Diabetes
Suggested Sessions
3-4 times/year
Nutrition & Diabetes
A disease of the modern era, diabetes mellitus is associated with a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet and lack of exercise.
Key to its regulation is a balanced diet, physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which either the pancreas cannot produce insulin, or the body cannot use it.
Insulin is a hormone that regulates sugar.
It is the main source of energy and comes from the food we eat.
« In Greece, 900,000 people are estimated to suffer from diabetes, while the corresponding number reaches 557,000,000 in the whole world »
Diabetes Types
Diabetes mellitus comes in two main types:
- Type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune disorder and requires insulin administration.
- Type 2 diabetes, which is due to a metabolic disorder and is characterized by high blood glucose levels.
More rare is latent autoimmune diabetes in adults, which is considered to be somewhere between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Also during pregnancy the so-called gestational diabetes occurs. This form of diabetes appears for the first time in pregnancy and usually goes away after the baby is born.
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Note that many people have pre-diabetes, that is, a medical condition with marginally high blood sugar, but not at a level that warrants a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
Nutrition & Diabetes Program
Diet is a very important "tool" in regulating sugar. In essence, it is a balanced healthy diet, with a variety of foods in moderate quantities and regular meals.
The correct diet for diabetics is addressed to patients suffering from diabetes and non-diabetics.
The nutritionist of Facemed Clinic will help people with diabetes to be trained in nutritional care, which is crucial for treating the disease alongside any medication.
The aim of the nutritional program is to control blood glucose, an unwanted increase of which can, if it persists, create serious problems for the body.
Each person's body responds differently to different types of foods and diets for diabetes.
That is, there is no "magic diet" that works for all diabetics.
Thus, the two sides in collaboration will create a balanced diet, which will include favorite flavors, as well as new ones suggested by the nutritionist.
The weekly diet is helpful as it helps the patient have a complete picture of what to eat.
Forbidden Foods
With proper management, the word "forbidden" will not be included among the foods that make up the diet of diabetics.
There are, however, foods that should be avoided, such as:
- Processed meats (ham, salami, bacon, etc.).
- Packaged snacks and standard baked goods.
- White carbohydrates (bread, pasta).
- Breakfast cereal with sugar.
- Dried fruit.
- Fried potatoes.
- High-fat cuts of meat.
- Foods with trans fats or foods with a higher amount of saturated fat (cakes, pies, doughnuts, chips, cookies).
- Foods with sugar.
« The idea that diabetics should not consume sugar is a myth. Sugar is allowed but in moderation »
Meal Planning
A simple method of planning meals for diabetics is suggested by the American Diabetes Association, which is based on a plate filled as follows:
- Half a plate of starchy vegetables.
- ¼ with protein.
- ¼ with whole grain products.
The dish should include good fats, such as olive oil, as well as vegetables and fruits
