Personal experience. My diet for type II diabetes. Personal experience Type 2 diabetes mellitus diet symptoms


Diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 is a common non-infectious chronic disease. It affects both men and women, most often over the age of 40. The danger of type 2 diabetes is underestimated by many, and some patients, in fact, are simply not informed that they are susceptible to the disease. And those patients who are aware of their pathology often do not know what diabetes mellitus is, what it threatens, and are not aware of its danger. As a result, type 2 diabetes can become severe and lead to life-threatening conditions. Meanwhile, adequate treatment and proper nutrition for type 2 diabetes can stop the development of the disease.

Causes

When a person develops diabetes mellitus, the reasons for this fact can be varied. The second type of disease often results from:

  • improper diet;
  • lack of physical activity;
  • excess weight;
  • heredity;
  • stress;
  • self-medication with medications, for example, glucocorticosteroids.

In fact, there is often not just one prerequisite, but a whole complex of reasons.

If we consider the occurrence of the disease from the point of view of pathogenesis, then type 2 diabetes mellitus is caused by a relative lack of insulin in the blood. This is the name of the condition when the insulin protein produced by the pancreas becomes inaccessible to insulin receptors located on cell membranes. As a result, cells are deprived of the ability to absorb sugar (glucose), which leads to a lack of supply of glucose to the cells, as well as, no less dangerous, to the accumulation of glucose in the blood and its deposition in various tissues. According to this criterion, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus differs from type 1 diabetes, in which the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.

Symptoms

Signs of the disease largely depend on the stage of the disease. In the first stages, the patient may not feel any serious discomfort, with the exception of increased fatigue, dry mouth, increased thirst and appetite. This condition is usually attributed to poor diet, chronic fatigue syndrome, and stress. However, in fact, the cause is a hidden pathology. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include:

  • poor wound healing,
  • weakening of the immune system,
  • pain and swelling in the limbs,
  • headache,
  • dermatitis.

However, patients often do not correctly interpret even a set of such symptoms, and diabetes develops unchecked until it reaches intractable stages or leads to life-threatening conditions.

Diabetes mellitus type 2, treatment

In fact, there are no sufficiently effective methods to increase the uptake of glucose by cells, so the main emphasis in treatment is on reducing the concentration of sugar in the blood. In addition, efforts should be aimed at reducing the patient's excess weight, bringing it back to normal, since the abundance of adipose tissue plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes.

The main factor influencing the likelihood of developing complications in type 2 diabetes is lipid metabolism disorder. An excess amount of cholesterol different from the norm can lead to the development of angiopathy.

Treatment methods

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a disease that requires long-term and persistent therapy. In fact, all applied methods are divided into three groups:

  • taking medications,
  • diet,
  • lifestyle change.

Effective treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus involves fighting not only diabetes mellitus itself, but also concomitant diseases, such as:

  • obesity,
  • hypertension,
  • angiopathy,
  • neuropathy,
  • depression.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is treated on an outpatient basis and at home. Only patients with hyperglycemic and hyperosmolar coma, ketoacidosis, severe forms of neuropathies and angiopathy, and strokes are subject to hospitalization.

Medicines against diabetes mellitus

Essentially, all medications are divided into two main groups - those that affect insulin production and those that do not.

The main drug of the second group is metformin from the biguanide class. This drug is most often prescribed for type 2 diabetes. Without affecting pancreatic cells, it maintains blood glucose at normal levels. The drug does not threaten a critically low decrease in glucose levels. Metformin also burns fat and reduces appetite, which leads to a reduction in the patient’s excess weight. However, an overdose of the drug can be dangerous, as a severe pathological condition with a high mortality rate can occur - lactic acidosis.

Typical representatives of another group of drugs that affect insulin production are sulfonylurea derivatives. They directly stimulate the beta cells of the pancreas, causing them to produce insulin in increased quantities. However, an overdose of these drugs threatens the patient with a hypoglycemic crisis. Sulfonylurea derivatives are usually taken together with metformin.

There are other types of drugs. A class of drugs that enhance glucose-dependent insulin production include incretin mimetics (GLP-1 agonists) and DPP-4 inhibitors. These are new drugs, and so far they are quite expensive. They suppress the synthesis of the sugar-increasing hormone glucagon and enhance the effect of incretins - gastrointestinal hormones that increase insulin production.

There is also a drug that prevents the absorption of glucose in the gastrointestinal tract - acarbose. This remedy does not affect insulin production. Acarbose is often prescribed prophylactically to prevent diabetes.

There are also medications that increase the excretion of glucose in the urine, and drugs that increase the sensitivity of cells to glucose.

Medical insulin is rarely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Most often it is used when therapy with other drugs is ineffective, in a decompensated form of diabetes mellitus, when the pancreas is depleted and cannot produce enough insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is also often accompanied by concomitant diseases:

  • angiopathy,
  • depression,
  • neuropathies,
  • hypertension,
  • lipid metabolism disorders.

If such diseases are detected, then drugs are prescribed to treat them.

Types of drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type mechanism of action examples
Sulfonylurea derivatives stimulation of insulin secretion glibenclamide, chlorpropamide, tolazamide
Glinids stimulation of insulin secretion repaglinide, nateglinide
Biguanides metformin
Glitazones decreased liver glucose production and tissue resistance to glucose pioglitazone
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors slower absorption of glucose in the intestines acarbose, miglitol
Glucanagon-like peptide receptor agonists exenatide, liraglutide, lixisenatide
Gliptins (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors) glucose-dependent stimulation of insulin secretion and reduction of glucagon secretion sitagliptin, vildagliptin, saxagliptin
Insulins increased glucose utilization Insulin

Diet

The essence of changing the diet for diabetes is the regulation of nutrients entering the gastrointestinal tract. The required nutrition should be determined by the endocrinologist individually for each patient, taking into account the severity of diabetes, concomitant diseases, age, lifestyle, etc.

There are several types of diets used for non-insulin-dependent diabetes (table No. 9, low-carbohydrate diet, etc.). All of them have proven themselves well and differ from each other only in some details. But they agree on the basic principle - the norms of carbohydrate consumption during illness should be strictly limited. First of all, this applies to products containing “fast” carbohydrates, that is, carbohydrates that are very quickly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Fast carbohydrates are found in refined sugar, jams, confectionery, chocolate, ice cream, desserts, and baked goods. In addition to reducing the amount of carbohydrates, it is necessary to strive to reduce body weight, since increased weight is a factor that aggravates the course of the disease.

Other information

It is recommended to increase your water intake to replenish fluid loss due to frequent urination, which often accompanies diabetes. At the same time, it is necessary to completely abandon sweet drinks - cola, lemonade, kvass, juices and tea with sugar. In fact, you can only drink drinks that do not contain sugar - mineral and plain water, unsweetened tea and coffee. It must be remembered that drinking alcohol can also be harmful - due to the fact that alcohol disrupts glucose metabolism.

Meals should be regular - at least 3 times a day, and best of all - 5-6 times a day. You should not sit down at the dinner table immediately after exercise.

How to monitor your blood glucose levels

The essence of diabetes therapy is self-control on the part of the patient. With type 2 diabetes, the sugar level should be within the normal range, or close to it. Therefore, the patient needs to control his sugar level independently in order to avoid critical increases. To do this, it is advisable to keep a diary in which the values ​​of glucose concentration in the blood will be recorded. Glucose measurements can be taken with special portable glucometers equipped with test strips. It is advisable to carry out the measurement procedure every day. The optimal time for measurement is early morning. Before the procedure, you are prohibited from eating any food. If possible, the procedure can be repeated several times a day and determine the sugar level not only in the morning on an empty stomach, but also after meals, before bed, etc. Knowing the schedule of changes in blood glucose, the patient will be able to quickly adjust his diet and lifestyle so that the glucose level is in a normal state.

However, the presence of a glucometer does not relieve the patient of the need to regularly check blood sugar levels in the outpatient clinic, since the values ​​​​obtained in the laboratory are more accurate.

It's not that difficult to control your sugar levels when consuming food - after all, most products bought in the store indicate their energy value and the amount of carbohydrates they contain. There are diabetic analogs of regular foods in which carbohydrates are replaced with low-calorie sweeteners (sorbitol, xylitol, aspartame).

Fasting blood sugar level

Fruits and vegetables

Is it possible to eat fruits and berries with type 2 diabetes? Preference should be given to vegetables that contain large amounts of indigestible, but beneficial for digestion, fiber and less sugar. However, many vegetables, such as potatoes, beets and carrots, contain large amounts of starch, so their consumption should be limited. Fruits can be consumed in moderation, and only those that do not contain very high amounts of carbohydrates. Among fruits, the record holders for carbohydrate content are bananas, followed by grapes and melons. They are not recommended to be consumed as they can increase sugar levels.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies involve taking decoctions of medicinal herbs. Such therapy can not only reduce blood glucose levels, but also reduce appetite and reduce excess weight. However, folk remedies can only be taken in addition to taking medications and in consultation with your doctor.

Physical exercise

An auxiliary method of therapy is physical exercise. When performing moderate-intensity exercise, the body burns large amounts of glucose. Metabolism returns to normal and the cardiovascular system is strengthened. It is necessary to do physical exercise every day. However, the exercises should not be exhausting, since this can only achieve the opposite effect. When you are very tired, your appetite increases, and eating a lot of food can negate all the positive effects of physical activity. Fatigue triggers stress and the release of adrenal hormones, which increases blood glucose levels. Therefore, it is recommended to select the type of physical activity that would suit the patient’s athletic form - simple exercises, exercises with dumbbells or walks, jogging, swimming, cycling.

Energy costs for various types of activities

Forecast

In severe cases, when type 2 diabetes reaches the stage of decompensation, it is, as a rule, impossible to reverse the disease and return glucose levels to normal - due to depletion of the resources of the pancreas and the body as a whole. Therefore, type 2 diabetes mellitus in such a situation is an incurable disease. However, proper treatment of type 2 diabetes can extend the patient's life for many years. At the initial stage of type 2 diabetes mellitus, it is possible to control the concentration of glucose in the blood and maintain it within acceptable limits only by changing the diet and lifestyle, and increasing physical activity. As a result, the patient can live for many decades without experiencing any complications from diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by insulin resistance - impaired sensitivity of body cells to insulin. This endocrine (intrasecretory) hormone transports glucose into tissues and cells to provide them with the necessary energy. In the second type of disease, the pancreas does not stop producing insulin, but since the body is unable to consume it, unrealized sugar remains in the blood plasma. The main method of treating the disease is diet therapy. A properly formulated diet helps control glycemia and prevent the development of complications of the disease.

Dietetics and diabetes

A distinctive feature of diabetes is polyphagia (permanent feeling of hunger). This is due to a deficiency of glucose as a source of nutrition and energy in the body's cells. Increased appetite provokes the development of obesity, which leads to heart pathologies and atherosclerosis (vascular damage by cholesterol growths). The diet for type 2 diabetes is aimed at normalizing glycemia and reducing body weight.

The medical classification of therapeutic nutrition according to V. Pevzner provides for the “Table No. 9” diet for diabetics. The menu is designed for weight loss, maintaining stable sugar levels, and restoring impaired metabolic processes. The main parameters of diet therapy for diabetes are: glycemic index (GI or GI) of foods, number of calories, balance of nutrients (fats, carbohydrates, proteins), diet and portion size.

According to Table No. 9, all products are divided into acceptable, prohibited and limited (allowed in limited quantities). By combining permitted and limited products, a daily diet is created. Nutrition should be complete, balanced, with strict adherence to dietary parameters.

Any food that enters the body affects blood sugar levels. GI is a value that indicates the rate of breakdown of food into its components, the release of glucose from it and its resorption (absorption) into the systemic bloodstream. Low GI foods are digested slowly and have little effect on glycemia. A high glycemic index of foods indicates their accelerated processing and immediate release of glucose into the blood. Such food for a diabetic is classified as prohibited.

Digital GI values ​​are distributed as follows:

  • from 70 to 100 units – high index;
  • from 30 to 70 – average;
  • less than 30 – low.

There is a special table for the correct selection of products according to GI criteria. Prohibited foods for diabetics have a glycemic index above 70 units.

Calorie criterion

In order not to create additional stress on the weakened pancreas, a diabetic's food should not be heavy and difficult to digest. High-calorie foods, regardless of GI, require a lot of energy for processing, and a diabetic does not have a serious energy resource due to the poor supply of glucose to cells. In addition, excess calories do not contribute to weight loss. Daily caloric intake must be kept within 2200–2500 kcal. Percentage composition of nutrients:

  • carbohydrates - 45%;
  • proteins - 20%;
  • fats - 35%.

Maintaining such a balance will allow metabolic processes to be as close to normal as possible.

Nutrients

In addition to the percentage of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, the diet provides for the differentiation of all categories of products into healthy and harmful.

Fats

The consumption of animal fats should be reduced as much as possible, since they accelerate the absorption of glucose and contribute to the deposition of “bad” cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels. As a result, sugar increases and atherosclerosis develops. You can regulate fat metabolism by replacing butter (lard) with vegetable fats.

Squirrels

Essential amino acids that the body cannot produce itself are obtained from protein. The process of gluconeogenesis (the release of glucose from amino acids) occurs slowly, therefore, when people eat protein foods, the sugar level rises slightly and is not forced. The protein component of a diabetic diet should not be less than 20% of the total diet. Sources of protein for diabetics are dietary meats and fish, mushrooms, and some products of plant origin.


High protein foods that should be present in the diet of a patient with type 2 diabetes

Carbohydrates

The carbohydrate component is necessary for the body as the main energy source. This category of nutrients is divided into those that a diabetic can eat and those that must be avoided. Complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides) are processed slowly and do not cause a sharp rise in blood sugar. These include:

  • glycogen (present in protein foods);
  • pectin (found in vegetables, fruits and berries);
  • fiber or cellulose (the main source is vegetables, herbs);
  • starch (is a component of potatoes, pasta, legumes and grains).

Simple carbohydrates are: monosaccharides (glucose, fructose, galactose), disaccharides (sucrose, lactose, maltose). Foods high in simple carbohydrates are quickly absorbed, causing an immediate release of glucose into the bloodstream. In diabetes mellitus, this reaction of the body provokes glycemia and can be life-threatening. Therefore, a low-carb diet for a diabetic means excluding fast carbohydrates from the diet and limiting complex ones.

Proper nutrition for type 2 diabetes prevents sugar spikes and helps restore cells' sensitivity to insulin. If you encounter difficulties when developing a menu, you should seek help from a nutritionist. The diet is developed taking into account the nature of the course and stage of the disease, age and individual characteristics of the patient’s body.

Postulates of therapeutic nutrition

When compiling a daily menu, a diabetic patient must consider not only what foods can be consumed, but also how to do it correctly. Medical nutrition must be organized according to the following rules:

  • Eliminate disaccharides and monosaccharides from the diet. These components are contained in all possible types of sweets: confectionery, ice cream, candies, etc.
  • Stick to the drinking regime. The amount of fluid consumed is from 1.5 to 2 liters per day.
  • Maintain regular eating habits. You should eat every 3-4 hours.
  • Don't be greedy with food. A single serving should not exceed 350–400 g of food. Overeating leads to excess weight gain.
  • Control the number of calories and glycemic index of foods. Nutrition should be balanced, with strictly observed proportions of nutrients.
  • Avoid dishes prepared by frying. Food needs to be prepared by boiling, stewing, or steaming. You can bake dishes in foil. This will help reduce calorie intake and relieve the pancreas.
  • Introduce healthy vegetables and fruits from the list of permitted ones into your daily diet as a source of vitamins and minerals.
  • Limit the amount of table salt in your diet and avoid salty foods (ideally switch to a salt-free diet). This measure will reduce the load on the kidneys and heart.
  • Replace animal fats with vegetable fats (olive, corn, flaxseed and other oils).

What needs to be excluded

To avoid hyperglycemia, a diabetic needs to clearly know what not to eat. The bans primarily apply to sweet foods and drinks. Simple carbohydrates in their pure form are contraindicated for the patient. In addition, high-calorie fatty foods should be removed from the menu: fast food, smoked foods (meat, lard, fish), semi-finished products (dumplings, pasties, khinkali), sausages not specifically intended for diabetic nutrition, ham. It is prohibited to use flavored snacks and crackers, chips, or popcorn as a snack.

The following products are subject to removal from the food basket:

  • Meat. Poultry (duck, goose), fatty pork.
  • Fish. Preserves, dried product.
  • Conservation. Meat pates, sprats, canned fish, pickled vegetables, sweet canned fruits in their own juice, compotes and jams.
  • Cereals. Rice (white variety), sago, semolina.
  • Dairy and fermented milk products with a high percentage of fat content. The permissible fat content is: cream and sour cream - 10%, cheese - 40-45%, yogurt - 3.2%, cottage cheese - 9%, fermented baked milk - 4%. Glazed cheese curds and sweet curds are prohibited.
  • Floury. White bread, pasta of categories B, B, 1st and 2nd class, pastries made from butter, puff pastry, shortbread and choux pastry.
  • Sauces and seasonings. Ketchups, mayonnaise-based sauces, mustard.
  • Fruits. You should focus on the glycemic index. High GI: pineapple, figs, watermelon, grapes. From exotic fruits: papaya, carom, guava.


Table of foods not allowed for diabetes

Limited (limited for consumption) products

This category includes products with an average GI. For type 2 diabetes mellitus, their use is allowed in small quantities 1–3 times a week. If sugar levels are stable, this will not cause harm to health. Popular limited edition products:

  • products made from unleavened dough: biscuits, pita bread, pita bread (without filling) and muesli – 67–69;
  • potatoes (only boiled in their jackets is allowed), bananas, raisins – 64–66;
  • fruits (mango, persimmon, kiwi) – 55, oranges – 44;
  • unsweetened buckwheat porridge – 50;
  • blueberries – 43;
  • canned beans, corn, peas – 48–42;
  • cheeses: feta, processed – 56–57.

A more detailed list of foods with an average glycemic index can be found on the website. Fatty fish (sturgeon, halibut, capelin, mackerel) are allowed to a limited extent as a source of omega-3.6 fatty acids. An endocrinologist will help you decide on foods that have an average GI. The doctor takes into account the nature of the disease and the individual characteristics of the patient.

Eligible Products

For a diabetic patient, a food package that will allow you to eat safely for health consists of protein and fiber. Allowed and recommended products for consumption are discussed below in the table.

Category Products
Protein component Veal, poultry (chicken, turkey), rabbit meat, mushrooms (except salted and pickled), seafood (mussels, squid, seaweed, shrimp), lean fish (pollock, navaga, tuna, cod, whiting, pike), eggs , nuts (walnuts, pine, peanuts, almonds)
Fruits Pomegranates, grapefruits, apricots, apples, lemons, limes, pears, pomelo, peaches, plums
Berries Blueberries, viburnum, lingonberries, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, strawberries, currants
Legumes Beans (regular and green), peas, lentils, chickpeas
Cereals Wheat, buckwheat, oats, barley, as well as cereals made from these grains (egg, pearl barley, wheat)
Spices Oregano (oregano), cinnamon, all types of pepper, cloves

Vegetables and greens must be included in the daily diet. These products are best consumed raw. Boiled carrots and beets have a high glycemic index and are not suitable for a diabetic menu. You can eat without restrictions:

Jerusalem artichoke and momordica (bitter gourd) are extremely useful for stabilizing sugar. Eating these vegetables activates endocrine and metabolic processes in the body and helps fight excess weight. The choice of fermented milk products is based on fat content, calorie content, and percentage of carbohydrates. If you have diabetes, you can eat and drink the following foods and drinks in this category: kefir - fat content up to 2.5%, Greek natural yogurt (without additives) - 2%, acidophilus - 3.2%, yogurt - 2.5%, sour cream - 10%, cottage cheese – 1.8–2%. Consumption of dairy products with fruit additives is undesirable, since they contain a fairly large amount of sugar.

Drinks for type 2 diabetes

In the dietary diet, attention should be paid to the drinking regime and the drinks consumed. Most fruit juices have a medium glycemic index, so their consumption must be strictly controlled. Freshly squeezed undiluted juices are not recommended for consumption, as they have an aggressive effect on the pancreas. Other prohibited drinks include bottled tea and packaged juices (they contain a lot of sugar), 3-in-1 coffee and cocoa sticks, and cocktails with added syrup.

Important! Lemonades and any sweet soda are completely prohibited. In addition to their high sugar content, they have the ability to instantly penetrate the blood.

Alcohol is contraindicated for diabetes. Light alcoholic drinks, as a rule, have a high GI, while strong ones burden the diseased pancreas and cardiovascular system. Recommended drinks are mineral water (preferably still), homemade jelly and compotes brewed without sugar, decoctions of medicinal herbs and rose hips, tea (green, black, hibiscus, oolong). Drinking coffee in small quantities is not prohibited. Just don’t brew a strong drink and drink it with sugar.

Artificial sugar substitutes belong to a limited category. For type 2 diabetes, food additives E950, E951 and E952 (Acesulfame potassium, Aspartame and Sodium Cyclamate), trichlorogalactosucrose (Sucralose), glycoside from the leaves of the stevia plant (Steviazid) are allowed. Sorbitol and xylitol are high in calories, so it is better not to use them.


Sugar substitutes do not affect glycemic levels, but they should not be abused

Before starting to use sweeteners, you must obtain the approval of your treating endocrinologist. The substances have a number of contraindications.

Diabetic diet

The menu for the week is compiled by combining products from the permitted category. All dishes and drinks are prepared without added sugar. Morning meal: cottage cheese casserole, cooked in the microwave, protein omelet with feta cheese, milk porridge (oatmeal, wheat, barley). Drinks: black tea, red tea, oolong tea, coffee with milk. Lunch: fruits (from the allowed list), berry jelly, pita bread with processed cheese, diabetic cookies, biscuits, yogurt with added muesli. Drinks: freshly squeezed (diluted with water) apple and grapefruit juice, hibiscus tea

First courses for the day's meals: frozen seafood soup, bean soup in chicken broth (the skin of the chicken must be removed), cabbage soup in turkey (chicken) broth, mushroom soup, pollock soup, navaga, cod. Salads: fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, greens, fresh cabbage + carrots, seaweed + fresh cabbage + fresh cucumbers. You should make your own salad dressings using recipes that do not contain mayonnaise. Soy sauce is allowed in limited quantities due to the abundance of salt. 10% sour cream, Greek yogurt, vegetable oils, lemon juice are allowed.

Drinks: homemade fruit and berry compote or jelly. Side dishes for lunch and dinner: steamed vegetables, pearl barley or buckwheat porridge in water, potatoes boiled “in their jackets” (once a week), stewed cabbage. Afternoon snack: cheesecakes with berries, cooked in the oven, oatmeal jelly, fruit puree. Main dishes for an evening meal: stewed vegetables with rabbit meat, steamed poultry (fish) cutlets or meatballs, boiled fish, cabbage rolls with chicken.

Drinks: green tea, herbal tea. To improve the functioning of the digestive system, 1.5 hours before bedtime, it is recommended to drink any fermented milk drink with low fat content (yogurt, kefir, fermented baked milk). Treatment of diabetes mellitus is impossible without correcting the patient's eating behavior. Poor nutrition leads to the fact that the pancreas stops producing endocrine hormones and diabetes becomes insulin-dependent.

A number of external signs of diabetes were known back in the days of the great Roman Empire. At that time, this disease was attributed to the problem of water incontinence. Only in the 20th century did scientists and doctors come close to understanding the essence of the problem - carbohydrate metabolism disorders. The existence of a second type of diabetes mellitus was first postulated by G. P. Himsworth in the late 40s of the twentieth century - it was then that the foundations of classical maintenance therapy were laid, which are still relevant today, because, despite the active development of the research sector of medical science, More effective working mechanisms to counteract diabetes have not yet been found.

Causes of type 2 diabetes

Unlike with its insufficiency of insulin production, in type 2 disease the hormone is released sufficiently, often even above normal, but it practically does not decrease, since tissue cells do not perceive it well. However, over time, the function of the islets of Langerans, which hyperactively produce insulin, gradually decreases and the risk of transition from type 2 to type 1 diabetes increases.

Modern medicine claims that type 2 diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic and life factors, and the vast majority of cases of this disease are detected in people with increased body weight and obesity.

The classic causes of type 2 diabetes mellitus, taking into account the above factors, are:

  1. Genetic problems. Studies show that 20 percent of children whose parents had type 2 diabetes develop a similar disease.
  2. Obesity of varying degrees. Abdominal obesity causes tissue insulin resistance, with a concomitant increase in load on the pancreas.
  3. Age-related changes. Physiologically, over time, all tissues of the body of an elderly person gradually acquire insulin resistance and, if there is a predisposition to type 2 diabetes, the risks of developing the disease after 40 years of age rapidly increase, especially in obese people.
  4. Viral infections. A variety of viral infections can “start the process,” especially if they affect a person several times a year.
  5. Pancreas problems. Pancreatitis, cancer and other diseases, especially chronic ones, cause secondary type 2 diabetes.
  6. Depression and stress. Constant stressful situations and subsequent depression are an additional risk factor.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes

The classic symptoms of type 2 diabetes are:

  1. Excessive urination and thirst.
  2. Obesity.
  3. Skin rashes and itching.
  4. Particular fungal infections (especially in women).
  5. Poor healing of cuts, wounds and other damage to the skin.
  6. General chronic state of malaise with muscle weakness, drowsiness.
  7. Heavy sweating, especially at night.

In the absence of proper therapy and the transition of type 2 diabetes to a severe phase with the occurrence of additional complications, the patient may experience swelling in the facial part, a significant increase in blood pressure, impaired visual perception, heart pain and migraine, partial numbness of the limbs, and negative neurological manifestations.

Diagnostics

The basic method for diagnosing type 2 diabetes is considered. It is performed on an empty stomach in the morning - 12 hours before the test, you must stop eating, alcohol, smoking, not engage in physical or strong emotional stress, and also not take medications and be relatively healthy. Chronic diseases in the acute phase, as well as infections and other problems, can distort the results of the study. If the analysis shows that the blood glucose level is in the range from 5.5 to 7 mmol/l, the patient has problems with insulin resistance and, accordingly, prediabetic syndrome is present. At values ​​above 7 mmol/l, there is a high probability of having diabetes, naturally, if the initial recommendations are followed before the test.

As a complement to the above analysis, a stress test is performed - immediately after donating blood on an empty stomach, the patient is given a dose of seventy-five grams of glucose and blood is taken every 30 minutes for two hours for analysis with the study of its peak values. With values ​​in the range of 7.8–11 mmol/L, a doctor can diagnose prediabetes. Above 11 mmol/l - there is a high probability of diabetes.

As an alternative to the basic method, the patient can take a blood test for glycated hemoglobin - it costs much more, but is more accurate and practically does not depend on adverse external factors, such as food intake/medication, physical activity, etc. A result in the range of 5.7–6.5 percent is suspected of diabetes. Values ​​above 6.5 percent confirm the presence of diabetes in the patient.

In addition to the main tests, the doctor conducts a differential symptomatic diagnosis of the patient (the presence of polydipsia/polyuria and other signs), and must also exclude various pathologies of a different spectrum that cause hyperglycemia (ultrasound, ECG, Rehberg test, ultrasound, capillaroscopy, examination of the fundus and electrolyte composition of the blood ).

If the main one is confirmed, the doctor identifies the type of the disease - first, additional subtypes are checked (gestational, secondary, etc.), and if they are absent, a C-peptide test is performed, which will indicate metabolic or autoimmune forms of diabetes.

Treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Modern medicine does not know how to completely cure type 2 diabetes. All basic and additional measures taken are aimed at normalizing carbohydrate metabolism, preventing further development of the disease and preventing complications arising from diabetes.

  1. Diet therapy. The main method of treatment for type 2 diabetes. It is developed individually by an endocrinologist based on several schemes, taking into account the current condition of the patient, the severity of diabetes mellitus and other factors. Most people with type 2 diabetes suffer from obesity, which is a basic factor in the development of insulin resistance, but modern doctors offer patients low-carbohydrate diets - more strict than classic balanced nutritional complexes (table number 9), but giving maximum effect, up to a long stage of remission .
  2. Dosed physical exercises and optimization of the daily rhythm of wakefulness, sleep and rest.
  3. Drugs. The most commonly prescribed antihyperglycemic drugs are biguanides, sulfonylureas, PRGs, and thiazolidinediones. As an addition, if complications occur, it is possible to use ACE inhibitors, moxonidine, fenofibrate, and statins. Insulin is prescribed as an adjuvant in case of ineffectiveness of classical drug therapy and in case of degradation of the functional synthesis of beta cells by the islets of Langerhans.
  4. Surgical pancreas transplantation in case of development of diabetic nephropathies.

Treatment with folk remedies

Below are the most famous and safest traditional medicine recipes for a diabetic that will help restore normal carbohydrate metabolism and also reduce excess weight. However, their use must be agreed with your doctor!

  1. Pour one hundred grams of powdered cinnamon into one liter of boiling water just from the stove. Mix thoroughly for a minute and add 150 g. honey. The resulting consistency must be poured into an opaque vessel and refrigerated for a day. Drink the product twice a day, 200 grams. in two weeks.
  2. One tbsp. dilute a spoonful of thoroughly crushed dry walnut leaves with half a liter of clean water at room temperature. Place on low heat, simmer for ten minutes, then cool and let sit for two hours. Strain the resulting “tea” and drink half a glass of it several times a day.
  3. Do you like black tea? Replace it with linden blossom, brewing one tbsp in a teapot. a spoonful of the product and drinking a couple of cups a day.
  4. Grind a third of a kilogram of garlic and parsley roots through a fine-hole meat grinder. Add 100 grams of lemon zest to the mixture and mix thoroughly until a uniform mass is obtained, then place in an opaque container, close the lid tightly and let stand for 14 days. Use one teaspoon twice a day.

Diet for type 2 diabetes

As mentioned above, diet is the main mechanism of therapy for type 2 diabetes. It is especially important when obesity is concomitant with the disease, as the main negative factor provoking tissue resistance to insulin. Despite the fact that classical dietetics of the 20th century always recommended a rational, balanced diet for type 2 diabetes, modern doctors are inclined towards a low-carbohydrate type of diet, which not only greatly reduces the amount of glucose entering the body but also helps to quickly and effectively fight obesity. Yes, it is more strict, but the result is definitely better than the retro “Table 9” that came to us from the 70s of the last century!

Nutrition

The low-carbohydrate nutrition system involves the complete exclusion of so-called “fast” simple carbohydrates, which are actively transformed into glucose and, if not consumed, into fat. In this case, the main emphasis is on protein foods.

The list of classic permitted foods usually includes all types of meat, mushrooms, eggs, vegetables (excluding beans, peas, potatoes, corn, beans, lentils and olives), nuts and seeds, low-fat dairy products, buckwheat and brown/black rice , as well as a small amount of fruit (excluding grapes and bananas).

Sweets and baked goods, sugar, bread in any form, smoked meats, offal, sausages, juices and compotes and any other sweet drinks, alcohol, mayonnaise with ketchup and sauces (fatty), as well as starch-based side dishes - pasta, potatoes, classic white rice, etc.

Other types of products not listed above can be consumed in small quantities, taking into account calorie content and other parameters according to special tables of bread units.

It is advisable to steam or bake dishes in the oven; in extreme cases, use a slow cooker. Frying - with a minimum amount of vegetable oil, try to use similar butter of animal origin. You need to eat fractionally, dividing your daily diet into at least four meals.

Sample menu for a week for type 2 diabetes

We bring to your attention a standardized menu for 7 days. Individual meals may be modified within acceptable groups and serving size/calorie counts.

  1. Monday. We have breakfast with two hundred grams of cottage cheese, one small apple and unsweetened coffee. We have lunch with baked fish and vegetables - no more than 250 grams in total. We have an afternoon snack with one small orange, and dinner with a small plate of buckwheat with a piece of beef.
  2. Tuesday. We have breakfast with an omelet made from a couple of eggs in 2.5 percent milk, as well as an apple and tea without sugar. Lunch will be 200 grams of beef stew and a bowl of green vegetable salad. We have an afternoon snack with low-fat, unsweetened natural yogurt made from berries. For dinner - mushroom soup.
  3. Wednesday. For breakfast - 100 grams of “Zdorovye” cheese, one avocado and coffee without sugar. For lunch - soup in low-fat chicken broth with 100 grams of boiled chicken. For an afternoon snack - one small pear. For dinner - a plate of brown rice and a piece of baked fish.
  4. Thursday. We have breakfast with a small plate of buckwheat porridge with milk. We have lunch with 250 grams of boiled turkey with vegetables. We have a glass of kefir in the afternoon. We have dinner with stewed cabbage and meat.
  5. Friday. We have breakfast with a vegetable salad with two boiled eggs and unsweetened tea. We have lunch with a 200-gram piece of lean pork and cabbage salad with herbs. We have an afternoon snack with two small apples. We have dinner with 150 grams of boiled fish.
  6. Saturday. We have breakfast with a plate of cottage cheese and black coffee without cream or sugar. We have mushroom soup for lunch. We have an afternoon snack with any small permitted fruit. We have dinner with 150 grams of chicken, sprinkled with grated cheese and vegetable salad.
  7. Sunday. For breakfast - an omelet of two eggs with stewed mushrooms and a glass of tea without sugar. For lunch - a salad of seafood, cabbage and herbs, as well as 100 grams of baked beef. Afternoon snack - one grapefruit. Dinner - a plate of vegetable soup, 100 grams of baked turkey and 50 grams of hard cheese.

Useful video

Diabetes mellitus type 2

Live healthy! Super food against diabetes

Our readers write

Subject: Conquered diabetes

From: Galina S. ( [email protected])

To: Site Administration

At the age of 47, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In a few weeks I gained almost 15 kg. Constant fatigue, drowsiness, feeling of weakness, vision began to fade.

And here is my story

When I turned 55, I was already steadily injecting myself with insulin, everything was very bad... The disease continued to develop, periodic attacks began, the ambulance literally brought me back from the other world. I always thought that this time would be the last...

Everything changed when my daughter gave me an article to read on the Internet. You can’t imagine how grateful I am to her for this. helped me completely get rid of diabetes, a supposedly incurable disease. Over the last 2 years I have started to move more; in the spring and summer I go to the dacha every day, grow tomatoes and sell them at the market. My aunts are surprised how I manage to do everything, where so much strength and energy comes from, they still can’t believe that I’m 66 years old.

Who wants to live a long, energetic life and forget about this terrible disease forever, take 5 minutes and read.

Unfortunately, a disease such as type 2 diabetes affects more and more people every year. In terms of mortality, it ranks second, second only to oncology. The danger of such a disease is not only in constantly elevated glucose levels, but in the failure of almost all body functions.

There is no cure for the “sweet” disease; you can only minimize the risk of complications and avoid insulin-dependent type of diabetes. To normalize sugar levels, endocrinologists primarily prescribe a low-carbohydrate diet and regular exercise classes. It turns out that type 2 diabetes mellitus diet and nutritional treatment are the main and primary therapy.

If diet therapy fails to achieve the desired results, you should start taking glucose-lowering drugs, for example, Stralik, Metformin or Glucobay. It is also necessary to monitor your blood levels with a glucometer at home.

In order to understand the causes of this disease and effectively combat it, the principles of diet therapy will be described below, a list of permitted products will be presented, and drug treatment will also be discussed.

Causes and symptoms

Diabetes refers to diseases of the endocrine system, when blood sugar levels constantly rise. This is due to a decrease in the susceptibility of cells, as well as tissues, to the hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas.

It is noteworthy that the body produces this hormone in sufficient quantities, but the cells do not react with it. This condition is called insulin resistance.

There is no single and specific cause of type 2 diabetes, but doctors have identified risk factors, one of which is age over 40 years. It is at this age that diabetes is often detected. But this does not mean that the disease has developed dramatically. Most likely, the patient simply ignored the symptoms of prediabetes for many years, thereby depleting the body.

Signs of diabetes:

  • thirst;
  • dry mouth;
  • slow healing of wounds and abrasions;
  • frequent urge to go to the toilet;
  • fast fatiguability;
  • drowsiness.

If at least one of the symptoms appears, it is recommended to visit an endocrinologist for testing in order to exclude or confirm the presence of the disease. Diagnosis is quite simple - donation of venous and capillary blood. If you know the symptoms and treatment will be effective.

The occurrence of diabetes mellitus is more often observed in the following categories of people:

  1. age over 40 years;
  2. excess weight of the abdominal type;
  3. poor nutrition, when the diet is dominated by light carbohydrates (sweets, flour products);
  4. sedentary lifestyle without proper physical activity;
  5. high blood pressure;
  6. presence of diabetes in close relatives.

Diet therapy

A properly formulated therapeutic diet coupled with moderate physical activity will become the main treatment for diabetes. One of the main rules is not to starve or overeat. The number of meals is six times a day. Last dinner at least a few hours before bedtime.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus diet and nutritional treatment stabilize blood sugar levels. Up to half of the daily diet should consist of vegetables. Also, the daily menu must include cereals, fruits, meat or fish and dairy products.

The diabetic's body suffers from insufficient vitamins and microelements. This is due to a failure in metabolic processes not only of the endocrine system. That's why it's so important to eat a balanced diet.

From the above, we can highlight the basic principles of the diet:

  • meals in small portions, six times a day;
  • minimum fluid consumption – two liters;
  • do not starve or overeat;
  • dinner should be light, you should limit yourself to a glass of fermented milk product or 150 grams of cottage cheese;
  • fruits should be included in breakfast;
  • use only seasonal products when preparing vegetable dishes;
  • Choose products according to GI.

All diabetic foods should have a low glycemic index. Endocrinologists adhere to this indicator when preparing diet therapy.

In addition to following the principles of nutrition, one should not forget about the permissible heat treatment, which is aimed at the absence of bad cholesterol in dishes.

The following methods are allowed:

  1. boil;
  2. steamed;
  3. in the microwave;
  4. bake in the oven;
  5. in a slow cooker;
  6. simmer using a small amount of vegetable oil.

It is necessary to separately study the concept of GI and learn how to independently form a diet based on personal taste preferences.

GI products in diet therapy

The glycemic index is an indicator that reflects the effect of a certain product on increasing blood sugar levels after consumption. Low GI foods contain carbohydrates that are difficult to break down, which are not only necessary for the patient, but also give him a feeling of fullness for a long time.

Diabetics need to choose from those food categories that have a low GI. Food with an average value can be included in the diet only occasionally, no more than twice a week. High GI foods can raise glucose levels to 4 mmol/l in a fairly short period of time.

The glycemic index of foods is divided into three categories. But in addition to this value, you need to pay attention to the calorie content of food. So, some food has a value of zero units, but at the same time contains bad cholesterol and high calorie content.

A clear example of this is lard, which does not contain carbohydrates and has 0 units, but is strictly contraindicated for diabetics. GI division:

  • 0 – 50 units – low;
  • 50 – 69 units – average;
  • over 70 units – high.

There is a special table of products with indexes to make it easier for the patient to create a menu for himself. Some products after heat treatment can significantly increase the index - these are beets and carrots. In their raw form they are allowed, but in boiled form they are prohibited.

The therapeutic diet allows you to prepare dishes from the following vegetables:

  1. onion;
  2. all varieties of cabbage - white and red cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli;
  3. garlic;
  4. eggplant;
  5. tomato;
  6. green and green beans;
  7. lentils;
  8. peas;
  9. squash;
  10. cucumber.

Many people are accustomed to having potatoes on their table. But if you have a “sweet” disease, it is better to avoid it due to the high GI. In very rare cases, when you still decide to use the tubers, they should first be soaked in water overnight. Thus, you can get rid of starch and slightly reduce the index.

Vegetables for diabetics are a source of vitamins, microelements and fiber. Not only fresh salads are prepared from them, but also side dishes, as well as complex dishes. You can diversify the taste with greens - spinach, lettuce, oregano, basil, dill and parsley.

Fruits are an equally important component of diet therapy. The daily allowed amount should not exceed 150 - 200 grams. Juices cannot be made from fruits even with a low index. With this treatment, they are deprived of fiber and glucose suddenly enters the blood.

The following fruits and berries are allowed on the diet:

  • cherry;
  • apricot;
  • pear;
  • nectarine;
  • persimmon;
  • black and red currants;
  • all varieties of citrus fruits - orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, pomelo and lime;
  • gooseberry;
  • cherries;
  • peach.

There are many valuable substances in dried fruits; no more than 50 grams per day are allowed. Dried fruits are good to add to porridge, thereby creating a complete food dish. Dried fruits with low GI - dried apricots, prunes and figs.

Meat, offal, fish and seafood are also a daily part of the menu. At the same time, fish should be present in the weekly diet at least three times. Lean varieties of meat and fish are selected. The skin and remaining fat, which contain no vitamins, but only bad cholesterol, are removed from them.

  1. chicken;
  2. rabbit meat;
  3. turkey;
  4. beef;
  5. quail;
  6. chicken liver;
  7. beef liver;
  8. beef tongue;
  9. beef lungs.

There are no restrictions on the choice of seafood. For fish, you can choose pollock, hake, pike or perch.

Cereals are a source of energy, so they give you a feeling of fullness for a long time. Some of them have a high GI, particularly white rice. An alternative would be brown (brown) rice, whose GI is 50 units. It cooks a little longer - about 45 minutes.

Pearl barley is considered the most valuable grain; its GI is only 22 units. Other types of cereals are also allowed:

  • barley grits;
  • buckwheat;
  • oatmeal;
  • wheat porridge.

By the way, the thicker the porridge, the lower its index.

There are few restrictions on dairy and fermented milk products. All of them are based on the fat content of the products. Therefore, it would be rational to refuse sour cream, margarine and butter.

Drug treatment

If diet therapy fails to achieve the desired results, the doctor is forced to prescribe glucose-lowering drugs. Their selection on the pharmaceutical market is extensive.

Self-medication is prohibited, as all tablets have their own side effects. Only an endocrinologist can choose the right pills for a patient, taking into account his body characteristics and the course of the disease.

The purpose of glucose-lowering drugs is to stimulate pancreatic cells to increase the production of the hormone insulin so that it is in the blood in the required quantity.

TOP – 5 most popular drugs for “sweet” diseases:

  1. Glucobay - reduces the rate of absorption of polysaccharides in the blood;
  2. medications of the sulfonylurea group, for example, Glisoxepide, are aimed at reducing insulin resistance;
  3. Pioglitazone (thiazolidinone derivatives) – stimulate the sensitivity of cells and tissues to insulin;
  4. Novonorm - increases the efficiency of the pancreas, thereby producing insulin to a greater extent.
  5. different dosages Metformin 850 or 1000 increases the sensitivity of cells and tissues to insulin.

Drug treatment begins with the prescription of only one of the above drugs.

Additional measures

If you have type 2 diabetes, treatment should include feasible physical activity. This serves as an excellent compensation for high sugar levels.

That is, when playing sports, all metabolic processes in the body are accelerated, and glucose is absorbed faster.

You should devote at least half an hour a day to this activity. If you can’t exercise every day, then at least you need to walk in the fresh air on foot for forty minutes.

You can choose the following types of physical activity for type 2 diabetics:

  • yoga;
  • Nordic walking;
  • race walking;
  • jogging;
  • cycling;
  • swimming.

If a person wants to study at home, then on the Internet there are many video courses dedicated specifically to diabetics.

If training takes place outside the home and after it you feel hungry, then you are allowed to take an additional meal - a snack. The ideal option would be 50 grams of nuts, which contain nutritious protein, have a low GI and are an excellent appetite suppressant. Just do not exceed the permissible daily intake, because such a product is high in calories.

From everything described above, it should be concluded that the manifestation of diabetes mellitus can be minimized using only two rules: follow the principles of diet therapy for diabetes mellitus and exercise regularly.

According to statistics, many patients with type 2 diabetes are overweight, and they are also elderly people.

Only 8% of patients have normal body weight.

As a rule, a person is diagnosed with a combination of two or more risk factors for developing the disease.

Let's consider the factors that increase the risk of the onset of the disease:

  1. Genetic predisposition. If one of the parents has T2DM, the probability of inheritance is 30%, and if both parents are sick, then the risk increases to 60%. Increased sensitivity to a substance that enhances insulin production, which is called enkephalin, is inherited.
  2. Obesity, excess body weight, abuse of harmful products.
  3. Traumatic damage to the pancreas.
  4. Pancreatitis, causing damage to beta cells.
  5. Frequent stress, depression.
  6. Insufficient physical activity, predominance of adipose tissue over muscle.
  7. Transferred viruses(chickenpox, mumps, rubella, hepatitis) - provoke the development of the disease in people with a hereditary predisposition.
  8. Chronic diseases.
  9. Old age (over 65 years old).
  10. Hypertonic disease and increased concentration of triglycerides in the blood due to overuse of fatty foods.

Diagnostic methods

In persons who fall under one of the risk factors listed above, a set of laboratory tests is carried out to allow timely identification of the disease.
If you are at risk, you need to be tested once a year.

If suspected, the following tests are prescribed:

  • determination of glucose concentration in capillary blood;
  • glucose tolerance - a test for early detection of the disease;
  • glycated hemoglobin in the blood.

A blood test for type 2 diabetes is positive if:


  • the level of glucose in capillary blood exceeds 6.1 mmol/l;
  • when testing for tolerance, 2 hours after taking glucose, its level is more than 11.1 mmol/l; if the glucose level is in the range of 7.8-11.1 mmol/l, a diagnosis is made, which requires further examination under the supervision of a therapist;
  • with a glycated hemoglobin content of 5.7%, a person is considered healthy, a concentration of more than 6.5% - the diagnosis is confirmed, intermediate values ​​- a high risk of development.

When are injections necessary?

In severe cases of the disease, insulin injections are prescribed along with medications. Thus, this form of the disease can become insulin dependent, making life much more difficult.

Depending on how capable the body is of compensating for carbohydrate metabolism disorders, There are three stages of the disease:

  1. Reversible (compensatory).
  2. Partially reversible (subcompensatory)
  3. Carbohydrate metabolism is irreversibly impaired - the stage of decompensation.

Symptoms

There are many cases when the disease is detected by chance, during a routine examination, during a blood sugar test. More often, symptoms appear in overweight people and those who have crossed the 40-year mark.


Associated symptoms:

  • frequent bacterial infections due to decreased immunity;
  • limbs lose normal sensitivity;
  • Poorly healing ulcers and erosive formations appear on the skin.

Treatment

Is there a cure for type 2 diabetes? Every sick patient asks this question.
Existing standards for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus consider the main principle to be the achievement of the following goals:

  • elimination of symptoms;
  • decreased blood sugar levels;
  • control of metabolism;
  • warning ;
  • ensuring the highest possible standard of living;
  1. Diet;
  2. Recommended physical activity;
  3. Self-monitoring of the patient’s condition;
  4. Teaching the patient skills to live with diabetes.

If diet therapy is ineffective, then additional drug therapy is prescribed.

Drug treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: drugs that lower sugar

Modern pharmacotherapy for diabetes mellitus 2 offers many different drugs that lower sugar. Prescription of medications is carried out based on laboratory parameters and the general condition of the patient. The severity of the disease and the presence of complications are taken into account.

Groups of medications prescribed to patients with type 2 diabetes to lower blood sugar (glucose) levels:

1.Sulfonylurea derivatives– have a double effect: they reduce cell resistance to insulin and increase its secretion.
In some cases, they can sharply reduce blood sugar levels.
Prescribed drugs: glimeperide, chlorpropamide and glibenclamide, etc.

2. Biagunids. Increases the sensitivity of muscle tissue, liver and fatty tissue to insulin.
They reduce weight, normalize lipid profile and blood viscosity.
The drug Metformin is prescribed, but it causes side effects, stomach and intestinal disorders, as well.

3. Thiazolidinone derivatives reduce glucose levels, increasing the sensitivity of cell receptors and normalize the lipid profile.
The medications prescribed are rosiglitazone and troglitazone.

4. Incretins improve the function of pancreatic beta cells and insulin secretion, inhibit the release of glucagon.
The drug prescribed is glucagon-like peptide-1.

5. Dipeptidyl peptidiase inhibitors 4 improve glucose-dependent insulin release by increasing the susceptibility of pancreatic beta cells to the entry of glucose into the blood.
The medications prescribed are vildagliptin and sitagliptin.

6. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors disrupt the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestines, reduce the concentration of sugar and the need for injections.
Miglitol and acarbose are prescribed.

IMPORTANT!

Drugs that lower blood sugar levels are prescribed exclusively by the attending physician, since self-medication in this situation is life-threatening. The list of drugs is for informational purposes only.

Combination therapy involves prescribing 2 or more medications at the same time. This type has fewer side effects than taking one drug in a large dosage.

Modern methods of treating type 2 diabetes mellitus

Modern treatment of type 2 diabetes requires doctors to achieve the following goals:

  • stimulate insulin production;
  • reduce tissue immunity (resistance) to insulin;
  • reduce the rate of synthesis of carbohydrate compounds and slow down the process of its absorption through the intestinal wall;
  • correct the imbalance of lipid fractions in the bloodstream.

At first, only 1 drug is used. Subsequently, several are combined. If the disease progresses, the patient’s condition is poor and previous medications are ineffective, insulin therapy is prescribed.

Physiotherapy and ozone therapy


  • increases the permeability of cell membranes, which increases the flow of carbohydrates into tissues and eliminates the lack of energy, while reducing protein breakdown;
  • activates glucose metabolism in red blood cells (erythrocytes), which increases the saturation of tissues with oxygen;
  • strengthens the vascular wall;
  • especially effective for coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis in elderly patients.

But there are also disadvantages to ozone therapy: it can suppress the patient’s immunity, which can provoke the development of chronic infections and pustular skin lesions.

The course of treatment is up to 14 procedures, involving intravenous administration of saline solution that has undergone ozonation. Enemas with an ozno-oxygen mixture are also used.

The following physiotherapy procedures are used for diabetes:

  • electrophoresis;
  • magnetic therapy;
  • acupuncture;
  • hydrotherapy;
  • physical therapy.

How to treat type 2 diabetes with nutrition?

Treatment regimens for type 2 diabetes mellitus using diet are based on the following principles:

  • exclusion of refined carbohydrates (jams, desserts and honey) from the diet;
  • fat intake should correspond to 35% of the daily requirement;
  • counting the number of bread units and bringing your diet in line with the doctor’s recommendations.

Many patients have some degree of obesity, and therefore, by achieving weight loss, it is possible to achieve a decrease in glycemia (glucose), which often eliminates the need for drug treatment of the disease.

Diet therapy is the main part of treatment. The proportion of proteins in the diet should be 20%, fats -30% and carbohydrates 50%. It is recommended to divide meals into 5 or 6 times.

Fiber in the diet

A prerequisite for a therapeutic diet is the presence of fiber.
Rich in fiber:


Including guar, fiber and pectin in the diet gives excellent results. The recommended dosage is 15 grams per day.

What is a bread unit

The practical significance of the bread unit is that it can be used to determine the dose of injection for oral administration. The more bread units consumed, the larger the dose is administered to normalize glucose levels in the body.

For the error-free calculation of XE, many special tables have been compiled containing a list of food products allowed for patients with diabetes and the correspondence of the indicated units to them.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies can be considered as an addition to the main therapy.

A noticeable effect is observed a month after systematic use.

IMPORTANT!

Before starting to use various herbal infusions, the patient is recommended to consult a doctor, since the use of some herbs has contraindications for various conditions.

Useful video

What treatment methods are considered the most effective? Watch the video:

Goals of therapy

The main goal of treating type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus is to preserve the patient’s quality of life and normalize metabolism. It is important to prevent the development of complications, to adapt a person to life taking into account this complex diagnosis. Proper treatment only delays the onset of serious consequences.

Editor's Choice
How to remove phlegm from the lungs? The question is quite relevant, since it is directly related to the lifestyle of each person. Reasons...

During a gynecological examination, changes in the cervix may be detected. They do not always mean the presence of cancer...

Page 6 of 9 Treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract Gastritis Gastritis is an inflammation of the gastric mucosa, which...

Many people have heard about such a disease as dropsy. What kind of disease this is and how it manifests itself, not everyone knows. Hydrocele or...
Flax (seeds) 1 tbsp. spoon Seeds pour 200 ml of boiling water, close, leave for 5 hours, drain. Drink in 2 doses with an interval of 30...
Flax is an annual plant with pretty blue flowers. Blooms in June. The plant is widespread everywhere, its...
Coughing is a reflex process that helps eliminate mucus, dust, and foreign bodies that have entered the respiratory tract. He calls...
One of the advantages of the medusomycete infusion is its ability to be a concomitant and enhance the effect of the main medicinal drugs...
An infectious disease with inflammation of the tonsils is called tonsillitis. Infection often occurs through the usual airborne route....