Mediterranean Diet and Diabetes

 Mediterranean Diet and Diabetes

Dietitian – Nutritionist Fotini Mavropoulou writes to us about Diabetes and the effect of the Mediterranean diet on diabetic patients.

What is Diabetes:

Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disease characterized by high blood glucose (sugar) levels. In diabetes, the body produces less or no insulin or uses insulin inefficiently.

Increased blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and impaired glucose metabolism occur either as a result of decreased insulin secretion or due to decreased sensitivity of the body cells to the action of this hormone (insulin).

 

There are 3 types of Diabetes:

1. TYPE I DIABETES (or childhood diabetes or insulin dependent)
2. TYPE II DIABETES (or non-insulin dependent)
3. PREGNANCY DIABETES (acquired during pregnancy)

How the Mediterranean Diet has a positive effect on Diabetes

Nutrition is the cornerstone in the treatment of the diabetic patient, with the main concern being the maintenance of glucose levels at normal or near normal levels, the optimization of blood lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, the achievement of a healthy body weight, the prevention and treatment of complications of diabetes and overall health improvement. The traditional Mediterranean Diet is a standard diet and includes: plenty of plant foods (fruits, vegetables, bread and other cereals, potatoes, legumes, nuts), dairy products (mainly cheese and yogurt) daily, in small to moderate amounts, fish and poultry in small to moderate quantities, red meat in small quantities up to once a month, low consumption of alcohol (red wine) and daily consumption of olive oil.

With this composition, this type of diet satisfies all the conditions of an adequate diet for diabetics, because it has the required low content of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol, while carbohydrates come mainly from high-fiber complex carbohydrates. Daily consumption of olive oil implies a high content of the diet in monounsaturated fatty acids, which ranges between 15% – 20% of calories. Diets rich in carbohydrates (50-60% of total daily calories), reduced total fat (<30% ) and low in saturated fat (<10% of total calories), are widely recommended as a diet for type 2 diabetic patients.

Studies have been done in recent years, referring to the possible beneficial effects of a diet such as the Mediterranean, with the characteristics mentioned above, in the regulation of diabetes. In particular, a study showed that, compared to a diet high in monounsaturated fatty acids, a high-carbohydrate diet may cause a greater increase in blood triglyceride levels and a corresponding decrease in high-density cholesterol levels (both were low). saturated fat).

On the other hand, diets rich in monounsaturated fats (eg olive oil, etc.) significantly reduced blood triglycerides during fasting, as well as very low-density cholesterol levels, increased high-density cholesterol levels, and no change in cholesterol levels. low density. At the same time, diets rich in monounsaturated fats resulted in a more favorable regulation of blood glycemia. However, there are studies that show that patients with diabetes who follow a high-carbohydrate diet may not experience an increase in triglyceride or glucose levels if their diet is high in fiber.

Nutritional recommendations for Diabetes

1. At least 5 meals, 3 main and 2 snacks should be consumed every 3 hours, the so-called frequent and small meals and enough water.
2. Also, the combination of proper diet and exercise gives the best and of course the desired result.
3. There should be a variety of foods, because nothing is forbidden, just everything is the measure and for each person there are corresponding quantities (this also applies to sweets) Do not rely on light products, sweeteners or foods for diabetics.
4. Choose foods that are rich in fiber. In addition to frequent meals and this will help in better regulation of sugar. Such foods are: vegetables, fruits, whole grains and pasta, legumes.
5. Limit foods that contain fat and sugar and especially standard products.
6. Moderate alcohol consumption is allowed for people with diabetes. A precondition for this is that no other disease coexists that makes it prohibitive.
7. In case the patient is overweight, has hypertension or has elevated blood triglyceride levels, it is recommended to avoid alcohol consumption.
8. Especially in insulin-dependent diabetics, alcohol should always be consumed with food.

 

Fotini Mavropoulou
Dietitian Nutritionist