What should diabetics pay attention to in their diet?

Written by Lin Xiang Dong
Endocrinology
Updated on September 03, 2024
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There is a general principle for the diet of diabetes, which is to pay attention to controlling the total daily caloric intake. The second principle is to have a balanced diet, and to be more specific, there are several points: The first one is to eat at fixed times and fixed amounts. Fixed times means having three meals a day at regular intervals, eating on schedule and paying attention not to have extra meals. Generally, the majority of diabetic patients should not eat less in more meals. Fixed amounts mean that the portion size of each meal should be roughly the same every day, not less today and more tomorrow. The third principle is to try to eat drier foods and avoid liquid foods, as liquid foods are easy to digest and absorb, causing blood sugar to rise quickly after meals. Therefore, these are some of the points that need attention in the diet for diabetes.

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Type 2 diabetes daily diet

Type II diabetes requires careful daily dietary considerations. First, meals should be regular and moderate in portion; overeating is to be avoided. Second, ideally consume only three meals a day and avoid late-night snacks, which is a habit that many people have but is inadvisable. Third, the amount of carbohydrates per meal should be controlled; about 100 grams of staple food per meal is sufficient for those who perform moderate physical labor and do not engage in heavy physical activities. Fourth, sweet foods like pastries and cakes, which are high in sugar, should be completely avoided. Fifth, foods like porridge and glutinous rice, which have a high glycemic index, are not recommended. Lastly, very sweet fruits such as lychees, longans, durians, grapes, and bananas are too sugary and not suitable for consumption.

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Can people with diabetes eat watermelon?

People with diabetes should avoid watermelon as it contains a high amount of sugar, which might exacerbate their condition and lead to complications, adversely affecting their health. Many cases of diabetes are associated with poor dietary habits, such as frequently consuming high-sugar and fried foods, which can lead to symptoms like excessive eating, drinking, urination, and weight loss. For those with mild symptoms, dietary therapy can help alleviate symptoms by adopting a low-salt and low-fat diet, coupled with aerobic exercises to aid recovery. If treatment results are not satisfactory, it may be necessary to take hypoglycemic drugs under a doctor's guidance. It is also important to develop a habit of regularly monitoring blood sugar levels to keep them within a normal range. During stable periods of the condition, choosing fruits with lower sugar content, such as figs, apples, or grapefruit, is advisable.

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Does type 2 diabetes have a genetic component?

Diabetes has a high prevalence worldwide, especially type 2 diabetes, which accounts for over 90% of all cases. The pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes is very complex, including genetic susceptibility, as well as environmental factors, insulin resistance, and defects in the function of pancreatic beta cells. Thus, environmental factors are one of the influencing factors in the incidence of type 2 diabetes. There is evidence showing a familial clustering tendency among patients, but genetic factors are not the sole cause of type 2 diabetes; environmental factors also play a role. With changes in diet and lifestyle in recent years, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has noticeably increased. Even with similar genetic backgrounds, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes varies among populations living in different areas. Therefore, diabetes can be considered a complex disease, where individuals with a genetic predisposition to diabetes, under the influence of adverse environmental conditions, can also develop elevated blood sugar levels and consequently diabetes.

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How to reduce sugar in a diabetic diet?

Dietary control is the most important method of treatment for diabetes. If dietary control is improper, all hypoglycemic drugs, including insulin, will not be very effective, and the focus of dietary management in diabetes is to control the intake of carbohydrates. Our Chinese diet is primarily based on carbohydrates like rice. Mainly, we control the amount of rice consumed, with each meal (lunch and dinner) consisting of about 100 to 200 grams of rice. This is complemented by plenty of vegetables and a certain amount of lean meat to enhance satiety. By controlling the intake of carbohydrates in our daily lives, blood sugar levels can drop significantly.

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Gestational diabetes range

Gestational diabetes refers to abnormal blood sugar levels occurring during pregnancy. This term is used if the diagnosis is made during pregnancy, and does not include patients who were already diabetic before pregnancy, who are referred to as having diabetes concurrent with pregnancy. The criteria for diagnosing gestational diabetes are based on the results of the OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) conducted between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. According to the OGTT results, a fasting blood sugar level ≥ 5.1 mmol/L, a one-hour blood sugar level ≥ 10.0 mmol/L, or a two-hour blood sugar level ≥8.5 mmol/L, meeting any one of these criteria confirms a diagnosis of gestational diabetes.