Diabetics need to “eat and calculate” and remember “One, two, three, four, five!”
Our current generation’s living standards are getting better, no need to worry about going without meals. Nowadays, one can enjoy rich meals anytime, no need to wait for the holidays. Although our living standards have improved, many people’s health has deteriorated. This is due to many people’s lack of dietary control, consuming too many high-calorie, high-sugar foods, leading to excessive obesity. Combined with irregular eating habits, lack of exercise, many people develop symptoms of high blood sugar as they age, which can lead to diabetes. In fact, many cases of diabetes are due to unscientific dietary habits. Therefore, to treat and alleviate diabetes, one should start with dietary adjustments. Today, let’s discuss what dietary corrections and precautions diabetic people need to be aware of. Let’s explore using daily diet to treat and alleviate diabetes.
【Diabetics Need to “Eat and Calculate”】
Diet is the fundamental cause of diabetes, therefore, treating diabetes through diet is essential for diabetic patients. Whether it’s in the early stages of diabetes or for long-term users of medication or insulin injections, dietary treatment is necessary. Diabetics who aim to treat diabetes through diet need to understand the concept of “eating and calculating.” Let’s examine together.
Our daily intake of grains mainly produces calories and provides carbohydrates and vegetable proteins. Carbohydrates should contribute to 60% of the daily calorie intake calculated as 4 calories per gram; meat, eggs, fish, poultry, and dairy primarily offer animal proteins, vitamins, and trace elements, with proteins accounting for 15% of the total calorie intake. Cooking oil and fats in animal foods each produce 9 calories per gram, contributing to 25% of the total calorie intake.
Diabetics must be aware of their standard body weight, and a simple calculation method is:
Standard body weight (kg) = Height (cm) – 105.
Being 10% or 20% above the standard weight is considered overweight or obese, within 10% above or below standard weight is normal, and being 10% or 20% below standard weight is underweight or thin.
Diabetics’ daily caloric intake should be calculated by multiplying 25, 30, or 35 calories per kilogram of body weight with the standard weight. For example, a person with a standard weight of 60 kg would have a daily caloric intake of 60 x 25 = 1500 calories.
Generally, men should limit their total calorie intake to 1500 to 1800 calories and women to around 1400 to 1700 calories. Then, adjust the food intake based on the total calorie intake.
One can follow a daily plan of one, two, three, four, five: one Jin of vegetables, two liang of tofu, three liang of meat, eggs, and fish, four qian of oil, five liang of staple food (5 to 6 liang for men, 5 liang for women), plus a bag of milk. The principle is:
Controlling the daily total calorie intake is crucial; fluctuating intakes can have negative effects. Limit staple foods to four to five liang, not recommending less than 3 liang.
Dietary fiber is beneficial, helping lower blood sugar. For obese individuals, weight loss is crucial, and persistence is key.
For thin individuals, weight gain is needed, and having multiple small meals per day can be effective. Fruits can spike blood sugar, so it’s essential to test between meals with stable blood sugar.
Exchange starchy foods, limit oily foods. Use 20 grams of oil per day, favor boiling, steaming, and braising over frying. Avoid snacks, nuts, and seeds. Minimize alcohol consumption, avoid smoking, and maintain mealtime consistency.
Remember one, two, three, four, five, dietary treatment is fundamental. To prevent low blood sugar, always carry some sugar when going out.
【Eating Know-How for Treating Diabetes】
Diabetics need to pay special attention to their diet, calculate their daily caloric requirements, and understand where to obtain the necessary nutrients. Therefore, diabetics need to be able to “eat and calculate.” Additionally, many foods in our daily lives have blood sugar-lowering effects, and scientists have discovered insulin-like components in many foods. Consuming these foods can help diabetics lower their blood sugar levels. Thus, diabetics can control and treat diabetes through “eating.” Let’s explore which foods can help lower blood sugar levels and how to consume them.
Controlling Diabetes with Pumpkins
In traditional Chinese medicine, pumpkins are believed to have anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, heart-nourishing, and lung-strengthening effects. Modern medicine has found that pumpkins not only contain various essential nutrients but also certain active substances that promote insulin secretion in the body, which can have a therapeutic effect on diabetes.
Treating Diabetes with Eels
Eels contain two types of eelins (Eelins A and Eelins B) that significantly lower blood sugar levels, offering good treatment effects for diabetic patients. Therefore, it is recommended for diabetics to consume eels in moderation to help control the condition.
Treating Diabetes with Onion Heads and Grape Wine
Take a fist-sized onion head, cut it into 8 pieces, and soak it in a bottle (500-550 ml) of red grape wine. After 8 days, consume one onion piece on an empty stomach daily, along with 60-100 grams of the wine. This method stimulates insulin secretion, lowers blood sugar, improves eyesight, and relieves fatigue. To ensure continuous consumption, prepare the next batch of medication on the first day of use.
Treating Diabetes with Fresh Carrot Juice
Wash fresh carrots (preferably red-skinned), crush them to extract juice without heating or seasoning. Drink 100 ml in the morning and evening daily for half a month. It can be continued for up to 6 courses with noticeable blood sugar reduction effects, beneficial for alleviating diabetes symptoms and lowering blood sugar.
Lowering Blood Sugar with Sweet Potato Leaves and Winter Melon Drink
Take fresh tender sweet potato leaves (with stems) at 50 grams, and winter melon at 250 grams. Wash the sweet potato stems and leaves, chop them into small pieces, set aside. Peel and slice the winter melon to 0.5 cm thickness, stir-fry it with vegetable oil until cooked, add water, bring to a boil, then add chopped scallions and ginger, simmer on low heat for 30 minutes. Add the sweet potato stems and leaves, mix evenly, continue to simmer for 10 minutes, season with a little salt and MSG, and the dish is ready. Serve as a soup with meals. Its effects include clearing heat, detoxifying, nourishing the center, and blood, and lowering blood sugar.
【Blood-Sugar-Lowering Teas】
Many early-stage diabetics can control and treat the disease through dietary adjustments alone. By strictly adhering to a low-sugar diet, diabetics can achieve complete recovery from the disease. The reason why many diabetics cannot recover from the disease or see worsened conditions is due to a lack of understanding of dietary control and treatment. In addition to controlling diet in daily life, diabetics can also complement with blood-sugar-lowering teas. Here are two recommended teas to assist in reducing blood sugar levels.
Pomegranate Tea
Pomegranate tea contains an element called chromium, which plays a vital role in sugar and fat metabolism. Supplementing with chromium can help improve glucose tolerance, lower blood sugar and lipids, and enhance insulin sensitivity in diabetics. Mild diabetics can stabilize their blood sugar by consuming pomegranate tea, while severe patients can combine dietary therapy with medication.
Goji Berry and Chinese Yam Blood-Sugar-Lowering Tea
Grind Chinese yam and Tianhuafen, and place them in a ceramic container with goji berries. Add water, simmer for 10 minutes over low heat, strain and drink the juice. This tea nourishes the liver and kidneys, boosts qi, generates saliva, lowers blood sugar, and promotes liver cell regeneration. Suitable for diabetic patients and those with poor liver and kidney function and chronic diseases.
