Since ancient times, nutrition in the treatment of diabetes has been considered one of the most basic approaches, as patients will follow a diet as prescribed by their doctor with the aim of maintaining the necessary blood sugar levels. To enhance the flavor of the diet, you can refer to some porridge dishes for diabetics in the following article.
1. Can people with diabetes eat porridge?
People with diabetes can absolutely include porridge in their daily diet. However, when preparing porridge for diabetic patients, it is important to pay attention to the way it is cooked and follow a specific diet plan to avoid negatively affecting health.
For diabetic patients, it is necessary to avoid certain food groups in order to control blood sugar levels. However, even though patients need to limit some foods, it is not necessary to cut them out completely. Patients can still choose foods that provide enough energy for the body.
2. Porridge dishes for diabetics
You can refer to some porridge dishes for diabetics as follows:
2.1. Diacot Bi porridge for diabetics
Ingredients:
- 30 grams of Diacot Bì
- 15 grams of Mạch Đông
- 15 grams of Tang Bạch Bì
- 100 grams of arrowroot flour
Preparation:
- Boil the 3 herbs (Diacot Bì, Mạch Đông, Tang Bạch Bì) to extract their essence.
- Cook the arrowroot flour with the herbal essence to make porridge.
- How to use: Diacot Bì porridge is useful for diabetic patients who drink a lot of water, feel weak, or are underweight.
2.2. Cassava flour porridge for diabetics
Ingredients:
- 30 grams of cassava flour
- 50 grams of white rice
Preparation:
- Soak the rice in water, rinse it, and cook it into thick porridge.
- Dissolve the 30 grams of cassava flour with water, then add it to the porridge and cook together.
- How to use: Cassava flour porridge is not only suitable for type 2 diabetic patients but also beneficial for those with high blood pressure, chronic diarrhea, coronary heart disease, dry throat, and excessive thirst.
2.3. Celery porridge for diabetics
Ingredients:
- 60 grams of fresh celery
- 50 – 100 grams of white rice
Preparation:
- Wash the fresh celery and cut it into pieces.
- Cook the chopped celery with the white rice to make porridge.
- How to use: Eat the porridge while it's still hot. Celery porridge is a nutritious dish for diabetic patients and those with high blood pressure.
2.4. Sweet potato porridge for diabetics
Ingredients:
- 60 grams of sweet potato
- 30 grams of millet
Preparation:
- Clean and slice the sweet potato.
- Cook the sliced sweet potato with the millet, and once the porridge is cooked and the sweet potato is soft, it is ready to eat.
- Family members should consider adding sweet potato porridge to the breakfast menu for diabetic patients with weak digestive systems.
2.5. Barley porridge for diabetics
Ingredients:
- Hulled barley
- (Alternatively) Wheat flour
Preparation:
- Soak the hulled barley in water and rinse it clean.
- Add water and barley to the pot and cook it into porridge (it can also be cooked as rice, depending on preference).
- How to use: Barley porridge is highly suitable for diabetic patients; however, it should be prepared according to the specified portion size in the meal plan. Additionally, patients with fever, excessive thirst, and dry mouth can also benefit from this dish.
2.6. Rehmannia and Cinnamon Porridge for Diabetics
Ingredients:
- 10 grams of Rehmannia root
- 3 grams of cinnamon bark
- 100 grams of white rice
- 30 grams of fresh chives
Preparation:
- Cook the Rehmannia root and cinnamon bark together with the white rice to make a thin porridge.
- Once the porridge is cooked, add 30 grams of fresh chives and a little salt to enhance the flavor.
- Not only is this porridge suitable for diabetics, but Rehmannia and cinnamon porridge is also a nutritious dish for patients with frequent urination or prostate adenoma.
3. Some nutritional considerations in the diet of diabetic patients
Since diabetes is a condition that requires a specific diet to maintain the necessary blood sugar levels, patients should pay attention to certain basic points when choosing and preparing their meals, including:
- Diabetic patients are advised by experts to eat low-sodium meals. The daily salt intake should be under 6 grams. Therefore, salty foods such as pickled vegetables, fish sauce, and fermented tofu should be limited.
- Diabetic patients are encouraged to prepare food by steaming or boiling, while frying or braising should be avoided.
- Lean meats are recommended for diabetics, and they can vary their diet by eating fish to supplement protein.
- For diabetics, bitter melon can be considered a "superfood."
- Eggs should be included in the diet, with a recommended intake of 2 egg meals per week.
- Diabetic patients should eat foods high in carbohydrates in moderation. Specifically, they should consume about 50-60% of the amount of carbohydrates compared to normal individuals.
- It is recommended to include vitamins, minerals, and fiber in the diet by consuming more fruits and vegetables. Fruits with low sugar content that are suitable for diabetic patients include: cantaloupe, pineapple, apples, pears, strawberries, oranges, etc. Additionally, to avoid high blood sugar levels, fruits that are high in sugar, such as watermelon, cherries, grapes, and mangoes, should be limited.
- Diabetic patients should avoid eating organ meats and should not consume fast food or canned foods such as cold cuts, sausages, and pâté.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, nutrition in the treatment of diabetes is an art, as it can bring specific therapeutic effects. Diabetic patients can safely prepare the above porridge dishes, but to ensure health, they should regularly monitor their blood sugar levels and consult their doctor to have a suitable diet plan.
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