Diet particularities in Type 1 diabetes
In this case, the basic method of treatment consists in insulin therapy; the diet is only auxiliary measure. In Type 1 diabetes, the insulin producing cells are destroyed; therefore, the insulin therapy is characterized by adequate replacement treatment. However, in this case the keeping to the correct diet and the right choice of foods are no less important. Nowadays, the determination of the glycemia level and the techniques of insulin therapy enable the patient to adjust independently the food consumption, which depends on appetite and other individual particularities.
In a healthy person, the insulin production begins after food intake. The insulin, introduced with an injection, does not respond to the process of food intake. Insulin is not as well dependent on physiological stress. For the patient, it is important to bring the action of insulin into the accord with the used carbohydrates. It is carbohydrates that influence upon the sugar levels in the blood. Some foods practically do not increase the sugar level and they can be consumed without any restriction. Among them are vegetable marrows, salad, parsley, cabbage, carrots, turnip, eggplants, and legumes. Other foods increase the sugar levels significantly. For convenience, the last category of carbohydrate containing foods can be classified into 5 groups:
1. The products containing easily digestible carbohydrates, such as pure sugar;
2. Liquid dairy products, such, as kefir, milk and so forth;
3. Fruit, berries;
4. Some vegetables, such as corn, potatoes, etc.;
5. Grain, cereals, such as bakery and macaroni products, grains.
For patients with Type 1 diabetes and normal body weight, the dietary cure consists in excluding from the diet the products of the first group and not exceeding the physiological daily calorie norm and the dosage of carbohydrates within a day (no more than 4-5 Cereal Units (CU) on 1 food intake). It is very important to keep strictly to the diet. The schedule of food intake should not be necessarily restricted by traditional standards. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the individual style of a life and the mode of insulin introduction. All individual elements such as food intake, calorie intake, the carbohydrate dosage, physical activity should be correctly selected and combined harmoniously.
The replacement insulin therapy is carried out by means of hypodermic injections. The patients may perform injections themselves after appropriate training. Pen syringes and insulin syringes are used for injections. At present, the high quality insulin preparations produced by genetic engineering are widely used. These insulin preparations represent an absolute copy of human insulin. The insulin use from the standpoint of the time characteristics depends on individual fluctuations of absorption. The insulin introduced under the abdominal skin acts faster; the insulin introduced under the shoulder skin takes action a little slower; even slower is the insulin introduced under the hip skin. The daily requirements of insulin are around 40 IU; this is the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas of a healthy person. The introduction of insulin into the organism should occur fractionally within a day and corresponds to each food intake. There should be a constant background level of insulin in the body to regulate the sugar concentrations on an empty stomach.
The dose of insulin is determined individually in hospital conditions. The dose of insulin can sometimes be increased with the increase in body weight. In this case, patients overeat most likely.