A balanced and proper diet will help improve the course of diabetes mellitus, will not allow complications to develop, and will generally have a beneficial effect on human well-being.
What foods can I eat with diabetes?
Even though the diagnosis of diabetes imposes a ban on certain types of products, there is still a huge list of those that can and should be consumed.
The following are products that can be consumed and are not harmful to the body.
- Vegetables. On this list, these products come first. You can eat any vegetables and legumes without fear (except potatoes). They are rich in fiber, water, and vitamins. It does not affect glycemia (blood glucose levels) and calorie intake much. Contribution to the normalization of digestion.
- Porridge and cereals. It is allowed to eat oats, buckwheat, brown rice, corn, pearls, and barley.
In addition, they help remove toxins, lower blood cholesterol, promote the breakdown of lipids in the body, and affect the composition of blood plasma.
- Fruit. There is always a lot of controversy about fruit, some believe they can't, others believe it's possible. In fact, fruit can be consumed, but not all in limited quantities. You can: apples, pears, plums, oranges, kiwis, grapefruit, pomegranate.
- Dairy Products. Almost anything is possible but with the lowest possible percentage of fat. For example, if it is cheese, from 0 to 1.8%, milk up to 1.5-2.0% fat, etc.
White cheeses are allowed (they are less fat): cheese, suluguni, Adyghe, Feta, The main thing is not to eat cheeses with high salinity. The less salt, the better. Soak something in water before use.
- Fish and seafood. Fish and seafood can and should be consumed as often as possible. Fish and seafood should be cooked or baked without marinade.
- Drinks. Tea, coffee, cocoa, and a decoction of the bar without sugar are allowed. Mineral water, stewed fruit, and sour in limited quantities without sugar.
- Bread. Allowed wholemeal bread can be rye, in the amount of 100-150 grams per day.
- Durum wheat pasta is allowed several times a week.
- Eggs. Boiled eggs are allowed or in the form of omelets (2-3 pcs.), Several times a week.
- Mushrooms. It is allowed to eat any mushrooms in the correct way of cooking.
Foods rich in animal protein
It is important to remember that diabetes is characterized by a dysfunction of the pancreas, unable to produce the insulin necessary for the body. To regulate their blood sugar (glycemia) level, people with diabetes must regularly inject insulin and monitor variations in this hormone closely.
The insulin pump consists of a small discreet box the size of a mobile phone and a thin tube inserted under the skin, often placed at the level of the belly.
Contrary to injections, the insulin pump makes it possible to diffuse very small quantities of insulin permanently, thus reproducing in a very close way the activity of the body of a non-diabetic person.
The patient may also choose to add a little more insulin at mealtime or if deemed necessary.
For Dr. Jean-Yves Josse, a type 1 diabetic himself carrying such a device, the main advantage of the pump is twofold:
- “ The continuous delivery of insulin, which we call “basal rate”, is much more physiological ”;
- The second advantage underlined by Dr. Josse: is the possibility of choosing the dose and the moment of the insulin contributions without having to make an injection.
What insulin is used?
In the pump, only regular insulin is used. It corresponds to what the body needs to cover carbohydrate intake at mealtimes. It acts within 30 minutes and has a duration of action of 3 to 4 hours.
The benefits of the insulin pump
Greater freedom
This allows greater freedom in daily life and above all greater flexibility in meal times. Not only are we winning on the therapeutic level but also on the quality of life.
Stabilize the level of glycosylated hemoglobin
To know if diabetes is balanced, the reference indicator is HbA1c. Behind these few letters hides the measurement of the glycosylated hemoglobin level which makes it possible to evaluate the glucose level over three months.
- In a non-diabetic person, this rate is less than 6 ;
- In diabetic patients, this value should be less than 7% to reduce the risk of complications.
According to the results of various studies, the reduction of 1 point in hemoglobin A1c would reduce the risk of retinopathy by 45% or kidney damage by 25%. In addition, according to the latest studies, pump therapy reduces cardiovascular risk by 42% and even the risk of heart attack by 57% compared to conventional insulin therapy.
But it is also necessary to ensure that this rate does not experience excessive variations. And there again, we can clearly see the interest of the pump which delivers regular doses.
According to Pr. Bringer, a diabetologist at the Montpellier University Hospital, " all of the studies available show an advantage of pumps over multi-injection treatments. The glycemic balance is less variable, better stabilized, and this thanks to the precise and modular of this medical device ".
Limit hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia
Another non-negligible therapeutic advantage, the insulin pump makes it possible to limit the number of severe and moderate hypoglycaemias, in particular the nocturnal hypoglycaemias so feared by patients and their entourage. The same goes for hyperglycemia from which 90% of diabetics suffer in the early hours of the day.
Pumps make it possible to program insulin, which is not possible with injections. For Dr. Josse, who is not lacking in humor, " the pump is quite simply a Game Boy which shoots blood sugar levels above 2 g ". This mode of operation avoids glycemic yo-yos, these permanent variations in sugar levels, the main causes of complications due to diabetes.
For Pr. Bringer " insulin therapy is not comparable to any other treatment, it requires a very important finesse and a permanent modulation, reactivity . And this is where the insulin pump finds its place ".
Finally, it should be added that the use of the pump, which makes it possible to deliver more precise and regular doses of insulin, is accompanied by a lower consumption of insulin.
A treatment adapted to pregnant women and children
Whether the diabetes is pre-existing to pregnancy or in the case of gestational diabetes, the treatment of diabetes in pregnant women using an insulin pump is preferred because oral antidiabetics are contraindicated during pregnancy.
As for children and adolescents, the insulin pump is particularly suitable because their life schedules are very variable and this system allows them to adjust the administration of insulin.
Disadvantages of the insulin pump
The risk of a mechanical problem
Several technical problems can interfere with insulin delivery. This is the case, for example, if the tubing is bent or blocked, if the pump is moved, the cartridge is empty, or if the battery is not recharged.
Several hours can then pass before the patient notices it and such an interruption can lead to hypoglycemia or even diabetic ketoacidosis.
To avoid such situations, you must regularly monitor your blood sugar level.
The risk of infection or lipodystrophy
These risks arise from improper use:
- If the cannula stays too long under the skin, it can cause an infection. On the other hand, this risk is avoided if it is changed at the indicated frequency (every 2-3 days). It is also necessary to make sure to clean the skin well each time and to master the technique to change it;
- If the rotation of the insertion points is not respected, lipodystrophy may appear. You should also avoid placing it on a friction zone (at the level of the belt, for example).
Sometimes reluctant patients
Like many patients with pumps, Dr. Jean-Yves Josse considers himself privileged. A type 1 diabetic, he has never known multiple daily injections, and his profession allows him to fully understand his diabetes and its treatment.
He tells us that reluctance persists about the insulin pump: "We often believe that we lose all freedom and that the diabetic then has a companion called a pump 24 hours a day.
However, the pump is smaller than a cell phone and we can disconnect from it for short periods". His conclusion is clear: "Priority must be given to health and the optimum treatment for the health of a diabetic is the pump ".
Patients must obviously remain free to choose their treatment, but it is important for them to know all the possible therapeutic options and to have the possibility of trying each treatment to find their balance and to be able to say "Yes, this treatment is suitable for me". ".
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