Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disease with characteristics of hyperglycemia that occurs due to abnormal insulin secretion (American Diabetes Association). There are several types of diabetes, but the most common is type 2 diabetes. The cause of type 2 diabetes due to insulin target cells failed or was unable to respond normally to insulin, a condition called insulin resistance.
Aside from insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes may also arise impaired insulin secretion disease and excessive hepatic glucose production. However, there was no destruction of Langerhans β cells in autoimmune as occurs in diabetes mellitus type 1. Therefore deficiency of insulin function in patients with type 2 diabetes are only relative case, not an absolute cases. People who are diagnosed with diabetes, should take steps to control their blood sugar. The proper way to control blood sugar is to eat properly.
Terms Vegetables that Good For Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Digested food is converted into glucose to use cell function. Glucose need the help of insulin to penetrate into the cell wall because it can not go itself. Terms of good foods for people with type 2 diabetes is to contain:
- The study showed that people who have more fiber is able to control blood glucose much better than those without. Fiber also helps you keep the calories and manage appetite. Fruits and vegetables are good sources for this nutrient.
- Vitamin A: antioxidant effective help to converts beta-carotene, which reduces the risk of blindness in diabetics.
- Protein, Vitamin B1, B2, B12, vitamin C, pantothenic acid, and potassium: can stimulate the production of insulin in the body. Vitamin B 12 is effective for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid: helps in the secretion process of insulin. Insulin acts as a regulator in glucose metabolism in the body. If insulin is less then how much it is needed, it will lead to diabetes.
- Vitamin D: It is important for the islet cells to be able to secrete insulin properly. Research has shown that individuals with the lowest levels of vitamin D in their blood, having problems in handling sugar and have a greater risk of developing diabetes.
- Vitamin E reduces oxidative stress, thus improving membrane physical characteristics and related activities in glucose transport. It is the healing of diabetes.
- Vitamin K2 improve insulin sensitivity; people who get the most vitamin K2 from the food, they are about 20 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes
- Calcium: Your body needs calcium to process vitamin D.
- Magnesium helps in the metabolism process of glycogen, Magnesium works together with vitamin B 6 to help the metabolic processes in the cell.
The Good Vegetables for Diabetics
Based on the Terms above, this is Vegetables that that Good For Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (and Based on Sugar and zero cholesterol in 100 grams):
- Peas (Contains 5.7 grams of Sugar)
The good from this vegetables is very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Protein, Vitamin A, Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, Phosphorus and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, and Manganese. But this vegetables are high in sugar.
- Pepper (Contain 4.9 grams of Sugar)
The good nutrition from this vegetables is is very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Potassium and Manganese, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Vitamin B6 and Folate. But this vegetables have large portion of the calories in this food that come from sugars.
- Carrot (Contains 4.8 grams of Sugar)
It is very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol. It is also Very high in Vitamin A, a good source of Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Pantothenic Acid, Folate, Iron, Potassium and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin K and Manganese. The bad side of this vegetables is a large portion of the calories in this food that come from sugars.
- Onions (Contains 4,2 grams of Sugar)
The good from this vegetabless is very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin B6, Folate, Potassium and Manganese, and a very good source of Vitamin C. But this vegetables has the bad side, it is a large portion of the calories in this food that come from sugars.
- Cabbage (Contains 3.2 grams of Sugar)
It is very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Thiamin, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Phosphorus and Potassium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate and Manganese. The bad side of this vegetables is a large portion of the calories in this food that come from sugars.
- Cauliflower (Contains 2.4 grams of sugar)
The good side from this vegetables is very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Protein, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Niacin, Folate, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Magnesium and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Potassium and Manganese. But, the bad side is a large portion of the calories in this food that come from sugars. This vegetable is high in Vitamin C.
- Eggplant (Contain 2.4 grams of Sugar)
The good from this vegetables is is very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Potassium and Manganese. But this vegetables have A large portion of the calories in this food that come from sugars
- Radishes (Contain 1.9 grams of Sugar)
The good from this vegetables is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin C, Calcium, Magnesium, Copper and Manganese, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber and Potassium. But this vegetables has a bad, the bad side of it is a large portion of the calories in this food that come from sugars.
- Celery (Contains 1.8 grams of sugar)
The good from this vegetables is low in Saturated Fat, very low in Cholesterol and also a good source of Vitamin A,Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate,Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Calcium, Magnesium and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Potassium and Manganese. But the bad side of this vegetables is high in Sodium, and a large portion of the calories in this food that come from sugars
- Broccoli (Contain 1.7 grams of sugar)
It is very low in Saturated Fat and zero Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Protein, Vitamin A, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Selenium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin K, Potassium and Manganese. The bad side of this vegetables is it’s sugar content.
- Cucumbers (Contains 1.4 grams of Sugar)
The good from this vegetables is very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. But good source of Dietary Fiber, Thiamin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, Pantothenic Acid, Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Copper and Manganese. And the bad side of this vegetables is a large portion of the calories in this food that come from sugars.
- Pumpkin (Contain 1,4 grams of Sugar)
Pumpkin is a good vegetables to diabetics,from this vegetables is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Vitamin A, Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Riboflavin, Folate, Pantothenic Acid, Iron, Magnesium and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Potassium, Copper and Manganese.
- Mushrooms (Contains 1,1 grams of Sugar)
From this vegetables the patient diabetic will found the low in Sodium, and very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Protein, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B6, Folate, Iron, Magnesium, Zinc and Manganese, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Phosphorus, Potassium and Copper.
14. Lettuce (contain 0.8 grams of sugar)
This vegetables is very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Protein, Calcium, Magnesium and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin C, Iron, Potassium and Manganese.
15. Collards (contains 0.5 grams of Sugar)
The good from this vegetables is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Protein, Vitamin A, Thiamin, Niacin Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Vitamin K, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, and Potassium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Calcium and Manganese.
16. Brussels sprouts (contains 0.4 grams of sugar)
This vegetables is very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Riboflavin, Iron, Magnesium and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Thiamin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Potassium and Manganese.
17. Spinach (Contains 0.4 grams of Sugars)
This is the best vegetables for diabetics. It is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Niacin and Zinc, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Protein, Vitamin A, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Vitamin K, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Copper and Manganese. But it is high in Sodium.
18. Bitter melon
This vegetables is good for diabetics, it is  low in Sodium, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Thiamin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Pantothenic Acid, Iron and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Folate, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc and Manganese.
19. Zucchini
This vegetables is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Pantothenic Acid, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Protein, Vitamin B6, Folate, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Copper and Manganese.
Vegetables that should be avoided for a diabetic patient:
- Potato. Potatoes contain high sugar, but it also contains high starch so it is not recommended for the diabetic patient.
- Bean. Beans contain starch. You (diabetic) have stop consuming these foods immediately. Even you want to eat, it should be in boiled or roasted beans from and in small portions.
- Tomato. Tomatoes contain acids, but basically sweet tomatoes. Avoid raw tomatoes or even cooked, do not eat too much.
- Corn. Corn contains sugar, especially sweet corn. This vegetables are sweet and starchy vegetables. So, avoid the consumption of corn in any form.
- Tubber. Tuber or sweet potato is still a family meal with potatoes. However, sweet potatoes contain higher glycemic.