What are the benefits of oats for diabetes and how to use them correctly for maximum benefit?

People suffering from diabetes pay great attention to their nutrition. A properly selected diet significantly improves their quality of life. And the choice of products is, rather, not the task of doctors, but of the person himself.

The leading place in a diabetic's diet is occupied by cereals, in particular oats in various forms. These can be decoctions, jelly, porridge or sprouted grains. Let us dwell in more detail on the benefits and harms of oats, as well as methods of preparing and consuming them for different types of diabetes.

The benefits and harms of oats for diabetes

To cure the disease, to live long, richly and happily, maintaining normal levels of glucose in the blood, is primarily the task of the diabetic himself. Proper nutrition including oats in your daily diet will help achieve this result. Let's look at what is included in the grain.

Chemical composition

The chemical composition of dry oat grains, from which cereals, oatmeal, flour and a special coffee drink are produced, per 100 grams of the edible part of the product is as follows:

• protein - 16.9 g;
• fat - 6.9 g;
• carbohydrates (starch and sugars) - 55.67 g;
• dietary fiber - 10.6 g;
• ash - 1.72 g.

Macronutrient content:

• sodium - 2 mg;
• potassium - 429 mg;
• calcium - 54 mg;
• magnesium - 177 mg;
• phosphorus - 523 mg.

Microelements content:

• iron - 4.72 mg;
• manganese - 4.92 mg;
• copper - 626 mcg;
• zinc - 3.97 mg.

Vitamin content:

• B1 - 0.763 mg;
• B2 - 0.139 mg;
• B5 - 1.349 mg;
• B6 - 0.119 mg;
• B9 - 56 mcg;
• RR - 0.961 mg.

In addition, dry oat grains contain essential amino acids (arginine, leucine, valine and others) - about 7.3 g; essential amino acids (glutamic acid, glycine, etc.) – 9.55 g; saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 - 0.111 g and omega-6 - 2.424 g.

KBZHU of different types of oats

The calorie content of oats depends on its variety and method of preparation. For example, 100 g of dry grain contains 389 kcal, and the calorie content of 100 g of Vita oats is only 250 kcal. The lowest calorie oat products are bran cooked in water (40 kcal) and long-cooked oatmeal (62 kcal).

Oatmeal with water contains only 88 kcal per 100 g. Its composition: 3 g of protein, 1.7 g of fat and 15 g of carbohydrates.

The contents of porridge prepared with milk will be as follows:

• calorie content - 102 kcal;
• proteins - 3.2 g;
• fats - 1.7 g;
• carbohydrates - 14.2 g.

As you can see, the calorie content increases slightly due to milk.

Glycemic index

When creating a diabetic menu, it is important to select foods according to the glycemic index (GI).

GI is an indicator that reflects the rate of glucose entering the body after eating any food. Oatmeal is a very healthy 1 food according to the GI. Its score is 55 (the average position in the range of different products). This speaks in favor of including oat products in a diabetic’s menu. Especially with type 2 diabetes, when it is important not to gain weight.

Is it possible to eat oats if you have type 1 and type 2 diabetes?

Since the immunity of type 1 and type 2 diabetics is reduced, this causes frequent infectious diseases. Oat products are suitable for maintaining the body's defenses due to the content of a large number of various vitamins.

Points for and against

The following arguments favor the consumption of oat dishes:

1. High content of vitamins, amino acids, micro- and macroelements.
2. The product contains an insulin analogue - inulin.
3. Low glycemic index of the product.
4. Oats have a diuretic and diaphoretic effect.
5. Normalizes the function of the nervous system.
6. Has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
7. It has a general strengthening effect on the entire body.

There are practically no contraindications for using this product. It should be eaten with caution by people with gallbladder disease and kidney failure.

Rules for use in diabetes

There are certain rules for eating oats for diabetes. These include the following recommendations:

• It is better to cook dishes from long-cooked oats;
• add a minimum of sweeteners (syrup, honey, jam, etc.);
• To prepare porridges, do not use full-fat milk and do not add a lot of butter.

Standards of use

Oats provide the body with a long-lasting energy boost thanks to its high proportion of complex carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Plant fiber keeps you feeling full for a long time. Experts advise taking oatmeal for breakfast once every 2-3 days. But you shouldn't eat it every day, as oatmeal contains phytic acid, which leaches calcium from bone tissue.

What is the best form to eat oats for diabetes?

There are a large number of oat dishes. Each of them is useful in its own way.

For type 2 diabetes it is recommended use oatmeal for breakfast, salads with sprouted grains.

A few suitable recipes:

1. Sprout oats soaking the grains in water until sprouts appear. These sprouts are used in salads or added to yoghurts.When consumed daily, they have the ability to normalize blood sugar.
2. Kissel - a tasty, healthy and simple dish. To do this, the grains are ground in a coffee grinder to the state of flour and jelly is boiled from it in water.
3. Oat bran - a simple and excellent remedy for treating diabetes. Starting with one teaspoon, the product is diluted in water and drunk. Gradually, over the course of a week, the amount of bran is tripled.
4. Porridge It is better to cook from those varieties of flakes that are cooked for more than 5 minutes. It is even healthier to use oats in grains: soak them in the evening, and cook them in water or low-fat milk in the morning.

Use of oats to treat diabetes

Folk recipes for preparing oats, which have come down to us through more than one generation, are also used to treat diabetes. They are easy to prepare. The most effective are decoctions and infusions. Let's look at how to brew oats for treatment.

Folk recipes

A decoction of whole, unrefined grains is prepared at the rate of 1 glass of grains per 2-3 liters of water. Pour oats into a saucepan, add clean water, bring to a boil and reduce to low heat. Cover with a lid and simmer for an hour. Strain, cool and store in the refrigerator.

The infusion is made in the evening, ideally in a thermos. Pour 100 g of unrefined grain with boiling water (0.75 l) and, closing the lid, leave to simmer until the morning. In the morning, strain and drink.

How to brew properly to lower blood sugar

There are several recipes for brewing oats. Take whole grains or 100-150 g crushed in a meat grinder, pour 1 liter of hot water, cook for 30-40 minutes over low heat. Strain and the drink is ready.

Treatment regimens

The scheme for using medicinal decoctions and infusions is simple.For four weeks, you should drink 0.5-1 glass of prepared drinks 15-20 minutes before meals.

Contraindications

There are several diseases for which you should not indulge in oats, even to lower blood sugar. You have to choose the lesser of two evils, so it’s better not to take risks. Despite good reviews for cleansing the body with oatmeal infusions, not everyone can drink them.

Contraindications for taking oat products include:

• gallstones or lack thereof;
• renal failure;
• severe cardiovascular diseases;
• liver pathologies.

Reviews

Reviews show that diabetics are increasingly choosing whole grain meals over “quick” cereals.

Victoria, 38 years old: “I have type 2 diabetes. Several years ago I read in an old newspaper about the benefits of a decoction of oat grains. It turned out that it is not only healthy, but also tastes good, similar to sweetened tea. I take unrefined oats, grind them in a coffee grinder and pour a couple of tablespoons of boiling water in a thermos. You can drink it after 3-4 hours. In the summer, you shouldn’t make a lot of the drink for future use; it will ferment quickly.”

Maria, 55 years old: “I discovered sprouted oats. A mixture of different grains makes delicious salads! Don’t be lazy for yourself, buy clean, unprocessed oats, green buckwheat, rinse, pour into a baking tray on a towel, cover, moisten. Add filtered water every day. After 3-5 days, the sprouts can be used.”

Read also:

Is it possible or not to eat eggplants for type 2 diabetes: benefits and harms, recipes.

Why pumpkin is good for type 1 and type 2 diabetes and how to prepare it in the most delicious ways.

Is it possible or not to eat corn for type 2 diabetes: harm and benefits, consumption standards.

Conclusion

Oats and products based on them help in the fight against type 1 and type 2 diabetes. A balanced menu must include oats in different forms. This diet gives excellent results in correcting blood glucose levels. But remember that it is difficult to achieve complete remission without the use of medications.

Be sure to follow the advice of your endocrinologist - treat diabetes using a combination of medications and folk remedies.