Introduction: Diabetes is a complex and serious systemic disease that not only affects the quality of life of patients but may also cause severe complications in multiple organs and systems.
These complications include but are not limited to retinopathy, which is the most common ocular complication of diabetes, potentially leading to vision loss or even blindness;
Diabetic nephropathy, caused by kidney damage from diabetes, may result in kidney failure when severe;
Diabetic foot, where due to neuropathy and vascular disease, patients’ feet are prone to infection or ulcers, which may require amputation in severe cases;
Cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke are major causes of death among diabetes patients; cerebrovascular diseases may lead to serious consequences such as cognitive decline and hemiplegia;
In addition, diabetes may also trigger neuropathy, including sensory abnormalities, pain, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction.
When treating diabetes, different strategies need to be adopted for different types of diabetes. For type 1 diabetes, as patients’ pancreatic islet beta cell function is completely lost, they must rely on insulin therapy to sustain life.
For type 2 diabetes, the situation is relatively complex. In the early stages of the disease, many patients may control blood sugar through non-drug methods such as adjusting diet, increasing physical activity, and reducing weight. These methods not only help improve the overall health of patients but also reduce the use of medication and potential drug side effects.
However, for type 2 diabetes patients who cannot control blood sugar through non-drug methods, medication is essential. This may include oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin therapy, and the specific treatment plan needs to be determined based on the patient’s specific condition and the doctor’s advice.
01
What is the pancreatic islet?
The pancreatic islet, this tiny endocrine tissue nestled deep within our pancreas, is small in size but powerful and essential in function. It acts like a miniature chemical factory, responsible for producing and releasing two crucial hormones – insulin and glucagon, which play a vital role in maintaining our body’s blood sugar balance. The pancreatic islet is composed of two main types of cells: alpha cells and beta cells.
Alpha cells produce glucagon, which is released when blood sugar levels are low. They stimulate the liver to release stored glucose, raising blood sugar levels.
On the other hand, beta cells produce insulin, which prompts cells to absorb glucose when blood sugar levels rise, lowering blood sugar levels. The precise regulation of these two hormones ensures that our blood sugar levels remain relatively stable.
If the function of the pancreatic islet is impaired, it can lead to a series of severe health issues. For example, when beta cells are damaged and insufficient insulin is secreted, it may lead to the development of diabetes. Diabetes is a common metabolic disease that results in sustained high blood sugar levels. If left uncontrolled, it can damage multiple systems throughout the body, leading to a series of complications.
02
What is the normal range of the pancreatic islet?
The pancreatic islet, as a crucial endocrine organ in our body, is primarily responsible for producing and secreting insulin and glucagon, two hormones that play a vital role in maintaining blood sugar balance.
However, the pancreatic islet does not have a fixed “normal value” because its functional status varies with various factors such as our physical condition, dietary habits, lifestyle habits, and age.
Nevertheless, we can indirectly assess the functional status of the pancreatic islet through some indicators. For example, blood sugar levels are an important reference. In normal circumstances, fasting blood sugar should be maintained between 3.9-6.1mmol/L, and postprandial blood sugar after two hours should be below 7.8mmol/L. When blood sugar levels are too high or too low, it could be a sign of pancreatic islet function issues.
03
Are melon seeds the “accelerator” of diabetes?
Melon seeds, these common and visible snack in people’s daily lives, play an indispensable role. However, when it comes to diabetes, a chronic metabolic disease, the role of melon seeds seems to become subtle.
Some liken them to the “accelerator” of diabetes, as if every melon seed is secretly aiding the worsening of the disease. But is this claim based on facts or mere speculation?
Diabetes is a high blood sugar condition caused by insufficient insulin secretion or impaired function. As a food rich in fat and energy, melon seeds intake will undeniably increase the calorific burden in the body. For diabetic patients, this additional caloric burden may disrupt the already fragile blood sugar balance, exacerbating the condition.
However, that does not mean melon seeds are the “accelerator” of diabetes. In fact, the intake of any food needs to be controlled in terms of quantity and frequency. For diabetic patients, as long as they control the intake of melon seeds, incorporating them into a balanced diet is entirely acceptable.
Furthermore, melon seeds contain abundant unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, and other nutrients beneficial to human health.
Therefore, we cannot simply view melon seeds as the “accelerator” of diabetes. With scientific dietary guidance, diabetic patients can also enjoy this delicious snack. However, vigilance must be maintained to avoid adverse consequences due to excessive intake.
04
How should diabetics properly eat melon seeds?
Choose original flavored melon seeds
There is a wide variety of melon seed varieties in the market, some of which contain added sugar, salt, and other seasonings that may affect the blood sugar levels of diabetics. Therefore, it is advisable for diabetics to choose original flavored melon seeds to retain the original taste of the melon seeds and reduce unnecessary additives.
Pay attention to portion control
Although small in size, melon seeds are not low in calories. Excessive consumption may lead to an overabundance of calories, affecting blood sugar control. Therefore, diabetic individuals are advised to control the amount of melon seeds consumed within a certain range to avoid excessive intake at once.
Combine with other healthy foods
When consuming melon seeds, diabetics can also eat them with other healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables. These foods are rich in dietary fiber and vitamins, aiding in lowering blood sugar and blood lipids, increasing satiety, and reducing melon seed intake.
Monitor changes in blood sugar levels
If blood sugar levels rise, adjust the diet and exercise plan appropriately to maintain stable blood sugar. Additionally, maintaining healthy habits such as regular sleep patterns and adequate exercise can enhance physical fitness and better cope with the challenges of the disease.
05
Reminder: Protect the pancreatic islet, remember the “3 eat, 3 don’t eat”
【3 Eat】
Cucumber
In daily diet, cucumber, as a low-sugar, high-fiber vegetable, is an ideal choice for diabetic patients to protect the pancreatic islet. Cucumbers have a high water content and extremely low calorific value, almost no sugar content, thus avoiding rapid blood sugar spikes. Furthermore, the dietary fiber in cucumbers helps slow down the digestion of food in the intestines, further stabilizing blood sugar levels.
Eating cucumbers frequently has numerous benefits for diabetic patients, as the vitamins and minerals in cucumbers help enhance the function of pancreatic islet cells, stimulate insulin secretion, aiding in blood sugar control.
Dietary fibers in cucumbers can lower cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, a common complication among diabetic patients. Moreover, cucumbers are rich in antioxidants, capable of resisting damage from free radicals, protecting pancreatic islet cells from oxidative stress.
Okra
Diabetic patients can protect the pancreatic islet by frequently consuming okra, based on the various nutritional components of okra and its potential benefits for health. Okra, as a nutrient-rich vegetable, contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, uniquely beneficial for pancreatic islet protection in diabetic patients.
Okra is rich in soluble dietary fiber, which can slow down the digestion rate of food in the intestines, thus reducing the rate of blood sugar elevation. Controlling blood sugar fluctuations is essential for diabetic patients, and okra’s characteristic can help them better manage blood sugar levels.
Additionally, okra contains abundant vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium, iron, and more. These nutrients play a crucial role in maintaining the health and function of pancreatic islet cells. Pancreatic islet cells are responsible for producing insulin, a key hormone in regulating blood sugar levels. Therefore, preserving the function of pancreatic islet cells is vital for diabetic patients.
Blueberries
Blueberries, as a nutrient-rich fruit, are an ideal food choice for diabetic patients due to their low sugar content, rich antioxidants, and fiber.
The antioxidants in blueberries, such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and polyphenols, exhibit potent antioxidant capabilities. These antioxidants can counteract the damage caused by free radicals, shielding pancreatic islet cells from oxidative stress to maintain their health.
Furthermore, blueberries have a high fiber content, aiding in slowing down the digestion rate of food in the intestines and reducing the magnitude of blood sugar spikes, promoting stabilized blood sugar levels. For diabetic patients, this means that after consuming blueberries, blood sugar fluctuations will be relatively small, benefiting the health of pancreatic islets.
【3 Don’t Eat】
Rice
Rice, as a staple food, plays a significant role in people’s daily diet. However, for diabetic patients, the intake of rice needs to be carefully controlled. This is because rice’s primary component is carbohydrates, especially starch, which rapidly converts to glucose during digestion, leading to rapid blood sugar elevation.
For diabetic patients whose pancreatic islet function is impaired, the swift fluctuation of blood sugar may worsen the burden on the pancreatic islet, affecting the secretion and efficacy of insulin. Normally, the pancreatic islet adjusts the amount of insulin secreted based on changes in blood sugar levels to maintain stability.
Nevertheless, in diabetic patients, the function of the pancreatic islet may be compromised, resulting in insufficient insulin secretion or reduced effectiveness. In this scenario, if too much rice or other carbohydrate-rich foods are consumed, blood sugar levels will spike, and the pancreatic islet will fail to secrete adequate insulin promptly to lower the blood sugar, leading to continuous elevation and further impairment of pancreatic islet function.
Fatty Meat
Fatty meats, particularly those high in saturated fats, pose a special concern for diabetic patients and require careful attention. Excessive intake of saturated fats increases cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, affecting vascular health and normal pancreatic islet function. A high-sugar, high-fat dietary pattern is a key factor contributing to poor blood sugar control among diabetic patients.
The intake of saturated fats can increase insulin resistance. Insulin resistance refers to reduced sensitivity of body cells to insulin, requiring more insulin to lower blood sugar to a normal range. Prolonged consumption of fatty meats loaded with saturated fats exacerbates insulin resistance, burdening the pancreatic islet and impairing proper pancreatic islet function.
Moreover, the intake of saturated fats can impact the function of pancreatic islet beta cells. Pancreatic islet beta cells are vital cells in the pancreatic islet responsible for insulin production, and they are highly sensitive to changes in blood sugar levels. Long-term consumption of fatty meats rich in saturated fats may damage pancreatic islet beta cells, reducing insulin secretion and leading to elevated blood sugar levels.
Butter
Butter is a high-fat, high-sugar food, consisting mainly of milk fat and lactose. Milk fat comprises saturated fatty acids, excess intake of which raises cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, causing abnormal blood lipids and increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Conversely, lactose is a simple sugar easily absorbed by the body, leading to rapid blood sugar elevation after consumption.
For diabetic patients, the intake of butter exacerbates the burden on the pancreatic islet. When blood sugar levels rise, the pancreatic islet needs to secrete more insulin to lower blood sugar. However, due to compromised pancreatic islet function, diabetic patients often lack sufficient insulin secretion to manage blood sugar fluctuations effectively.
Under such circumstances, excessive intake of high-sugar, high-fat foods like butter causes a rapid rise in blood sugar levels, exceeding the pancreatic islet’s ability to secrete adequate insulin promptly to lower blood sugar, leading to prolonged elevation and further impairment of pancreatic islet function. Hence, diabetic patients need to control their intake of butter to reduce the burden on the pancreatic islet and blood sugar fluctuations.
06
Further Reading: Can diabetes be cured?
Despite significant advances in current scientific technology, curing diabetes remains a challenge. However, this does not mean that we cannot manage and control diabetes through other means.
With the ongoing development of medical technology and continuous research progress, we can now implement more refined management of diabetes. Many patients have successfully controlled their blood sugar within the normal range through strict dietary control and moderate exercise. Additionally, medications and insulin therapy provide diabetic patients with more treatment options.
Moreover, we should acknowledge that the cure for diabetes does not solely depend on the progress of medical technology. Self-management by patients is crucial. By regularly monitoring blood sugar levels, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, avoiding unhealthy habits and mindsets, diabetic patients can better control their condition and reduce the occurrence of complications.
Although the cure for diabetes remains an unsolved mystery, we should maintain a positive attitude and confidence. With the continuous development of technology, we have reasons to believe that one day we will find a way to cure diabetes.
