The right way to eat can keep people with diabetes healthy

Author: Sun Limeng, Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Reviewer: Yu Kang, Chief Physician, Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Mom sat cross-legged on the sofa, watching TV while eating desserts and drinking beverages. Dad said helplessly, "Stop eating and drinking. It's time to test your blood sugar." Mom said disapprovingly, "Don't delay me from watching this crucial goal. Let's not test it today. If we win, let's go eat hot pot to celebrate; if we lose, I won't eat." Dad had no choice but to call me to complain.

Daughter: "Mom, I'm back. This is my gift to you, a remote home medical system. It's a health assistant specifically designed to manage you, the 'old sugar man'."

Big screen: "Hello, Auntie. I am your family telehealth assistant. I am here to serve you wholeheartedly. According to your information, you were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1998. Please don't worry too much. I will protect your health from now on."

Mom: "Hey, the most annoying thing about my illness is that I'm so hungry every day. If I can control my mouth, I can't control my mood."

Big screen: "Auntie, you have a misunderstanding. People with diabetes can also enjoy delicious food!"

Figure 1 Copyright image, no permission to reprint

The following is a one-day diet plan for "diabetics": For diabetes, eat a fixed amount, low glycemic index (low GI), 3 taels of staple food per day, 300-500 g of vegetables, 20-30 taels of protein, increase the variety of fish, shrimp, eggs and milk, no more than 25 g of fat, 5 g of salt, control sugar, eat small meals with fixed amounts, and have a balanced diet to stabilize blood sugar.

Mom: "That makes sense, but how do you measure it?"

Dad: "We'll think about it later. Let's have dinner. Five meat dishes, five vegetable dishes, plus a bowl of longevity noodles. Birthday boy, please take a seat."

Big screen: "Don't rush to pick up your chopsticks, the 'one fist, one palm, one hand' dietary quantitative method is here!"

Mom: “What’s new about this?”

Big screen: "The amount of staple food for each meal is about the size of one's fist, such as one fist of rice, one fist of steamed buns, etc."

Mom: "That's great. I'll eat one fist of steamed bun and one fist of rice. That's enough."

Big screen: "No, no, there is only one fist of staple food. You can't have your cake and eat it too. At the same time, don't forget to match coarse and fine food, and choose more low-GI staple foods."

Big screen: "Now raise your hands with me, yes, just like this, this is the amount of vegetables you have for one meal."

Stretch out your palm again. The size of your palm represents the amount of protein, such as meat.

Big screen: "The daily intake of low-sugar fruits is about the size of a fist. I wish you and your family enjoy delicious food without burden and have a happy meal!"

Mom: "Come on, come on, we are happy today, let's raise a toast to celebrate."

Daughter: "Happy birthday, cheers!"

Big screen: "Warm reminder: A little drinking can make you happy, but too much drinking can be harmful."

Dad: "Let me serve you this cup!"

Type 2 diabetes is not terrible. Through scientific diet management, rational use of hypoglycemic drugs, regular monitoring of blood sugar and appropriate exercise, we can effectively control the disease. Of course, when necessary, we still have to go to the hospital for professional diagnosis and treatment, so that we can better enjoy a healthy life by combining medical care and nursing.

Figure 2 Copyright image, no permission to reprint

References

[1] China Dietary Guidelines Editorial Committee. China Dietary Guidelines (2022)[M]. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House.

[2] Hu Zhaoying. Application of enhanced lifestyle intervention in type 2 diabetes care and its effect on blood glucose levels[J]. Chinese Journal of Metallurgical Industry Medicine, 2024, 41(4): 399-400.