World Diabetes Day Living with Diabetes

World Diabetes Day: Experts inform about diabetes

14/11/2012

The number of diabetes patients has increased significantly in Germany in recent years. Unhealthy diets with too much sugar and fat, lack of exercise and corresponding obesity are considered essential causes. According to estimates of the diabetes center e.V., around 375 million people worldwide are affected and about 20 more are added every minute. On the occasion of today's World Diabetes Day experts throughout Germany inform about the disease diabetes mellitus.

According to the diabetologist Stephan Martin of the German Diabetes Foundation (DDS), the spread of the widespread disease diabetes can hardly be managed in the short term. "That will be more, considering how many children today grow up with fast food and little exercise," said the expert to the news agency "dpa". For those affected, the diagnosis often comes as a complete surprise, as diabetes first develops for years without any obvious symptoms, the diabetologist explained, adding: "If sugar would hurt, that would not be such a big problem." Patients would be safe if symptoms were obvious be prepared early to change their lifestyle and diet so that the disease can not continue to manifest.

Significant increase in diabetes disorders
The increase in diabetes is largely due to an increase in type 2 diabetes, which used to be called adult-onset diabetes. Type 2 diabetes develops throughout life, with diet and lifestyle playing a key role in addition to genetic predisposition. In overweight, the risk of illness increases massively. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the number of people affected to be slightly lower than the diabetes center, the WHO figures also show how far-reaching the problem of diabetes is. The WHO currently estimates 346 million diabetics worldwide and in Germany, according to the experts, between eight and ten million people are affected. For patients, the diagnosis is often a shock, not least because they usually have to change their way of life fundamentally new.

Diabetes requires a change in lifestyle and diet
Diabetologist Stephan Martin from the German Diabetes Foundation explained that diabetes patients not only need to receive tablets or insulin injections, but also have to restructure their everyday lives. A properly adapted diet and more exercise are urgently recommended to diabetics. "Even many small steps are very successful," said the expert and added: "If diabetics do sports in the evening, the blood sugar is better in the morning." In addition, the diet of many foods healthier alternatives, the diabetologist continues. For example, Martin advises olive oil instead of animal fats and wholegrain flour instead of white flour. "With vegetables, the diabetics are not subject to any restrictions, this' you can eat as much as you want," said the expert. On the other hand, this does not apply to the fruit varieties. For example, grapes are less suitable with their large quantities of fructose. In general, Martin advises the person concerned to cook for themselves, as the ingredients can best be surveyed.

Dark chocolate suitable for diabetics
If diabetes has been diagnosed, this generally requires a fundamental change in diet, but those affected by no means have to give up all their favorite sweets. For example, ice cream and cakes are available in special versions for diabetics and even with normal sweets, the sufferers do not generally have to renounce. As the diabetologist Stephan Martin explained, for example, "bitter chocolate is excellent" for diabetics. However, diabetics should not consume "a whole table", of course. According to the expert, it is important that patients feel well with their diet, otherwise they can not sustain the healthy way of life in the long term. "Inserting a tablet is easy, but a lifestyle change is the hardest thing you can imagine," said the diabetologist.

Chef gives nutrition tips for diabetics
Sven Büttner, head chef of the Munich Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, explained the culinary possibilities open to diabetics in order to facilitate the change in diet. For example, a pumpkin soup with ginger, fish with paprika sauce and fruit for dessert is recommended in autumn. In the process, the soup ingredients are sweated in as little fat as possible and the fish do not get any breading, but instead are cooked in a light white wine sauce. According to the head chef, diabetics can "cook normally" if they pay attention to certain things. For example, it is important to note that the pumpkin soup is not refined with cream, because it is "a bit heavy with forty percent fat." Alternatively, the soup can be topped with pumpkin seed oil. In the end, according to the experts, the diabetics, despite their illness, have numerous tasty options, they only have to pay a little more attention to the selection of the ingredients. (Fp)

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