A hidden killer with a diet to control cardiovascular disease.
Diabetes is closely related to cardiovascular diseases. Diabetes is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, leading to insulin resistance, haemoglobin metabolism, etc. These factors contribute to the sclerosis of the aneurystic porridge and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, such as coronary heart disease, myocardial disease, etc., which seriously affects the health of patients and their prognosis. Yet diabetes is spreading with an unstoppable trend. According to the International Diabetes Federation, there were 415 million people suffering from diabetes globally in 2015, and that figure is expected to rise to 642 million by 2040.
In particular, type 2 diabetes, which results in micro- and large-vascular complications from chronic poor blood sugar control, is the main cause of morbidity, increased mortality and a decline in health-related quality of life for diabetes patients.
What is the current treatment?
The prevention of cardiovascular complications of diabetes is the focus of treatment, not only for the control of blood sugar but also for cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure and blood resin. In practice, however, the achievement of recommended treatment targets for diabetics is still unsatisfactory, depending solely on the prescription of medication in a medical institution. This may be a lack of patient dependence on treatment and other recommendations, with more than 50 per cent of long-term treatment patients not changing their way of life or taking proper medication as prescribed by the doctor.
Can cardiovascular complications of diabetes be prevented through diet?
The study reports that the following dietary patterns may be beneficial to the cardiovascular environment of diabetes patients:
1) Mediterranean Diet: The Mediterranean Diet is a diet based on traditional eating habits in the Mediterranean.
o Vegetable foods such as vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and cereals. For example, vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, fruits such as oranges, apples, beans such as hawks, lentils, nuts such as almonds, walnuts, grains such as wheat bread, rough rice, etc.
o Fish intake is high because fish are rich in high-quality proteins and unsaturated fatty acids, such as single unsaturated fatty acids in olive oil, which help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
o Usually contains lower amounts of meat and dairy products, with olive oil as the main source of fat.
2) Termination of hypertension diet: this is a diet designed to reduce blood pressure.
o Emphasis is placed on foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. For example, daily guaranteed intake of a certain amount of fresh fruit and vegetables, choice of whole grain foods such as barley noodles, low-fat milk, etc.
o Includes appropriate quantities of thin meat, fish, poultry, nuts and beans to provide quality protein.
o Reduced intake of saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium (salt) can help control blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.
3) The diet of the high healthy diet index and the diet of the alternative to the healthy diet index: emphasis is placed on a balanced diet, with a higher intake of nutritious foods such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, skinny meat, fish and low-fat dairy products.
What are the dietary patterns that diabetics should avoid?
1) Diets with high blood sugar index and blood sugar loads: These diets are associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, and foods such as fine grain products (e.g. rice, white bread), mashed potatoes and so forth usually have high blood sugar indices.
2) High red meat and processed meat intake: The high intake of red meat and processed meat has significantly increased the risk of type 2 diabetes, mainly from mammals such as beef, pork, lamb, etc. Processing meat refers to a variety of sausages sold in supermarkets, such as Frankfurt sausages, ham sausages, etc., and salted meat.
3) Sugar or artificial sugar beverages: Ingestion is associated with an increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes, and some sugar-free Cokes, sugar-free tea beverages (with artificial sweeteners to provide sweets) and so on are artificial sugar beverages.
While the efforts of patients themselves are important on the path to diabetes management, the support of families and friends is indispensable. It was to be hoped that every patient ‘ s family would gain insight into the importance of diabetes diet management and give patients more attention, encouragement and supervision. Let us work together to create an environment conducive to health management for people living with diabetes so that they are no longer alone in the fight against disease and are empowered to meet the challenge of cardiovascular diseases associated with diabetes.
