ShopSome 8 million diabetics live in Germany and Austria. Experts estimate, however, that there are an additional 2 to 3 million undetected cases of diabetes.
It’s a matter of type
There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes used to be called juvenile diabetes because it usually begins during childhood or adolescence. Type 1 diabetics do not have functioning insulin-producing cells in their pancreas. In other words, their body does not produce its own insulin. The overwhelmingly vast majority of diabetics (roughly 95%) are type 2. The former term "adult-onset diabetes" is no longer applicable today because of the growing number of young people who are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. In addition to genetics and age, the main risk factors for this type of diabetes are obesity, poor nutrition and lack of exercise, which make it a true lifestyle disease. The body no longer responds sufficiently to the hormone insulin either because the effect of the insulin on the target cell (such as a muscle) is too slight, or because there is delayed or reduced insulin production in the pancreas. Oftentimes, small achievements with weight loss, regular exercise and a sensible diet are enough to improve the metabolic status.
Diabetes: important aspects of the therapy
The basic principles of managing and treating diabetes include regular monitoring of blood sugar levels, maintaining a healthy, sensible diet, making exercise part of your daily routine and, if necessary, having an individualized therapy with insulin or pills. Intensive instruction is needed so that those diagnosed with diabetes can put their knowledge into practice. Diabetics who are already taking insulin either orally or by injection have to adjust it precisely to their diet and lifestyle in order to avoid hypoglycaemia or very high fasting blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetics who have been diagnosed at an early stage can delay or avoid having to take insulin by making lifestyle changes. Sometimes even a single treatment consisting of the proper diet and changes in lifestyle suffices as a lifelong therapy.
For both types of diabetes, the objective of treatment is to keep blood sugar levels as close to normal. Eating greatly impacts blood sugar levels; in particular, the intake of insulin-dependent sugars makes blood sugar levels soar. In healthy individuals, insulin secretion is rapid and automatic; the insulin causes target cells (such as muscle cells) to absorb glucose. If this normal, healthy reaction is impaired (= diabetes), too much glucose accumulates in the bloodstream. This unmetabolised glucose in turn causes circulatory disorders, the known consequences of which are the diabetic foot, kidney disease, blindness or impotence.
Do diabetics really have to follow a different diet?
In addition to being willing to change eating habits, the key to a successful change in diet is to by no means let the joy and pleasure of eating fall by the wayside. A change in diet without sacrificing pleasure – can it really be done? What does a diet like that entail? The dietary recommendations for diabetes, particularly Type 2 diabetes, correspond more or less to the principles of a healthy, wholesome diet. That’s why diabetics don’t have to follow an essentially different diet. However, a look at people’s dietary habits shows that deviations from the ideal are customary when it comes to eating and drinking habits. Diabetics are certainly no exception here. Only some 15% of them follow the recommendations. Yet in comparison to non-diabetics, the consequences of poor diet and overeating are far graver for diabetics.
Regular or diabetic foods?
Therefore, diabetics have to follow the dietary recommendations more rigidly than others. Generally speaking, it is possible for them to eat a diet of normal foods. This, however, requires extensive know-how about nutrition and detailed knowledge of the nutritional content of foods. Using diabetic foods makes life so much easier and more convenient. Their composition and labelling are tailored to the special needs of diabetics. Unlike normal foods, it is mandatory for diabetic foods to have a nutrition facts label listing the amount of calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein, etc. This makes it far easier to incorporate the individual food items into a diet. The labelling of what are known as bread units (in German BE) is particularly helpful for calculating the amount of carbohydrates. According to a survey conducted by SCHNEEKOPPE, bread units are the most important piece of information for diabetics to use when assessing sweets.
Under certain conditions, eating candy is even allowed. Then in reality, it is almost impossible to get diabetics to give up candy, because they often also feel that they would lose a certain quality of life.
SCHNEEKOPPE offers diabetics a wide selection of products that not only taste great but that also comply with special diabetic guidelines. And due to the careful selection of sweeteners, diabetics don’t have to sacrifice good taste. In addition, almost all of our products have another advantage: they are either reduced in calories or low glycaemic. Thanks to SCHNEEKOPPE, diabetics get just the amount of sweet foods they need to keep the joy in their life, and at the same time they can just lead healthy lives.
