Dietary treatment considerations for diabetes:
- 1.Regularity: Meals should be consumed at regular times with consistent quantities and quality. For type 1 diabetes, the relationship between diet and insulin injections should also be considered, and additional snacks may be necessary.
2.”Good food” and nutrition: While the concept of “good food” may vary among individuals, it is important for diabetes patients to have a correct understanding. The focus should be on appropriate quantity and a balanced variety of foods that can achieve therapeutic and health goals. In diabetes dietary treatment, emphasis is placed on “nutrition” which means “reasonable nutrition” and “balanced diet”. Excessive nutrition or inadequate nutrition are both undesirable.
3.Habits and nutrition: Each person has their own dietary habits, some of which may be good while others may be unhealthy. When designing a dietary plan, it is important to accommodate the patient’s lifestyle habits while also firmly correcting unhealthy habits. For example, if some individuals primarily consume rice as their staple food, while others prefer noodles, the dietary plan should consider these different habits. However, it is necessary to correct unhealthy habits such as picky eating, excessive consumption of sweets, oily and fried foods, etc.
4.Increase dietary fiber intake and strictly limit monosaccharides and disaccharides: Dietary fiber is a non-caloric polysaccharide that can help lower serum cholesterol and slow down the rise in blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is important to emphasize the consumption of vegetables and include a reasonable amount of fruit in the daily diet. Avoid consuming glucose, brown sugar, maltose, and sucrose.
5.Limit alcohol intake and quit smoking: Alcoholic beverages contain carbohydrates that can interfere with dietary treatment, so their consumption should be limited. It is especially important for individuals with liver disease to abstain from alcohol. Smoking is also related to dietary treatment as it promotes atherosclerosis and exacerbates chronic complications of diabetes. Therefore, quitting smoking is essential.