With more than 16 million people with diabetesO Brazil is the 5th country with the highest incidence of illness in the world, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). According to the institution, this number could reach 21.5 million by 2030.
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One of the biggest challenges in dealing with the disease is related to food, mainly due to the need to control sugar and carbohydrate consumption. For Beatriz Scher, influencer and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of six, when the person discovers the disease, adapting their diet seems to be a challenge.
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However, doctor Christian Aguiar, an authority on preventive and natural health, explains that having a nutritional strategy makes a big difference in controlling symptoms and the quality of life of people with diabetes.
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“Dealing with diabetes in itself is difficult, but being exposed to sweets, fast food, alcoholic drinks and other delicacies, ends up being an obstacle for those who have recently discovered the disease. In my case, as I was diagnosed as a child, I grew up knowing what I should or shouldn’t eat, this made things a little less difficult. However, the biggest complaint from my newly diagnosed followers is this difficulty in adapting to their new life”, says the diabetes influencer.
Types of diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood and adolescence, and develops due to a reduction or lack of insulin production. Due to this low production, the pancreas cannot control glucose. Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed mainly in adults over 40 years of age and in the elderly, and may appear at sedentary lifestyledue to poor diet, obesity and stress.
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In type 2, unlike 1, insulin is still produced in the body, but there is resistance to its action in the body. According to Dr. Christian Aguiar, despite the difference, monitoring with specialists is important in both cases, as nutrition is a great ally to provide a better quality of life.
Important dietary precautions
For people diagnosed with diabetes, the daily menu must be balanced. “For diabetics and anyone who wants to prevent the pathology, the diet low carb is the most recommended, reducing the consumption of the largest sources of carbohydrates, such as bread, pasta, cake and all foods that contain a lot of flour in their production”, says the doctor.
According to him, the ideal is that there should be a maximum daily consumption of between 100 and 150 g of carbohydrates. “Another food that should also be avoided and consumed in moderation is sugar. It overloads the pancreas, which consequently cannot produce enough insulin to lower glucose levels,” he explains.
Furthermore, Dr. Christian Aguiar emphasizes being careful when consuming fruit, especially in the form of juice. This is because, to prepare just one glass, there is a need for a greater quantity of fruit, equivalent to a higher level of sugar in the body.
“When we consume a lot of sugar, we decrease mitochondrial function, which pancreas it works excessively and, as a result, increases insulin resistance in the body. And these changes harm the diabetic’s health,” he explains.
Foods to avoid in your routine
Below, Dr. Christian Aguiar suggests other foods that diabetics should avoid:
- Processed meats, such as bacon, sausage, salami, etc.;
- Drinks with a high sugar content, such as natural juices, soft drinks and energy drinks;
- Refined carbohydrates, such as bread, cake, pasta, even in their full-fat versions;
- Fried foods, as they are highly inflammatory and increase insulin resistance.
Other precautions to be taken
Diabetes influencer, Beatriz Scher, warns her followers about the need to have medical and nutritional monitoring, in addition to carefully reading packaging and labels to make conscious choices, opting for products that align with individual nutritional needs.
Furthermore, she highlights the importance of making blood glucose corrections as necessary. She encourages people with type 1 diabetes to always carry their insulin pens with them, in addition to glucose monitors.
By Yasmin Santos
