About 2% of the Greek population has type 2 diabetes, while 25% do not know that they suffer. Every year 6540 people die of diabetes in our country, ie about 18 people / day! The National Health System spends about 1.2 billion Euros on diabetes. But all of this can be done by Nutrition Science.

Diabetes mellitus is a disease that is divided into two categories. There is type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is a hormonal disorder. It occurs mainly in young people for this reason and is called “juvenile diabetes” or “insulin dependent”. In this type, the elevated blood sugar level is corrected by proper insulin intake, depending on the meals and the amount of carbohydrates they contain.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (SD2), is that of obesity. It is “non-insulin dependent” and occurs mainly in older, overweight people.

1 Obesity, 2 Medical History, 3 Low birth weight, 4 low exercise, 5 Age, 6 Diet high in fat and low in fiber.

Yes, because this is called “prediabetes”. The limit of prediabetes is: fasting glucose from 100-125. Pre-diabetes multiplies the risk of developing SD2 and consequently the risk of mortality.

Serum glucose rises when we consume foods with an increased glycemic index or load. Such foods that we should limit or avoid are white bread, bulbs such as potatoes (mainly baked), beetroot. We also pay attention to corn, sweets, mixed frozen vegetables with corn and peas (1 cup = 1 slice of bread) and boiled carrots. We reduce the consumption of very ripe and sweet fruits (eg grapes, ripe bananas, etc.). Finally we limit alcohol.

Everything should be taken care of. But it is safer to eat vegetables, such as green leafy cereals, whole grains and whole grain breads. Choose basmati and yellow rice instead of white. Prefer boiled potatoes with a little squeezed lemon and olive oil over baked potatoes.

As far as fats are concerned, it is good to consume olive oil, fish and nuts without salt while reducing the consumption of red meat. Do not forget that fat can also increase your blood sugar. But not immediately. It will happen about 8 hours after a high fat meal. So do not be surprised if you wake up fasting in the morning and have high glucose. Did you eat a lot of nuts last night?

The truth is that you have to check it. SD2 is an insidious condition that is accompanied by comorbidity. That is, this disease is accompanied by others. For example, the function of the heart and other organs is burdened. Finally, just because you take a diabetes pill does not mean that you can eat poorly. The reason is that no pill can replace the function of your pancreas which secretes insulin that sheds sugar. That’s why he wants attention.

This is not a good idea. Your diet should be more “Mediterranean” and perhaps specific to diabetes. If you increase the amount of meat and protein too much, the body increases the ketone bodies and the body is faced with a condition called ketoacidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis is one of the most serious and threatening complications of diabetes that can be fatal!

Follow the instructions of your doctor, lose weight in a healthy way, and change your habits! If SD2 knocks on your door, it would be good not to underestimate it…