously read food labels, we may not be aware that certain ingredients are, in fact, sugar by another name. These include honey, molasses, fructose, sucrose, maltose, maple syrup, agave nectar, rice syrup, and high-fructose corn syrup.

While different types of sugar can have a lesser or greater impact on your blood sugar, don’t get hung up on the idea that “natural sugars” are inherently better for you or that you can consume more food containing natural sugars than you would food containing refined sugar. Both natural and processed sugars are broken down into glucose and fructose.

Sugars are mostly fructose, which can only be metabolized by the liver (compared to glucose which can be used for energy into every cell of the body) as fat (triglycerides), increasing even more the insulin resistance and stimulating more insulin production. This effects long term can cause fatty liver and other complications.

How to Make Dark Chocolate Avocado “Pudding”

Common Hidden Sources of Added Sugars

While we tend to think of hidden sugars in terms of cookies, sodas, jams, and sweetened breakfast cereals, there are other “healthy” foods that have almost as much, if not more, sugar. Examples include:

• Granola bars: 7 to 12 grams per 7-gram bar
• Protein bars: 23 to 30 grams per 80-gram bar
• Sweetened apple juice: 39 grams per 12 ounces
• Flavored yogurt: 26 grams per 6 ounces
• Russian salad dressing: 3 grams per tablespoon
• Jarred spaghetti sauce: 11 grams per half-cup
• Peanut butter: 5 grams per tablespoon
• Vanilla almond milk: 14 grams per cup

Fortunately, all of these foods have sugar-free versions that allow you to indulge without worry. But don’t confuse “low-fat” with “low-sugar” or “no-sugar-added.” Many low-fat foods and natural ingredients are still brimming with sugar.

Illustration by JR Bee, Verywell

Choosing Better Carbohydrates

Your blood glucose level is affected both by complex carbohydrates (starches) and simple carbohydrates (sugar). There are several ways to work sugar into your diet without going overboard.

First, track your daily carb intake, and choose foods lower on the glycemic (GI) index. The GI index measures the impact that different foods have on your blood sugar. Also a more simple direction is to chose carbs with single digit sugars and more than 3 grams of fiber (when looking at the nutritional label). The higher the fiber content the less the carb absorption.

The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes consume carbohydrates derived primarily from fresh vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Fresh fruits can also be consumed, but should be limited due to their sugar content.

You can also look for carbs with single-digit sugars and more than 3 grams of fiber per serving (look at the nutritional label to find these numbers). The higher the fiber content of the food you consume, the fewer carbs you will absorb with each meal or snack.

If you’re hankering for something sweet, you might also try swapping it with another carbohydrate from the same meal. For example, if you want to enjoy a small slice of cake after dinner, cut out a portion of starch, such as a serving of pasta, rice, or potatoes, from your meal beforehand.

Be careful, though, to keep the carb counts equivalent. Swapping a slice of whole-wheat bread for a huge cinnamon roll isn’t going to work.

Fruits such as berries are also an excellent option if you have a sweet tooth. Just be certain to eat the whole fruit rather than drinking a big glass of juice or a smoothie. Even if the juice is unsweetened, the amount of fructose contained in a glass of juice or fruit-based smoothie can have the same glycemic impact as a can of soda.

Calculating Your Daily Allowance

If you don’t have diabetes, your daily intake of sugar should represent no more than 10% of your total calories, according to the AHA. For a 2,000-calorie diet, that would translate to 50 grams of total sugar from all sources per day. It’s worth noting that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an even lower threshold for sugar of no more than 5% of total calories.

If you have diabetes, it’s important to work with your doctor to figure out what’s right for you. Rather than determining the amount you can eat per day, ask what percentage of your total daily calories sugar should represent. This allows you to adjust your intake if you are obese and need to reduce calories, or are underweight and need to increase calories.

How many grams of sugar can you eat per day?

The average person in the United States consumes around 17 teaspoons, or 71.14 grams, of added sugar per day, which far exceeds recommended limits.

A gram (g) of sugar contains about 4 calories, which means that many people consume almost 270 calories a day from added sugar alone.

People sometimes describe calories from sugar as “empty calories” because they do not provide any nutrients.

Eating too much sugar can increase a person’s risk of many health problems, including weight gain, obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, and tooth decay.

In this article, we look at the recommended sugar limits for different types of people and provide information on how to reduce the intake of sugar.

Discretionary calories are those that are left over once a person has met their daily nutritional needs.

A person who has consumed calories from high-nutrient foods throughout the day can use up this extra calorie allowance on treats, such as sugary or fatty foods.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommend that sugary foods comprise no more than half of a person’s daily discretionary calorie allowance.

This allowance differs for men, women, and children.

Men

According to AHA guidelines, most men should consume no more than 150 discretionary calories of sugar per day. This is equivalent to 38 g or 9 teaspoons (tsp) of sugar.

Women

Women should use no more than 100 discretionary calories on sugar per day. This is around 25 g or 6 tsp of sugar.

Children

Children between the ages of 2 and 18 should consume no more than 25 g, or 6 tsp, of added sugar daily.

People with diabetes

Diabetes makes it difficult for the body to use glucose effectively. Since the body converts both naturally occurring and added sugars into glucose, people with diabetes must monitor their overall sugar intake.

But some foods affect blood glucose levels more than others, depending on their glycemic index (GI). Foods with a higher GI raise blood glucose more than foods with a lower GI.

A person with diabetes should regularly check their blood glucose level to ensure that it is within a safe range. This range will vary slightly from person to person.

Avoiding added sugars and focusing on consuming the right amounts of fiber and nutrient-dense carbohydrates from whole foods can help stabilize blood sugar levels.

Share on PinterestHoney and maple syrup are examples of natural sugars manufacturers add to foods.

Certain whole foods contain naturally occurring sugars.

For example, fruits and some vegetables contain the sugar fructose, and milk contains a sugar called lactose. These foods also contain nutrients and may be sources of dietary fiber.

Added sugars are sugars or caloric sweeteners that manufacturers put in foods or drinks.

Added sugars can be natural or chemically manufactured. A type of sugar can be “natural” (i.e. unprocessed) without being “naturally occurring.”

Examples of natural sugars that manufacturers add to provide sweetness include honey, maple syrup, and coconut sugar.

Even fructose and lactose qualify as added sugars in many processed foods.

Examples of added sugars to look for on food labels include:

• refined white sugar
• brown sugar
• raw sugar
• invert sugar
• malt sugar
• coconut sugar
• molasses
• syrup
• maple syrup
• corn syrup
• high-fructose corn syrup
• corn sweetener
• honey
• fruit juice concentrates
• sugar molecules ending in “ose,” such as fructose, glucose, dextrose, lactose, maltose, and sucrose

People can reduce their intake of added sugar by:

Avoiding liquid sugar

Liquid sugar is in soft drinks and juices. The body digests it more quickly than the sugar in foods, and as a result, liquid sugar causes a greater spike in blood glucose levels.

If a person drinks sugary liquids on a regular basis, the repeated spikes in blood glucose can overload the pancreas and liver, causing health problems.

Sodas tend to contain the highest amounts of liquid sugar. A 12-ounce can of soda contains about 8 tsp of sugar, or 130 empty calories.

The following drinks may also contain liquid sugar:

• fruit juices and smoothies
• high-energy drinks or sports drinks
• chocolate or flavored milk

Avoiding packaged foods

Research suggests that about 75 percent of packaged foods in supermarkets contain added sweeteners.

Examples of packaged foods that may contain added sugar include:

• candies and chocolate
• desserts
• breakfast bars
• breakfast cereals
• yogurt
• savory snacks
• sauces and salad dressings
• milk and soy beverages
• canned, frozen, and dried fruit

Swapping added sugars for natural alternatives

The following tips can help a person replace the added sugar in their diet with more healthful alternatives:

• Try adding mint leaves, cucumber, berries, or citrus fruit to plain or sparkling water.
• Swap sweets and desserts for fruit, but avoid canned fruit in syrup.
• Prepare homemade sauces and salad dressings.
• Replace store-bought granola and snack mixes with homemade varieties that include unsweetened dried fruits and non-frosted wholegrain cereals.
• When cooking or baking, use unsweetened applesauce or mashed bananas instead of sugar.
• Stop using sugar in tea and coffee or reduce the amount.
• Use herbs and spices instead of sauces that contain added sugar.

Trying sugar alternatives

Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) contain few or no calories.

Researchers have investigated whether replacing sugary foods and drinks with sugar-free options containing NNSs may help people consume fewer calories and maintain a healthy weight. They have reached differing conclusions.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved the following NNSs for use in food:

• acesulfame K, such as Sweet One
• advantame
• aspartame, such as NutraSweet and Equal
• neotame
• saccharin, such as Sweet’N Low
• sucralose, such as Splenda

Stevia is another type of NNS that the FDA consider to be “generally recognized as safe.” This means that experts agree that recommended amounts are safe to use.

It is best to limit the intake of NNSs and pay attention to overall calories consumed per day, as NNSs can lead to cravings and overeating.

Emerging research suggests that artificial sweeteners may have negative effects on metabolism, gut health, and cravings, but confirming these findings will require more research.

The average person in the U.S. consumes an excessive amount of added sugar, and experts have linked high sugar consumption to a range of diseases.

People can reduce their health risks by cutting down on the amount of added sugar in their diet. This may require a person to carefully check food and drink labels for different forms of sugar.

People can also gain more control over their sugar intake by preparing homemade meals and snacks using fresh, whole produce.

How many grams of sugar can you eat per day?

The average person in the United States consumes around 17 teaspoons, or 71.14 grams, of added sugar per day, which far exceeds recommended limits.

A gram (g) of sugar contains about 4 calories, which means that many people consume almost 270 calories a day from added sugar alone.

People sometimes describe calories from sugar as “empty calories” because they do not provide any nutrients.

Eating too much sugar can increase a person’s risk of many health problems, including weight gain, obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, and tooth decay.

In this article, we look at the recommended sugar limits for different types of people and provide information on how to reduce the intake of sugar.

Discretionary calories are those that are left over once a person has met their daily nutritional needs.

A person who has consumed calories from high-nutrient foods throughout the day can use up this extra calorie allowance on treats, such as sugary or fatty foods.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommend that sugary foods comprise no more than half of a person’s daily discretionary calorie allowance.

This allowance differs for men, women, and children.

Men

According to AHA guidelines, most men should consume no more than 150 discretionary calories of sugar per day. This is equivalent to 38 g or 9 teaspoons (tsp) of sugar.

Women

Women should use no more than 100 discretionary calories on sugar per day. This is around 25 g or 6 tsp of sugar.

Children

Children between the ages of 2 and 18 should consume no more than 25 g, or 6 tsp, of added sugar daily.

People with diabetes

Diabetes makes it difficult for the body to use glucose effectively. Since the body converts both naturally occurring and added sugars into glucose, people with diabetes must monitor their overall sugar intake.

But some foods affect blood glucose levels more than others, depending on their glycemic index (GI). Foods with a higher GI raise blood glucose more than foods with a lower GI.

A person with diabetes should regularly check their blood glucose level to ensure that it is within a safe range. This range will vary slightly from person to person.

Avoiding added sugars and focusing on consuming the right amounts of fiber and nutrient-dense carbohydrates from whole foods can help stabilize blood sugar levels.

Share on PinterestHoney and maple syrup are examples of natural sugars manufacturers add to foods.

Certain whole foods contain naturally occurring sugars.

For example, fruits and some vegetables contain the sugar fructose, and milk contains a sugar called lactose. These foods also contain nutrients and may be sources of dietary fiber.

Added sugars are sugars or caloric sweeteners that manufacturers put in foods or drinks.

Added sugars can be natural or chemically manufactured. A type of sugar can be “natural” (i.e. unprocessed) without being “naturally occurring.”

Examples of natural sugars that manufacturers add to provide sweetness include honey, maple syrup, and coconut sugar.

Even fructose and lactose qualify as added sugars in many processed foods.

Examples of added sugars to look for on food labels include:

• refined white sugar
• brown sugar
• raw sugar
• invert sugar
• malt sugar
• coconut sugar
• molasses
• syrup
• maple syrup
• corn syrup
• high-fructose corn syrup
• corn sweetener
• honey
• fruit juice concentrates
• sugar molecules ending in “ose,” such as fructose, glucose, dextrose, lactose, maltose, and sucrose

People can reduce their intake of added sugar by:

Avoiding liquid sugar

Liquid sugar is in soft drinks and juices. The body digests it more quickly than the sugar in foods, and as a result, liquid sugar causes a greater spike in blood glucose levels.

If a person drinks sugary liquids on a regular basis, the repeated spikes in blood glucose can overload the pancreas and liver, causing health problems.

Sodas tend to contain the highest amounts of liquid sugar. A 12-ounce can of soda contains about 8 tsp of sugar, or 130 empty calories.

The following drinks may also contain liquid sugar:

• fruit juices and smoothies
• high-energy drinks or sports drinks
• chocolate or flavored milk

Avoiding packaged foods

Research suggests that about 75 percent of packaged foods in supermarkets contain added sweeteners.

Examples of packaged foods that may contain added sugar include:

• candies and chocolate
• desserts
• breakfast bars
• breakfast cereals
• yogurt
• savory snacks
• sauces and salad dressings
• milk and soy beverages
• canned, frozen, and dried fruit

Swapping added sugars for natural alternatives

The following tips can help a person replace the added sugar in their diet with more healthful alternatives:

• Try adding mint leaves, cucumber, berries, or citrus fruit to plain or sparkling water.
• Swap sweets and desserts for fruit, but avoid canned fruit in syrup.
• Prepare homemade sauces and salad dressings.
• Replace store-bought granola and snack mixes with homemade varieties that include unsweetened dried fruits and non-frosted wholegrain cereals.
• When cooking or baking, use unsweetened applesauce or mashed bananas instead of sugar.
• Stop using sugar in tea and coffee or reduce the amount.
• Use herbs and spices instead of sauces that contain added sugar.

Trying sugar alternatives

Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) contain few or no calories.

Researchers have investigated whether replacing sugary foods and drinks with sugar-free options containing NNSs may help people consume fewer calories and maintain a healthy weight. They have reached differing conclusions.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved the following NNSs for use in food:

• acesulfame K, such as Sweet One
• advantame
• aspartame, such as NutraSweet and Equal
• neotame
• saccharin, such as Sweet’N Low
• sucralose, such as Splenda

Stevia is another type of NNS that the FDA consider to be “generally recognized as safe.” This means that experts agree that recommended amounts are safe to use.

It is best to limit the intake of NNSs and pay attention to overall calories consumed per day, as NNSs can lead to cravings and overeating.

Emerging research suggests that artificial sweeteners may have negative effects on metabolism, gut health, and cravings, but confirming these findings will require more research.

The average person in the U.S. consumes an excessive amount of added sugar, and experts have linked high sugar consumption to a range of diseases.

People can reduce their health risks by cutting down on the amount of added sugar in their diet. This may require a person to carefully check food and drink labels for different forms of sugar.

People can also gain more control over their sugar intake by preparing homemade meals and snacks using fresh, whole produce.

Carb Counting | Eat Well with Diabetes

Counting carbohydrates, or carbs—keeping track of the carbs in all your meals, snacks, and drinks—can help you match your activity level and medicines to the food you eat. Many people with diabetes count carbs to make managing blood sugar easier, which can also help them:

• Stay healthy longer.
• Feel better and improve their quality of life.
• Prevent or delay diabetes complications such as kidney disease, eye disease, heart disease, and stroke.

If you take mealtime insulin, you’ll count carbs to match your insulin dose to the amount of carbs in your foods and drinks. You may also take additional insulin if your blood sugar is higher than your target when eating.

Salad dressing, yogurt, bread, spaghetti sauce. Sugars are added to many foods during processing, and added sugars mean added carbs. To spot them, check the ingredients list for words ending in “ose” (such as fructose or maltose) and any name that includes “syrup” or “juice.”

What are the different types of carbs?

There are 3 types of carbs:

1. Sugars, such as the natural sugar in fruit and milk or the added sugar in soda and many other packaged foods.
2. Starches, including wheat, oats, and other grains; starchy vegetables such as corn and potatoes; and dried beans, lentils, and peas.
3. Fiber, the part of plant foods that isn’t digested but helps you stay healthy.

Sugars and starches raise your blood sugar, but fiber doesn’t.

How are carbs measured?

Carbs are measured in grams. On packaged foods, you can find total carb grams on the Nutrition Facts label. You can also check this list or use a carb-counting app to find grams of carbs in foods and drinks.

For diabetes meal planning, 1 carb serving is about 15 grams of carbs. This isn’t always the same as what you think of as a serving of food. For example, most people would count a small baked potato as 1 serving. However, at about 30 grams of carbs, it counts as 2 carb servings.

How many carbs should I eat?

There’s no “one size fits all” answer—everyone is different because everyone’s body is different. The amount you can eat and stay in your target blood sugar range depends on your age, weight, activity level, and other factors.

On average, people with diabetes should aim to get about half of their calories from carbs. That means if you normally eat about 1,800 calories a day to maintain a healthy weight, about 800 to 900 calories can come from carbs. At 4 calories per gram, that’s 200–225 carb grams a day. Try to eat about the same amount of carbs at each meal to keep your blood sugar levels steady throughout the day (not necessary if you use an insulin pump or give yourself multiple daily injections—you’ll take a fast-acting or short-acting insulin at mealtimes to match the amount of carbs you eat).

This sample menu has about 1,800 calories and 200 grams of carbs:

Breakfast

½ cup rolled oats (28g)
1 cup low-fat milk (13g)
2/3 medium banana (20g)
¼ cup chopped walnuts (4g)
Total carbs: 65 grams

Lunch

2 slices whole wheat bread (24g)
4 oz. low-sodium turkey meat (1g)
1 slice low-fat Swiss cheese (1g)
½ large tomato (3g)
1 TBS yellow mustard (1g)
¼ cup shredded lettuce (0g)
8 baby carrots (7g)
6 oz. plain fat-free Greek yogurt (7g)
¾ cup blueberries (15g)
Total carbs: 59 grams

Dinner
6 ounces baked chicken breast (0g)
1 cup brown rice (45g)
1 cup steamed broccoli (12g)
2 TBS margarine (0g)
Total carbs: 57 grams

Snack
1 low-fat string cheese stick (1g)
2 tangerines (18g)
Total carbs: 19 grams

How can I find out more about carb counting?

Talk with your dietitian about the right amount of carbs for you, and be sure to update your meal plan if your needs change (for example, if you get more active, you may increase how many carbs you eat). Ask about tasty, healthy recipes that can help you stay on top of your carb intake—which will make it easier to manage your blood sugar levels, too.

How much sugar is too much?

As modern grocery shoppers, we try to be engaged and knowledgeable about nutrition. From salt to sugar, the movement is on to regain control of what we put on the table. But there’s a lot of confusing information to wade through. Studies show that 80% of shoppers come across conflicting nutritional data and 59% doubt the choices they’re making for their families. What consumers aren’t confused about, though, is the need for a healthy change.

American adults consume an average of 77 grams of sugar per day, more than 3 times the recommended amount for women. This adds up to around 60 pounds of added sugar annually – that’s six, 10-pound bowling balls, folks! The numbers are even worse for children. American kids consume 81 grams per day, equaling over 65 pounds of added sugar per year. Think of it this way – children are ingesting over 30 gallons of added sugars from beverages alone. That’s enough to fill a bathtub! Where’s all this added sugar coming from?

Beverages are the leading category source of added sugars (47% of all added sugars):

• soft drinks – 25%
• fruit drinks – 11%
• sport/energy drinks – 3%
• coffee/tea – 7%

And, as you might guess, snacks and sweets are the next biggest contributor of added sugars at 31%.

How does the body react to so much sugar?

So, what’s a smart shopper to do? It’s tempting to look to alternative sugars as a magical solution. Products made with honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar or turbinado sugar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, and dextrose, for example, are perceived as healthier choices. Don’t be fooled.  Your body sure isn’t! Too much sugar is too much, no matter the source.

It all comes down to how fast the sugars get absorbed. For example, your body spends more time digesting an apple because of the fiber content, so the natural sugar absorbs more slowly. On the flip side, the added sugar in soda arrives all at once in your system like a sugar bomb. All that extra sugar gets converted to calories much more quickly. Not so good for your system!

If you’re looking for no calories, your best option might be a plant-based sweetener like stevia or monk fruit. These sweeteners are “generally recognized as safe” based on published research, a conclusion which has been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

AHA Sugar Recommendation

To keep all of this in perspective, it’s helpful to remember the American Heart Association’s recommendations for sugar intake.

• Men should consume no more than 9 teaspoons (36 grams or 150 calories) of added sugar per day.
• For women, the number is lower: 6 teaspoons (25 grams or 100 calories) per day. Consider that one 12-ounce can of soda contains 8 teaspoons (32 grams) of added sugar!  There goes your whole day’s allotment in one slurp.

The good news is that the added-sugar message is breaking through, and many American adults crave a change. In fact, research suggests that 77 percent of Americans are striving for less sugar in their diets. And 7 in 10 consumers are willing to give up a favorite sugary product in favor of finding a healthier alternative. The willingness is there. For now, your best defense is education.

Food manufacturers are required to list the amount of added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label by mid 2021 or earlier depending on the size of the company.  A recent analysis found that this labeling could potentially prevent nearly 1 million cases of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes over the next two decades.  Listing the total amount of added sugars means that consumers will no longer have to search through the many different aliases for added sugars to try and determine how much added sugar a food or drink contains.

So, read those labels carefully and realize that added sugar is added sugar, no matter what sneaky alias it’s using! 

Sugar and diabetes | Eating with diabetes

You don’t need to cut out sugar from your diet if you have diabetes. And while we don’t know exactly what causes type 1 diabetes, but it isn’t linked to lifestyle, and so sugar doesn’t directly cause the condition. 

The question of whether sugar directly causes type 2 diabetes is a bit complicated.

Because diabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are too high, it’s all too easy to think eating too much sugar is the cause. But what’s the truth about sugar and how does it affect diabetes? 

In this article we’ll explain whether sugar causes diabetes, how to cut down on sugar and how to read food labels to make informed decisions about your diet. 

Where sugar is found in your diet

Sugar is found naturally in fruit, vegetables (fructose) and dairy foods (lactose). It’s also added to food and drink by food manufacturers, or by ourselves at home. These types of added sugars are called ‘free sugars’ and they are also present in pure fruit juices, smoothies, syrups and honey. The debate about sugar and health is mainly around free sugars. 

This includes:

• table sugar that we add to our hot drinks or breakfast cereal
• caster sugar, used in baking
• sugars hidden in sauces, ready meals, cakes and drinks.
• honey and syrups, like golden syrup or agave syrup 
• pure fruit juice 
• smoothies. 

Does sugar cause diabetes?

There are two main types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2 diabetes. 

We know that sugar does not cause type 1 diabetes, nor is it caused by anything else in your lifestyle. In type 1 diabetes, the insulin producing cells in your pancreas are destroyed by your immune system. 

With type 2 diabetes, the answer is a little more complex. Though we know sugar doesn’t directly cause type 2 diabetes, you are more likely to get it if you are overweight. You gain weight when you take in more calories than your body needs, and sugary foods and drinks contain a lot of calories.

So you can see if too much sugar is making you put on weight, then you are increasing your risk of getting type 2 diabetes. But type 2 diabetes is complex, and sugar is unlikely to be the only reason the condition develops.

We also know that sugar sweetened drinks, like canned soft drinks, are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and this is not necessarily linked to their effect on body weight. 

Find out your risk of type 2 diabetes.

Sugar and diabetes and your diet

We all enjoy eating sugary foods occasionally, and there’s no problem including them as a treat occasionally as part of a healthy, balanced diet. And, for some people with diabetes, sugary drinks or glucose tablets are essential to treat a hypo, when your blood glucose levels get too low.

However, we are eating too much free sugar and harming our health as a result. Being overweight can make it difficult to manage your diabetes and increase your risk of getting serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke in the future. Too much sugar is bad for your teeth too.

The maximum recommended daily amount of sugar is 30g for adults – which works out at just seven teaspoons a day. Given that a tablespoon of ketchup contains around one teaspoon of sugar, a chocolate biscuit has up to two, and a small serving of baked beans almost three, you can see how quickly the teaspoons tot up.

How to cut down on sugar

You don’t have to cut sugar out of your diet completely. Sugar is found naturally in fruit, vegetables and dairy foods, and most of us in the UK are not getting the recommended five fruit and veg a day so it’s important we don’t cut these out as they are so good for you. 

It’s better to eat whole fruit and vegetables rather than having juices or smoothies, as even the pure fruit juices contribute to free sugar intake. If you do have juice, keep to just one small glass – 150ml – a day.

It’s the free sugar that we all need to cut down on. And it’s not just the obviously sweet things like biscuits and chocolate. It’s the hidden sugar lurking in many foods, such as baked beans, pasta sauces, tomato ketchup, yogurts and ready meals. Some drinks are packed with sugar, too.

Simple changes can dramatically reduce the amount of free sugar in your diet. This could include:

• Instead of chocolate bars, sweets, cakes and biscuits, choose healthier snacks such as unsweetened yogurts, unsalted nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables. For example, try natural yogurt mixed in with chopped fruit or a small handful of nuts.
• Experiment with reducing the sugar you use in recipes – most recipes will work just as well.
• Try artificial sweetener in place of sugar.
• If you normally have sugary drinks, choose diet fizzy drinks and no added sugar squashes instead. Or go for water with natural flavourings, like mint or sliced lemon. Sugary drinks are best used as a treatment for hypos.
• Try to cook from scratch where possible. That way you can be sure of what’s in your food. Check out our tasty, easy-to-follow and simple recipes.
• Keep an eye on reduced-fat foods. Many actually contain more sugar as food manufactures add sugar to compensate for the altered taste and texture caused by the fat being removed. Look at the whole food label to be sure.

“Low-fat foods, such as yogurts, can be higher in sugar, so always check labels for ingredients.”
Margaret, 73, who has type 2 diabetes

Reading food labels

Food labels are the best way to work out how much sugar is in what you’re eating. The figures for sugar are for the total sugar in that food item, and don’t tell you how much of the sugar comes from natural sources, such as in fruit, and how much comes from free sugar. 

Some foods and drink don’t have the word ‘sugar’ in the ingredients list, but still have sugar added. Honey, sucrose, glucose, glucose syrup, dextrose, fructose, hydrolysed starch, corn and maize syrup are all free sugars. If you see any of these words on the ingredients list, you know sugar has been added.

To see whether a product is high in free sugar look at the ingredients list, which always starts with the biggest ingredient first. So if sugar or syrup is listed in the first few ingredients, the product you’re buying will contain a high proportion of sugar. 

Read more about understanding food labels.

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90,000 How much sugar can you eat per day

Someone drinks sweets with sweet soda, others are involved in sugar-free marathons, fearing sugar addiction, obesity and diabetes. The current trend of avoiding carbohydrates, advertising of commercial “sugar-free” diets, and fragmentary awareness have made sugar intimidating. Can simple carbohydrates be part of a healthy diet? Nutritionist Elena Motova answers the alarming questions of the readers of “Attic” about sugar.

Source: pixabay.com

[Q]: I replaced sugar with honey and agave syrup. I’m fine fellow? Is it more useful?

[A]: For some reason, products with complex and exotic names seem to be better than the usual ones. Sugar is awful, cane sugar is not bad, agave syrup is great, healthy . In fact, in terms of composition and properties, they are about the same thing – simple carbohydrates, which are built from one or two sugar molecules.

One molecule – monosaccharides (glucose, fructose, galactose).When these molecules combine with each other, disaccharides are obtained – sucrose, maltose, lactose. Glucose, together with fructose, form sucrose, the familiar table sugar that is obtained from sugar beets or sugar cane. It (and other simple sugars) is added to manufactured foods and beverages (soda, chocolate, candy, yogurt, baked goods, breakfast cereals, sauces, and other savory foods).

We also use sugar in the kitchen at home. When it comes to total consumption, products containing free sugars should also be taken into account: honey, all kinds of syrups, fructose in natural juices and smoothies.Dairy products, vegetables and fruits contain small amounts of simple sugars and are digested and absorbed more slowly for a number of reasons. Their consumption (unlike added and free sugars) in healthy people is not regulated – be guided by your desire and appetite.

[Q]: I’m very afraid of diabetes. If I give up sugar, will it be gone?

[A]: Unfortunately, things are not so simple. Type I diabetes is associated with autoimmune damage to cells in the pancreas that produce the hormone insulin.We do not know what triggers cell death, and therefore no effective prevention exists. Insulin is simply a messenger that helps glucose molecules get into the cell. There it is used as the main source of energy.

We get glucose not only with simple carbohydrates, but also by digesting starches of any plant food. The lack of insulin is a humanitarian disaster for the body. In type II diabetes, insulin is produced, but cells are less sensitive to insulin signals.Visceral adipose tissue, which is located in the abdominal cavity and surrounds internal organs, produces substances that prevent insulin from binding to cell receptors. Abdominal obesity (waist circumference over 80 cm in women and over 94 cm in men) is a risk factor for insulin resistance. The pancreas under conditions of resistance is not able to infinitely increase the production of insulin. Its capabilities are depleted over time, and diabetes develops.

Movement deficit also matters: during physical activity, muscles need less insulin to get glucose.For other risk factors, including age and blood relatives with diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association website.

With regard to nutrition, it is better to just take and refuse sugary soda. They contain a lot of sugar, but do not provide an adequate feeling of fullness. Two meta-analyzes have shown that consuming them in excess increases the risk of developing diabetes regardless of weight. A diet that is based primarily on processed foods that contain both sugar and added fat are also associated with an increased risk of type II diabetes.

[Q]: We eat different foods, but in the end we still get glucose. Isn’t it easier then to eat jam right away?

[A]: It is only in the cartoon that a moderately well-fed hero can eat a jar of jam for lunch. In reality, most of our energy should be obtained from foods containing complex carbohydrates. We need soluble and insoluble fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, which are found in vegetables, fruits, cereals, and legumes. In addition, the breakdown of starch into glucose molecules takes longer. The rise in blood glucose after the same food containing carbohydrates is a more individual thing than was previously thought. However, eating enough fiber will make your glycemic profile smoother.

[Q]: I try to eat all sweet foods (including fruits) in the morning. Otherwise, sugar will turn into fat and I will gain weight?

[A]: No, you needlessly worry.The energy value (caloric value) is possessed by products containing proteins, fats or carbohydrates. If, for whatever reason, we get more calories from food than we expend, the excess energy is stored as fat. The timing of food intake during the day does not matter, it is important that the energy balance is maintained. It is regulated by hormones of the gastrointestinal tract and adipose tissue, as well as the centers of hunger and satiety in the hypothalamus of the brain.

[Q]: In the afternoon of the working day, be sure to eat something sweet, otherwise it is difficult to concentrate.Is it true that our brains need sugar? Or is it forming an addiction?

[A]: The brain is powered by glucose, and directly, without the mediation of insulin. Our brain is only 2% of body weight, but it spends 20% of all incoming energy (and consumes 50-60% of all carbohydrates). Thinking, memory, learning are closely related to glucose levels and how efficiently the brain uses it. As shown in studies (one, two), a moderate increase in blood glucose (after simple carbohydrates) can improve cognitive function.This does not mean adding a couple tablespoons of sugar to your tea before brainstorming. But eating on time is essential if you want to be productive.

We are not robots, and after intense mental work, fatigue builds up. A socially acceptable way to relax and collect thoughts for smokers is a smoke break, and for non-smokers – tea with a traditional box of chocolates. And with cookies. And buns. Sweet. No, there is nothing wrong with moderate consumption of sweets, but the need to switch, rest, relax should not be replaced by food simply because it is so customary.

In my practice, there have been two cases where patients ate frightening amounts of sugar in order to be productive. In both cases, it was associated with disruption of the sleep-wake cycle and sleep deprivation. A pilot study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that increasing the duration and quality of sleep may reduce the intake of simple carbohydrates. There may be many different reasons for excess sugar consumption, but it would be incorrect to talk about “sugar addiction” in this regard.

[Q]: I signed up for a sugar-free group, but six months later I lost it and again I eat sweets. How to overcome sugar addiction?

[A]: It deeply saddens me that people who do not know about evidence-based medicine, eating disorders, who do not know anything about the physiology of the brain, make non-existent diagnoses and “treat” other people under the slogan of fighting “food addiction”. Psychiatrist and psychotherapist Maxim Sologub, who treats eating disorders, sees a connection between adhering to rigid eating patterns and self-esteem.

These numerous “as is” guidelines not only prohibit sugar. Compliance with such rules increases self-esteem, and as a result, they become instruments of emotional regulation, unfortunately, ineffective, because they lead, in turn, to even greater emotional dysregulation.

What does science think about sugar addiction? The largest study on the relationship between food intake, addiction and stress, NeuroFAST, an interdisciplinary project from a number of European research centers (from the University of Gothenburg to the University of Bologna), says: a specific substance (the only currently known exception is caffeine, which can potentially cause addiction through certain mechanisms). In this context, we specifically point out that alcoholic beverages are not considered food. Overeating is clearly different from substance use disorders, which are addictive through specific neurobiological mechanisms (like nicotine, cocaine, cannabinoids, opioids). ”

A Cambridge review does not find sufficient evidence for the existence of “sugar addiction” in humans. The biggest support for this idea comes from the brain’s reward system responding to sugar consumption.However, even in animal studies, bouts of binge eating have been linked to intermittent sugar intake (first fed and then taken away forever) rather than its neurobiological effects.

There are eating disorders, for example, binge eating, where the diagnostic criteria are the consumption of large amounts of food and loss of control over oneself during “gagging”. It is not an addiction to food, but a disease associated with using the very process of eating to cope with emotional problems.People with eating disorders need specialized help to cope with psychological situations and physiological factors that lead to overeating.

[Q]: Are there any norms for sugar consumption for healthy adults and children?

[A]: The World Health Organization recommends that added and free sugars account for less than 10% of the daily caloric intake. For a healthy person who consumes about 2,000 calories, this is 50 g of sugar or 12 teaspoons without the top.It counts not only the sugar you put in tea, but honey, syrups, added sugars in cereals and yogurt, candy, soda, fruit juice, and so on.

The problem is that added sugars can appear under several dozen names, and manufacturers are not required to separately indicate their content (the package can only contain the total amount of carbohydrates). The WHO is calling for sugar intake to be reduced to 5% of the daily calorie intake, but none of the nutritional guidelines recommend cutting sugar altogether.

The American Academy of Pediatrics generally does not recommend added sugars for children under two years old (while cottage cheese and yogurt for children under one year old, where almost two teaspoons of sugar per 100 grams of product, lie on the shelves of any store). For children over two years old, the recommended intake is up to 25 g of sugar per day. Sweet soda – no more than 240 ml per week, fruit juices and smoothies – no more than 150 ml daily.

[Q]: So you still eat or not eat sugar? Tell me plainly!

[A]: The Clinical Nutrition Guide for Diabetes states that it is important to enjoy food and any restrictions must be justified.One of the harshest public health organizations in the world, the American Heart Association, believes that added sugars, when adequately low in consumption, can be part of a healthy diet.

Food is an unconditional, basic need, and we like the sweet taste because the food that carries it contains enough energy for life. Sweets should not be used for emotional regulation, should not be rewards or rewards.But keeping sugar under lock and key (and forbidding yourself or your kids) can fuel unhealthy sugar cravings. Feeling guilty about eating one cookie will likely lead you to eat the entire packet. So find a balance – try different foods, have fun with them, make desserts (which can be fruits) as part of an adequate and balanced diet.

Read also

90,000 Diabetes mellitus. The author of the article: endocrinologist Popova Anna Vladimirovna.

02 December 2019

Family Health Magazine

Over the past few decades, the number of people on Earth who are overweight or obese has been growing rapidly. And along with this, the number of
patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. And this
quite understandable, because obesity, namely
its visceral type, is the main
a risk factor for diabetes. therefore
just as obesity is getting younger, diabetes is also getting younger in recent years. Currently, even at the age of 30-35, diabetes mellitus
Type 2 is quite common!
And the fault is that very visceral obesity. What does this mean? Obesity is called visceral when the amount of fatty tissue in the abdomen increases,
around the internal organs, while the waist circumference in men becomes more than 94 cm,
and women have more than 80 cm.This leads to a number of disorders in the body, which eventually
or later lead to one thing: an increase
the amount of sugar in the blood. And the stronger
obesity is pronounced, the faster it occurs
type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes mellitus is a disease characterized by an increase in blood sugar in
connection with a lack or incorrect, ineffective work of the hormone that lowers blood sugar – insulin. Distinguish 2
main types of diabetes mellitus: type 1 and type 2.
In the first type of diabetes, there is an absolute deficiency of the hormone insulin,
why it rises quickly and very high
blood sugar.This type occurs mainly in children, adolescents and young adults before
30 years old, and he has nothing to do with excess
body weight.
In contrast, the second type of diabetes occurs in
mostly in obese people and over 30-40
years, while there is plenty of insulin in the body, but its work to lower blood sugar is disrupted. And obesity is the root cause of these insulin dysfunctions.
Therefore, the main task of doctors in matters
prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus
is the fight against excess body weight and
obese patients.I don’t think it’ll be news to anyone
that there are 2 basic principles of losing weight: you need to eat less and move more. Indeed, eating less
the number of calories than spent per day,
the person gradually begins to lose weight. Of course, this is easy to say, but quite difficult to do. Especially when it has already been tried
a wide variety of diets, weight loss methods, the thresholds of fitness centers are trampled,
while without much effect. But in recent years, science has developed remarkable
drugs that help people lose weight, and most importantly, maintain the achieved weight.These drugs are in no way
exclude neither a hypocaloric diet nor
physical activity, without this weight loss
simply impossible! But they hold back
a person from overeating, prevent excess absorption of calories, contributing to
weight loss. And it is on these drugs that the stake has been placed recently.
many doctors, as a means of preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Naturally, all these drugs are prescribed strictly according to the doctor’s prescription and under his supervision.If, in addition to being overweight, you have become
disturb symptoms such as weakness,
dizziness, dry mouth, thirst, itching
skin, itching of the genitals, poor wound healing, then you just need it urgently
consult an endocrinologist who will prescribe a blood test for
her sugar. Fasting blood sugar
from 3.3 mmol / L to 5.5 mmol / L. If blood sugar is detected above normal
values, then a diagnosis of either diabetes mellitus or a number of pre-diabetic
states.These conditions indicate serious, but still reversible
disorders in the body, and if treatment
started on time, the patient follows all the doctor’s recommendations, and most importantly – if
normal body weight is achieved, the likelihood of diabetes mellitus
decreases many times. But the sugar itself
diabetes, unfortunately, is already incurable and has
many serious complications.
What to do if you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus? The first
turn – don’t panic! Panic, nervous
experiences, frustrations only aggravate the situation.It is necessary first of all
think about what and how you eat? In other words, you need to start following a special diet that excludes foods containing sugar, flour products,
containing easily digestible (“bad”)
carbohydrates. These include: sugar, jam,
sweets, sugar confectionery,
chocolate, ice cream, fruit juices, sweet drinks, honey, grapes, raisins, bananas,
dates, wheat flour products (buns, loaves, pies, cakes, pastries,
pancakes, pancakes), mashed potatoes, semolina
porridge, rice, kvass, beer, sweet and semi-sweet wines, liqueurs, sweet alcoholic cocktails.Due to the high calorie content (and therefore the ability
increase body weight) exclude fatty foods, such
like butter, oily
beef, pork, lamb,
offal, bacon, mayonnaise, sour cream, cream, cheese more than 30-40%
fat content, dairy products
more than 2.5% fat, fatty
sausage, fatty fish, pates, canned food
in oil, nuts, seeds.
At the same time, “good” carbohydrates (slowly
absorbable) are not completely excluded, but limited.These are cereals (everything
except semolina), black bread, pasta
products, other fruits, unsweetened dairy products up to 2.5% fat.
Can be consumed without restrictions
food: vegetables (everything except potatoes), herbs,
mushrooms, tea, coffee without sugar, mineral
water), lean meat, fish, poultry without skin,
cheese with a fat content of no more than 30-40%,
cottage cheese up to 5%.
In addition to dietary nutrition, the doctor prescribes certain drugs that
reduce blood sugar, thus preventing the development of complications of diabetes.All patients suffering from sugar
diabetes, frequent monitoring is necessary
blood sugar levels. The most ideal
option today is
using a personal blood glucose meter – an apparatus for measuring blood sugar at home. Modern blood glucose meters
accuracy is in no way inferior to laboratory
analyzes, and for the convenience and speed of analysis
they are many times superior to traditional polyclinic blood sugar measurements. In addition, blood glucose meters allow
measure blood sugar not only on an empty stomach
and not only once a day, but as much as
required and when required.Patients with type 2 diabetes
ideally should conduct research
fasting blood sugar daily, and 1 time
a week to do the so-called glycemic profile (this is a measurement of sugar in
blood in the morning on an empty stomach, then after 2 hours
after breakfast, before lunch, after 2 hours
after lunch, before dinner and after 2 hours
after dinner, as well as before bedtime). Wherein
the desired blood sugar values ​​are set by the doctor individually, depending on the specific situation and condition
specific patient.Only so frequent
blood sugar testing provides sufficient information about the degree of compensation
diabetes, that is, the effectiveness of the diet
and medicines taken
sick. And only when sugar reaches
in the blood of the norm with all these measurements, the development of complications of diabetes mellitus can be prevented.
In addition to measuring fasting blood sugar
and during the day, the measurement of glycated hemoglobin (this is hemoglobin, which has attached glucose from the blood serum) is currently used.Glycated hemoglobin (Hb A1c) shows what blood sugar the patient had
on average over the past 2-3 months. Normally he
should be below 6.5-7%. If the glycated hemoglobin exceeds this figure,
then this means that during the last
2-3 months the patient has periodical sugar
in the blood was above normal, that is, diabetes is not
compensated and treatment is ineffective.
But, unfortunately, in life, there are rarely diabetic patients who are fully compensated and whose blood sugar never rises.
above normal values.And with the flow
time sooner or later most
patients still develop complications.
First of all, type 2 diabetes mellitus
causes early onset, development
and aggravation of already existing ischemic heart disease, arterial hypertension, leading to severe vascular
disasters (strokes and heart attacks). In addition, diabetes also causes a number of specific complications in the vessels of the eyes, legs, kidneys,
in the nerve endings of the legs and arms, leading
to trophic ulcers of the skin of the feet, phlegmons
feet, amputation of the lower extremities, blindness, renal failure.All these conditions invalidate patients and often lead to sad endings. And the fault
all this – high blood sugar for a long time! And all this
can be avoided by trying to keep blood sugar within the normal range at all times.
But such a precise control requires a fairly frequent, daily measurement of the level of glycemia (blood sugar). Of course, this will require great moral and
material costs, will require enough
frequent visits to the attending physician, appointments
a certain number of special
drugs, but it’s worth it! After all if
put on one side of the scale those expenses that diabetes mellitus entails, and on
the other – those serious, terrible complications of diabetes that make life so bad
a sick person, then there is no doubt:
diabetes should be treated as early as possible.In this case, you need to try to use all possible methods and medicines so that blood sugar is
as close to normal as possible!
And of course, in the fight against such a powerful enemy as diabetes mellitus, a sick person needs an assistant – his attending physician.

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90,000 DIABETES MYTHS

1. The success of diabetes mellitus treatment depends primarily on the doctor.

The success of treatment depends on how well you learn to manage your life with diabetes. The doctor can give you recommendations on nutrition, treatment, but he cannot do something for you. In addition, the doctor cannot be with you all the time in everyday life, so 80% of everything depends on you and only 20% of the attending physician.

2. If I have no symptoms of diabetes, then I am not sick.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus does not always have pronounced clinical symptoms, which complicates the timely diagnosis, creates a deceptive impression of the ease of diabetes.Often, type 2 diabetes mellitus is detected by chance during examination for another concomitant disease, registration for a spa treatment. A person can live with diabetes for years without even knowing it.

3. If your fasting blood sugar is normal, you have no diabetes.

If there are risk factors for the development of diabetes mellitus, which we talked about above, it is necessary to study not only fasting blood sugar, but also 2 hours after eating or a glucose tolerance test, a study of glycated hemoglobin. It is not uncommon for blood sugar to go beyond the upper limit of the norm only after a food or glucose load, which makes it possible to identify disorders of carbohydrate metabolism or diabetes mellitus.

4. Diabetes mellitus type 2 is non-insulin dependent, therefore, treatment is carried out only with tablets and insulin is not prescribed.

Indeed, in type 2 diabetes mellitus, the pancreas produces its own insulin, however, as the disease progresses, insulin is produced less and less, and at a certain stage, the tablet preparations cease to work and the patient is prescribed the only effective agent – insulin.Switching to insulin in type 2 diabetics is a natural process. Insulin is prescribed to normalize glucose levels in order to prevent the development and progression of complications.

5. Insulin is addictive.

This statement is not true. The temporary appointment of insulin is necessary when joining an infectious and inflammatory disease, surgical operations to effectively lower blood glucose.During the recovery phase, insulin can usually be completely withdrawn.

6. Diabetes mellitus can develop if there is a lot of sweets.

In type 1 diabetes, the production of insulin by the pancreas stops, which leads to an absolute deficiency of insulin and has nothing to do with eating sweets.

In type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity is the main cause of the disease. And excessive consumption of sweet and starchy foods leads to an increase in body weight, which means that it can indirectly cause diabetes mellitus against the background of obesity.But sugar and sweets are no more dangerous in terms of developing type 2 diabetes than fatty foods and alcohol, which also contribute to obesity. That is, the causes of diabetes are much more complex than excessive sugar consumption.

7. If diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, hospitalization is required every year for “planned treatment”.

Diabetes mellitus is not a reason to go to the hospital. Correction of hypoglycemic therapy, transfer to insulin therapy can be quite successfully carried out by a doctor on an outpatient basis.There are indications for hospitalization – this is a long-term decompensation of metabolic processes, newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus with high blood glucose levels, the appearance of acetone in the urine, the development of acute complications, treatment of severe late complications, difficulties in the selection of hypoglycemic therapy. But all the same, it will be a short episode in your life, and then you will be left alone with your disease and you will not have an endocrinologist in your everyday life. Diabetes cannot be treated “once a year”, you need to learn how to manage it.This is a disease in which you need to change your lifestyle, and this is harder than taking pills.

Diabetes mellitus

Diabetes is a disease associated with high blood sugar (glucose) levels.

Why is blood sugar needed and where does it come from?

First, sugar enters the bloodstream from food; secondly – from the sugar reserves, which are contained in the liver. Glucose is the main source of nutrition for all cells (the smallest building blocks of the body).Inside the cell, glucose is converted into energy, which allows the cells to work, and, accordingly, the whole body (just as a car cannot drive without gasoline, so a cell cannot work without fuel, which is sugar for it). However, glucose can penetrate into the cell only with the help of insulin.

What is insulin and where is it produced?

Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas (beta cells). Beta cells register an increase in blood sugar and respond by sending a certain amount of insulin into the bloodstream, thereby lowering blood sugar levels.

What causes type 2 diabetes?

1. Obesity is the main reason for the development of type 2 diabetes (about 80% of patients with type 2 diabetes are overweight)
2. Heredity (if one parent is sick, then the likelihood of developing diabetes is about 40%, if both parents are 75%)

What happens with type 2 diabetes?

In this disease, the pancreas produces insulin, but it is either insufficient or it does not work well (in most cases, this is due to an excess of adipose tissue in the body, which interferes with the action of insulin, while the insulin content in the blood can significantly exceed the norm).As a result, a large amount of sugar accumulates in the blood and its level rises.

Who has type 2 diabetes?

Previously, it was believed that this type of diabetes mainly affects people over 40-45 years old. However, in recent years, type 2 diabetes mellitus has noticeably “younger”, which is associated with a high prevalence of obesity, incl. and in young people

How is diabetes mellitus diagnosed

The diagnosis “diabetes mellitus” is established when the blood sugar level (glycemia) on an empty stomach is more than 6.1 mmol / l (fasting glycemia means the blood glucose level determined in the morning before breakfast after preliminary fasting for 8 hours).

Also, the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus can be established after the detection of glycemia more than 11.1 mmol / l at any time of the day.

Occasionally, an oral glucose tolerance test is performed to clarify the diagnosis.

(In the morning on an empty stomach, blood is taken for sugar, after which the patient drinks 75 grams of glucose and after 2 hours the blood sugar level is re-examined). If the glycemic level is more than 11.1 mmol / L, repeated measurement is used to establish the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

What is the difference between type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus?

In the first type of diabetes, the pancreas stops producing insulin.The disease occurs at a young age (usually before the age of 40). For these patients, the only treatment is lifelong insulin

How is type 2 diabetes treated?

1. Diet
2. Exercise
3. Sugar-lowering tablets
4. Sometimes, insulin is prescribed

Why do you need to control your blood sugar?

Regular monitoring of sugar levels is the key to successful treatment and prevention of complications from diabetes !!!

It is important to know that periodic testing of blood sugar in the clinic is not sufficient for good control.It is imperative to regularly measure your blood sugar yourself.

How often should measurements be taken?

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving antidiabetic pills should take several measurements per week (at different times of the day). Once every 2 weeks, it is advisable to test blood sugar 4-6 times a day (throughout the day: before meals and 2 hours after meals).

What are blood sugar targets?

These are the sugar levels you should aim for to avoid complications:

• Fasting (before meals) 3.3-6.0 mmol / l
• 2 hours after meals up to 7.8 mmol / l

What is hypoglycemia?

This is a condition in which the sugar level drops below 3.3 mmol / L. At the same time, you may feel tremors, chills, sweating, hunger, irritability, headache, pallor, palpitations.

What to do in case of hypoglycemia?

You need to eat 4 lumps of sugar or drink 1 small packet of juice (200 ml). Do not use chocolate, sweets, confectionery, bread and fruits to relieve hypoglycemia – they slowly increase blood sugar !!!

How to eat properly with type 2 diabetes?

• Food must contain a sufficient amount of carbohydrates (about 60%), i.e.because they are the main source of nutrition for the cells of the body. Carbohydrates include: bread, potatoes, pasta, buckwheat, rice, oatmeal and other grains, as well as fruits and vegetables. It is important to understand that although these foods increase blood sugar, it happens slowly!
• Exclude fast-digesting carbohydrates (honey, jam, juices, sugary drinks, sugar, sweets), because they raise blood sugar very quickly!
• Weight loss is an integral part of diabetes care. To this end, it is necessary to limit the amount of fat in food as much as possible to 15%.Fats do not increase sugar, they lead to weight gain !!! Fatty foods include: caviar, fatty fish (salmon, salmon, carp, sturgeon, herring) and any fatty meat, canned food in oil, all sausages, sausages and small sausages, lard, cheese with a fat content of more than 40%, seeds and nuts, fatty dairy products, mayonnaise). It is important to know that both butter and all types of vegetable oil are fats and contribute to weight gain, therefore, it is necessary to limit any of its types!
• The daily diet should contain about 30% protein (low-fat fish (perch, cod, icefish), lean meat and poultry; dairy products with a fat content of less than 1.five%; cheese with a fat content <30%). Proteins do not increase blood sugar !!!!
Helpful Hints for Reducing Caloric Content
• Don’t Fry! Use other cooking methods: baking, boiling, steaming, on the grill, over an open fire
• When cooking meat, poultry, remove the skin and remove all visible fat before cooking
spices, mustard, vinegar, lemon juice) instead of oil and mayonnaise
• Start your meal with a glass of mineral water and vegetable salad, ie.about. You will be able to “trick” the stomach and the satiety process will occur faster
• Try to eat in small portions 4-6 times a day

Is it possible to drink alcoholic beverages in case of diabetes mellitus?

1. Alcohol lowers blood sugar levels and can lead to the development of hypoglycemia (lowering sugar below 3.3 mmol / l), therefore, you should always eat (bread, potatoes, cereals, pasta, fruits) before consuming it. Remember that in the case of alcohol consumption, the symptoms of hypoglycemia may be “blurred”
2.Drinking alcohol should be moderate !!! (no more than 1 glass of dry wine (or brut) or 50 g of strong alcoholic drink per evening)
3. Eliminate sugary alcoholic beverages
4. Remember that drinking alcohol (especially in large quantities) while being treated with certain drugs to reduce sugar is unsafe (e. g. metformna)

What is glucose-lowering therapy?

Antihyperglycemic therapy refers to the various drugs prescribed for diabetes mellitus to lower blood sugar levels.Which pills to prescribe to the patient is decided in each case individually by the doctor.

Physical activity

• Regular exercise is extremely beneficial for all patients with diabetes mellitus. they lower blood sugar, help reduce weight, reduce the risk of complications
• Exercise should be tailored to your age, diabetes complications and comorbidities
• Moderate exercise is recommended for most patients, such as walking instead of driving , climbing stairs instead of an elevator
• Remember to exercise regularly (daily walks for 30 minutes, swimming for 1 hour 3 times a week).
• Exercise is not recommended with blood sugar levels above 13-15 mmol / L – this may lead to an additional increase in blood sugar
• In the absence of serious complications and concomitant diseases, patients with type 2 diabetes can engage in any sports
• Necessary remember that during physical exertion, as well as within a few hours after it, sugar can decrease, therefore, in order to prevent hypoglycemia, it is necessary to refuel before and after exercise (for example, with fruits).
• If the intensity of exercise is high (jogging, aerobics, etc.), it is better to drink sugary water during exercise. Before and after exercise, be sure to check your sugar level !!!

90,000 What is type 1 diabetes?

What causes type 1 diabetes

Entering the body, food is broken down into glucose (blood sugar), which is then used by the body to regulate metabolism and obtain energy. The glucose then travels through the bloodstream to each cell.At this stage, the pancreas plays a vital role, and it is at this stage that you can tell if you have type 1 diabetes, since the amount of glucose in your bloodstream is controlled by the insulin produced by the pancreas. If the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels, doctors diagnose type 1 diabetes.

For more information, see the Type 1 Diabetes Causes page.

How to prevent type 1 diabetes

As of 2016, there is still no cure for type 1 diabetes. Despite this, diabetes is a condition that can be controlled and treated, which makes it possible for most people with diabetes to lead healthy, successful and productive lives.

Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong autoimmune disease that destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Without enough insulin to control the situation, glucose will remain in the bloodstream and levels will continue to rise.Therefore, type 1 diabetes requires regular injection of insulin or with an insulin pump. Insulin delivery, dietary changes, and regular exercise can help maintain optimal blood sugar

Type 1 diabetes control

Every day, blood sugar levels in people with diabetes change in a very different way than in other people. Typically, changes in blood sugar levels are a response to food intake or exercise. In healthy people, the changes are regulated by insulin, which is produced in the body.If insulin is not produced, the diabetic is faced with the need to control the level of insulin in the bloodstream. To keep track of what’s going on in the body, a person with diabetes needs to constantly check their blood sugar levels with a glucometer. Ideally, blood sugar should be in the range of 4-7 mmol / L (72-126 mg / dL) before meals and about 5-9 mmol / L (90-162 mg / dL) 90 minutes after meals. Checking blood glucose levels is an integral part of a diabetic patient’s daily routine. In addition, it is important to understand your body and recognize in time its signals that the blood sugar level is high or low – this will allow you to react faster to any situation.

The diabetic is at risk of hypoglycemic (low blood glucose) and hyperglycemic (high blood glucose) reactions. Below is information on how these states differ.

Hypoglycemia

This term is used to describe a condition in which there is a drop in blood sugar levels below 4 mmol / L (72 mg / dL). Some of the main reasons why hypoglycemia can occur:

• Giving too much insulin
• Skip meal
• Insufficient carbohydrate intake
• Excessive physical activity
• Unplanned physical activity
• Use of prohibited substances (e.g. ecstasy or cocaine)

For more information, see the What is Hypoglycemia page.

Hyperglycemia

This term is used to refer to a condition in which blood sugar levels rise above 7 mmol / L (126 mg / dL). Some of the main reasons hyperglycemia can occur:

• Inserting too little insulin
• Eating too many carbohydrates
• Physical activity less than planned
• Stress
• Drinking alcohol

For more information, see the What is Hyperglycemia page.

Diabetes mellitus | Association of Cardiovascular Surgeons of Russia Section “Cardiology and Imaging in Cardiac Surgery”

DIABETES SUGAR

What is diabetes mellitus?

In diabetes mellitus, blood sugar (glucose) is chronically elevated. This is due to a disruption in the work of the hormone insulin produced by the pancreas. Insulin is involved in glucose metabolism and lowers blood sugar levels.

Diabetes mellitus, like any other chronic disease, is characterized by a progressive course.Long-term elevated blood sugar levels lead to chronic illness. With diabetes mellitus, a complete cure is impossible. However, effective measures have now been developed to control blood sugar levels.

If you learn to manage your body so well that blood sugar remains at a normal level almost all the time, then diabetes will turn from a disease into a special way of life . It is a way of life, not a disease! Only with such a lifestyle can all the complications associated with diabetes be avoided.

Why does blood sugar rise?

There are two sources of increased blood sugar: carbohydrates from food and glucose from the liver. The liver is a storehouse (depot) of sugar in the body. Therefore, it is impossible to achieve a decrease in blood sugar levels only by limiting carbohydrate intake. In such conditions, the liver will simply increase the release of sugar into the blood, and the sugar level will still remain high.

If your blood sugar is higher than 7.8 mmol / l,
which is confirmed by repeated measurements
a few days later,
you have diabetes mellitus.

For diagnostics, you can also use a test with a glucose load
(glucose measurement
2 hours after taking a sugar solution),
and also a measurement of glycated hemoglobin
(HbA1c).

Insulin is a pancreatic hormone that helps glucose to “assimilate” – to penetrate into all cells of the body. In a person without diabetes mellitus, when the glucose level rises, the required amount of insulin enters the bloodstream. That is, with an increase in sugar level, the pancreas increases the production of insulin, and with a decrease, it decreases.

If there is not enough insulin in the blood, the blood sugar level after eating does not decrease and goes beyond the normal range. In diabetes mellitus, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the cells in the body lose the ability to absorb insulin.

What is the normal blood sugar level?

For people without diabetes, the fasting blood sugar (glycemia) is 3.3-5.5 mmol / L or 60-100 mg%.

After eating , the blood sugar level in a person without diabetes rises to 7.8 mmol / L (but not higher!).

The normal blood sugar range ranges from 3. 3 to 7.8 mmol / L.

While maintaining a high sugar level, the cells of the body starve, a person feels thirst, weakness, gets tired quickly, becomes unable to perform even normal work, and loses weight a lot.

Diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2

Diabetes mellitus is divided into 2 types: first (1) and second (2) type.

The first type is insulin-dependent, develops in people with insufficient insulin production. Most often, it appears at an early age: in children, adolescents, young people. But this does not mean that type 1 diabetes mellitus (insulin-dependent) occurs only in young people. With this type of diabetes, the patient is forced to constantly inject himself with insulin.

The second type – non-insulin dependent , sometimes occurs even with an excess of insulin. In this type of diabetes mellitus, insulin is poorly absorbed by the cells of the body and glucose is not absorbed. This type of diabetes mellitus appears in adulthood, often after 40 years. Its development is associated with increased body weight . In the second type of diabetes mellitus, in order to control the disease, it is necessary to change the diet, increase the intensity of physical activity and lose weight.Taking pills is not enough. If you do not change your lifestyle, the complications of diabetes are likely to develop rapidly.

How does diabetes affect organs?

By the way,

In people with diabetes who control their blood pressure
, the risk of developing myocardial infarction and stroke
, as well as
death from serous vascular causes,
is reduced by 2 times.

A constantly elevated blood sugar level leads to damage to the vessels of various organs.Distinguish between microvascular and macrovascular complications. Microvascular complications include lesions of the small vessels of the eyes and kidneys, which can lead to the development of renal failure and loss of vision. Macrovascular complications are associated with lesions of large vessels of the legs and heart. In diabetes mellitus, not only blood vessels are affected, but also nerve fibers, leading to the development of neuropathy.

Ischemic heart disease (CHD) is the most common vascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM).

The prevalence of ischemic heart disease in patients with type II diabetes is 2–4 times higher, and the risk of developing acute myocardial infarction (MI) is 6–10 times higher than in people without diabetes mellitus. Men and women aged 50 years with type II diabetes have a life expectancy of 7.5–8.2 years less than equivalent individuals without diabetes.

In the presence of the same number of traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease, mortality from cardiovascular diseases is significantly higher in patients with diabetes.Vascular damage progresses faster in patients with diabetes mellitus. The reason for the high morbidity and mortality of patients with diabetes from cardiovascular accidents is the fact that, in addition to common for all risk factors for coronary artery disease, patients with diabetes also have risk factors that are characteristic only of this disease:
– hyperglycemia (increased blood glucose levels),
– hyperinsulinemia (high levels of insulin in the blood),
– microalbuminuria (excretion of protein in the urine associated with kidney damage).

The interaction of all these factors significantly accelerates the development of atherosclerosis.

Harvard Medical School recommends:

Controlling blood sugar levels and
blood pressure, as well as
lifestyle adjustments, will help
significantly reduce the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke
.

Lifestyle changes include:
– Daily exercise
– Weight loss (if necessary)
– Quitting smoking
– Low calorie diet

– With an equal degree of increase in systolic blood pressure, mortality from cardiovascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus is 2-3 times higher than in people without diabetes.

– With a similar increase in cholesterol levels, the risk of death from cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes mellitus is 2-4 times higher than in those without diabetes.

– And with a combination of three risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and smoking), mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes is also 2-3 times higher than in people without diabetes.

How to control type 2 diabetes?

If the blood sugar level cannot be normalized only by diet and lifestyle correction, special preparations are used.Most often these are pills taken daily according to a certain scheme. In more difficult cases, therapy is supplemented with insulin preparations, which are administered subcutaneously. The selection of drugs is carried out individually under the supervision of an endocrinologist.

The effectiveness of diabetes treatment is assessed by the following indicators characterizing the state of carbohydrate metabolism:
– fasting sugar level
– sugar level 2 hours after a meal
– glycosylated hemoglobin.

Glycosylated hemoglobin ( HbA1c) shows how well blood glucose was controlled over the last 2-3 months.

Target values ​​for the control of glycemia, lipid metabolism and blood pressure in patients with diabetes

Blood sugar control	HbA1c	Fasting glycemia	Glycemia 2 hours after eating
	≤6.5%	≤5.5 mmol / L	≤7.5 mmol / L
Cholesterol control	Total cholesterol	LDL (“bad” cholesterol)	HDL (“good” cholesterol)	triglycerides
			> 1.0 mmol / L (male)> 1.3 mmol / L (female)
Blood pressure (BP) control	Systolic BP	Diastolic blood pressure
	≤130 mm. hg	≤80 mm Hg

Controlling the level of glycemia reduces the risk of developing all complications of diabetes mellitus, including damage to blood vessels, kidneys, eyes, nerve fibers.

Maintaining normal blood sugar levels is essential to prevent strokes and coronary heart disease.

When should you measure your blood sugar?

For patients with the second type of diabetes mellitus, it is important to monitor the blood sugar level 1.5-2 hours after eating, measuring it with a glucometer.It is important for you to know what happened in the body with those carbohydrates that entered the body during the next meal. If your sugar level is high, then you have not managed to establish your lifestyle, which should include a low-calorie diet and exercise. You should record the calorie intake, sugar level, and the number of pills taken.

You must have a diary with you every time you visit a doctor. With its help, you will be able to effectively discuss with your doctor the problems related to the control of diabetes mellitus.

How to eat properly if you have type 2 diabetes

The first, and most important, way to maintain normal blood sugar and cholesterol levels is a well-chosen diet. There are general dietary rules that must be followed by all people with diabetes, as well as everyone who cares about their health (see table).

Treatment should begin with a visit to a nutritionist and the development of an individual nutritional program that will help normalize carbohydrate and fat metabolism and, if necessary, reduce weight.The most competent meal planning system is the carbohydrate intake counting system. The first step in developing your personalized plan is to calculate your personal daily calorie intake, which depends on your level of physical activity. Based on this, the daily amount of carbohydrates you need is calculated.

20 healthy eating rules for diabetics (as recommended by Harvard Medical School)

Exercise is essential for people with diabetes

The American Heart Association recommends two types of exercise for diabetic patients: aerobic exercise and strength training. This combination is good for the heart too. Aerobic activity (such as walking, swimming) strengthens the heart, lungs, and muscles; allows you to control blood pressure and blood sugar levels, maintains the elasticity of the arteries. In addition, such exercises are indispensable for weight loss and keeping fit. Strength training helps your muscles respond better to insulin, a hormone that helps glucose to enter cells. One workout helps muscle cells better “feel” insulin for 12 hours or more.

Most people with diabetes do not need additional examinations before starting classes. However, if you have concomitant diseases of the heart and blood vessels, as well as

If you have had diabetes for 10 years or more, it is recommended to perform a stress test and determine your individual exercise tolerance.

People with diabetes need to be a little more careful and more attentive to themselves than others.

Observe the following precautions when playing sports :

– Start gradually. If you are just starting out in sports, it is best to start with a low intensity activity such as walking, swimming or cycling. Gradually increase your daily activity.

– Choose the right time. The best time to exercise is about an hour after meals, when blood sugar is slightly higher.

– Know when to stop. Measure your blood sugar before and after training to find out how your body is responding to exercise.

– Take care of your feet and eyes. Make sure your sports shoes are perfect for you – chronic calluses can lead to ulcers. If you are suffering from leg pain or decreased sensitivity (neuropathy), avoid exercises that can lead to bedsores or foot fractures. If you have vascular lesions in one or both eyes (diabetic retinopathy), avoid heavy lifting and other exercises that can lead to a sharp rise in blood pressure – this can provoke retinal hemorrhage. It is allowed to lift light weights – but try not to hold your breath while lifting.

– Get ready. Always have water and a light snack on hand while exercising. It is especially important to have a food rich in carbohydrates so that you can quickly raise your sugar level if it suddenly drops significantly.

– Report the hazard. Put on a special medical bracelet that will let you know that you are diabetic if something happens.

Is there diabetes prevention?

There is no prevention of type 1 diabetes mellitus (insulin-dependent). This means that you could not do or not do something to avoid diabetes.

With the second type of diabetes mellitus, prevention is possible. If one of your parents suffered from obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, then you should carefully monitor your weight and not allow you to develop obesity. In this case, diabetes may not be present.

It is extremely important to modify risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in people with type II diabetes, namely:
– smoking cessation;
– body weight control;
– control over the level of blood pressure;
– control over blood cholesterol levels;
– correction of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance;
– glycemic control.

Information is also provided on the results of the use of various groups pharmacological preparations :
• ACE inhibitors – a decrease in the frequency of cardiovascular events, regardless of the hypotensive effect
: a decrease in the frequency of death from cardiovascular events, myocardial infarction, stroke by 25%, and also a 37% reduction in cardiovascular death over a 5-year follow-up period.
• Antiplatelet agents generally reduce the incidence of vascular events in patients with type II diabetes.
• Beta-blockers in patients with type II diabetes with coronary artery disease, without a history of myocardial infarction, improve survival.
• Statins (inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A-reductase) – reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events regardless of the manifestation of coronary artery disease or LDL levels.

90,000 8 myths about diabetes. Who is not allowed to eat candy, but who can eat carbohydrates? | Proper nutrition | Health

The floor is given to our expert, Honored Doctor of Russia, Head of the Endocrinology Center of Central Clinical Hospital No. 1 and Chief Specialist of the Health Department of JSC Russian Railways, Candidate of Medical Sciences Emma Voichik .

Much has changed in diabetes science over the past 10 years. And you can live with diabetes: many of those who suffer from this disease have achieved success in sports, art, politics. And the diet of a diabetic today is quite complete. The main thing that aggravates the problem is our ignorance and inaction, fueled by many erroneous judgments about this disease.

1st myth. Diabetes is inherited – nothing can be done about it

Actually .Hereditary disease is type 1 diabetes (the number of patients with it is 5-10% of all cases of the disease). And type 2 diabetes (90–95% of all cases) can be due to many reasons, including:

Age . The first wave of the incidence of type 2 diabetes occurs after the age of 40 years, and its peak is observed in those over 65 years of age. By this time, many people develop atherosclerosis of the vessels – including those feeding the pancreas. Diabetes and atherosclerosis very often go together.Each year, 4% of newcomers are diabetics, and 16% of 65-year-olds.

Excess weight . When the body mass index is more than 25 kg / m2.

Hypertension . Obesity, hypertension, diabetes are an inseparable trinity.

Heredity . Its influence is not disputed, doctors say that type 2 diabetes is often found in the same family and is “most readily” transmitted from generation to generation or through generations when genetic characteristics are combined with external risk factors (overeating, physical inactivity . ..).

Features of pregnancy . A woman who gives birth to a large baby weighing more than 4 kg will almost certainly develop diabetes. A high fetal weight means that the expectant mother has increased sugar levels during pregnancy. Escaping from it, the pancreas produces an excess amount of insulin. And as a result, the weight of the child increases. He may well be healthy. But the mother is a potential diabetic, even if the blood test did not show it. Blood sugar from pregnant women is taken at any time, usually together with a general analysis – that is, on an empty stomach.

In an amicable way, a woman with a large fetus needs to measure her glucose level after eating …

A child born with a low weight – for example, a premature baby – is also a potential diabetic, since he was born with an incomplete pancreas that is not ready for stress.

A sedentary lifestyle is a direct way to slow down metabolic processes and obesity.

2nd myth. Patient with diabetes quickly gains weight

Actually . Quite the opposite: obesity is the cause, and diabetes is almost always a consequence. Two-thirds of fat people inevitably develop diabetes. First of all, those that have a typical “sugar figure” – with obesity in the abdomen. Fat on the outside and inside of the abdomen produces hormones that trigger the development of type 2 diabetes.

3rd myth. If you eat a lot of sweets, you will get diabetes

Actually .It is not the nature of the food that leads to diabetes, but obesity or overweight, which about 50% of people of all ages in Russia have. It doesn’t matter what means helped them achieve such results – cakes or chops. Although, all other things being equal, fats are much more dangerous.

4th myth. A diabetic is practically disabled

Actually . One should be afraid not of diabetes itself, but of its complications, the most dangerous of which are cardiovascular diseases.

Fortunately, people with diabetes today receive medications that not only provide the body with insulin, but also protect against complications.A diabetic needs to understand what the essence of the disease is and how to act in real life. For this, diabetes schools operate all over the world. According to the famous German diabetologist M. Berger, “managing diabetes is like driving on a busy highway. Everyone can master it, you just need to know the traffic rules ”.

5th myth. Diabetics should not eat sweets, bread, pasta, cereals, sweet fruits …

Actually . This statement is yesterday! 55% of our diet should be carbohydrates.Without them, sugar indicators jump, diabetes can become uncontrollable, complications and depression develop … World endocrinology, and for the last 20 years, many Russian doctors have been treating diabetes in a new way. The patient’s diet is calculated so that he receives all the nutrients (proteins, fats and, most importantly, carbohydrates in physiological proportions), the necessary blood sugar level is maintained so that there are no acute situations – a sharp decrease (hypoglycemia) or an increase in sugar (hyperglycemia).

Animal fats should be limited.Carbohydrate foods, on the other hand, should be constantly present and varied. Today for breakfast there is one porridge, tomorrow another, then pasta … Carbohydrates need to be supplied to the body as it requires – five to six times a day. Only a healthy person turns them into energy himself, and a diabetic – with the help of drugs. Another thing is that in both cases it is preferable not simple or “fast” carbohydrates (sugar and sugar-containing foods), but complex ones (cereals, bread, potatoes, pasta), in which fiber is also present.

6th myth. Buckwheat and green apples are good for diabetes

Actually . Useful, but no more than barley or red apples. In Soviet times, endocrinologists even gave out buckwheat to diabetics on coupons – as if it did not increase blood sugar. However, later it turned out that buckwheat increases blood glucose in the same way as any other porridge. As for apples and other fruits, the sugar content in them depends more on their size and degree of ripeness than on color.

7th myth. Diabetics need to switch from sugar to sweeteners

Actually . Not necessary. Sweeteners and sweeteners are harmless ballast at best, and at worst …

There is scientific evidence of their adverse effects on internal organs, and if they are prescribed for newly diagnosed diabetes, then, as it turned out, contribute to the early destruction of the few remaining beta cells of the pancreas.

8th myth.Prescribed insulin – count, sat down “on the needle”

Actually . In no case should you talk about insulin like that. And you can’t be afraid of him either. It happens that no pills can cope with the situation, the patient weakens, loses weight, but refuses insulin, and the doctor “meets halfway” – everything postpones the appointment. Insulin is a huge boon for many patients, a vital necessity, compensation for what the body cannot produce on its own.