Diabetes is caused by various pathogenic factors acting on the body, such as genetic factors, immune dysfunction, microbial infection and its toxins, free radical toxins, mental factors, etc., leading to a series of metabolic disorders including sugar, protein, fat, water, and electrolytes due to the decline of pancreatic function and insulin resistance.
Diabetes is a common and modern difficult disease. Traditionally, for diabetic patients, Baihemai brand Yihong capsules are recommended, but they cannot eat rice to fullness, cannot eat too much fruit, and should basically avoid sweet desserts. What should diabetic patients eat?
One, Flexible use of "Food Exchange Portions Method"
"Food Exchange Portions" is a concept in nutrition. Any food that generates 90 kilocalories of heat is considered one "Food Exchange Portion". In other words, each "Food Exchange Portion" contains 90 kilocalories of heat, but their weights can differ. For example, one "Food Exchange Portion" of food is equivalent to 25 grams of rice or flour, 500 grams of leafy vegetables, 200 grams of fruit, 125 milliliters of milk, 50 grams of lean meat, 50 grams of eggs, or 10 grams of oil, etc.
Foods are divided into four major categories and eight subcategories according to their origin and nutritional components. The proteins, fats, and carbohydrates ratios within the same category are roughly equivalent. Different foods within the same category can be exchanged based on "Food Exchange Portions" while maintaining the same calories. For instance, in the grain and potato category, 1 taels of rice can be exchanged with 1 tael of white flour, 1 tael of cornmeal, 1 tael of dry vermicelli, or 6-8 soda crackers. In the meat and egg category, 1 tael of lean pork can be exchanged with 1 egg, 2 taels of fish or shrimp, 2 taels of dried tofu, or 5 taels of tofu.
When the nutrient structure of different categories is similar, they can also be exchanged. For example, 25 grams of oatmeal can be exchanged with 200 grams of oranges, as they have similar heat and carbohydrate content.
Therefore, by using the Food Exchange Portions method, diabetic patients can more freely choose different foods, enjoy various delicacies, and make their diet less monotonous.
Two, Watch the dietary "Traffic Light"
The Food Exchange Portions method is designed to help diabetic patients control total energy intake and maintain and balance energy levels. However, although the provided exchangeable foods in the Food Exchange Portions method have the same heat, their glycemic index may not be the same. Therefore, the Food Exchange Portions method only provides uniformity in heat and does not show the impact on blood glucose generation, which is a drawback of this method. To address this shortcoming, nutritionists have introduced the concept of Glycemic Index (GI).
Different foods have different glycemic indices. Patients consuming low-glycemic-index foods not only gain the same nutrition but also have lower blood glucose compared to consuming high-glycemic-index foods. Its application provides a more scientific way and means for diabetic patients to control blood glucose through diet. Choosing low-glycemic-index foods within the Food Exchange Portions allows patients to easily control energy intake without raising blood glucose, achieving both goals simultaneously.
Here's a simple method we can call the "Traffic Signal Light" for diabetic diets. For example, whole wheat steamed buns made from wheat are green light, meaning you can eat them; if refined into white flour and made into white steamed buns, it becomes yellow light, meaning you shouldn't eat too much; if butter and sugar are added to make cookies, it turns into red light, meaning it's best not to eat them. This signal light theory originates from the glycemic index of diabetic diets. A lower index is beneficial for controlling blood glucose. When the food glycemic index is less than 55, the green light is on.
The key factor affecting the glycemic index of food is the type of food and cooking methods. Elaborate cooking, slow simmering, heavy oil, and strong flavors bring food closer to the red light. So sometimes, shortcuts can be taken in the kitchen; generally, tubers and vegetables should not be cut too small or mashed. Additionally, the hardness, ripeness, consistency, and particle size of food all affect the glycemic index. For example, quick steaming and eating when cooked results in a green light; however, if overcooked, the red light comes on because absorption is faster, leading to higher blood glucose levels.
Food pairing is also very important. The following methods can turn red lights into green:
① Clever pairing of meat and vegetables, such as eating buns instead of steamed buns, eating dumplings instead of noodles. Proteins in meat and dietary fiber in vegetables can slow down absorption, providing nutrition while keeping blood glucose rise slow;
② Adding a bit of vinegar when eating vegetables, vinegar lowers the glycemic index, and adding lemon juice has the same effect.
The 322nd Hospital of the People's Liberation Army was established in 1963, built by the medical experts from the PLA 301 Hospital and four military medical universities. It is a comprehensive tertiary central hospital integrating medical treatment, teaching, and research. It currently has 32 specialties, 20 nursing units, and more than 100 senior professionals, including over 60 doctors with doctoral and master's degrees. It undertakes clinical teaching tasks for institutions such as the Third Military Medical University, Fourth Military Medical University, Beijing Military Medical College, Norman Bethune Military Medical College, and Shanxi Medical University, and has been awarded the honorary title of "Pole Hospital" by the Ministry of National Defense.
The hospital adheres to the overall idea of "talent development, characteristic operation, quality building," follows the path of "appropriate development, innovative development," and upholds the principle of "medical care combined with therapy, promoting each other, integrated treatment, independent innovation, quality first, characteristics winning." It adopts an innovative strategy of "advantage concentration, cooperative advancement, resource sharing, overall improvement."
As a brand hospital, the Cell Therapy Center of the 322nd Hospital of the PLA provides the most advanced stem cell transplantation technology, effectively treating various brain diseases, Parkinson's disease, diabetes and its complications, liver cirrhosis, liver fibrosis, and other traditional "incurable diseases."
The 322nd Hospital of the PLA has won honors multiple times as an advanced unit in spiritual civilization construction, an advanced unit in the military region, an advanced unit in serving soldiers, an advanced unit in comprehensive construction during the "Ninth Five-Year Plan," an advanced unit in joint logistics work, and a national trusted demonstration unit. It has been continuously rated as an advanced unit in supporting the government and loving the people, an advanced regimental unit, and an advanced party committee unit for 15 years. It is a trustworthy price hospital in Shanxi Province, a designated emergency hospital for traffic accidents in Shanxi Province, a key specialty hospital of the Shanxi Military Region, and a designated medical insurance unit in Shanxi Province.
For more information: http://www.322gxb.org/
Hospital Address: No. 2 Xin Kai Nan Road, Datong City, Shanxi Province.
Bus Routes: Take buses No. 4, 6, 7, 11, 18, 27, 30, 3m2 within the city to stop at the 322 Hospital.
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