Holy Week, as a period of contemplation, concentration and religious devotion, is characterized by the believers’ effort to limit dietary excesses and follow rules of fasting and nutritional “healthy” austerity. Waiting, of course, for the Resurrection and Easter, where all the gastronomic extravagances will be on the Easter table. But what about people suffering from diabetes? How will they fast and how will they participate in the nutritional excesses of the Easter table? After all, how will they be able to share the religious climate and traditions of these days, without harming themselves and their healing? Answers to the above questions are given by its experts Metropolitan HospitalThe dr. Andreas MelidonisPathologist – Diabetologist, Coordinating Director Diabetic-Cardiometabolic Center and the Karolos PapalazarouDietician – Nutritionist, scientific partner of the clinic.

Fasting

“Although fasting is a good opportunity to detox from animal foods, people with diabetes should be especially careful on these days. The reason is that most traditional fasting recipes are dominated by starchy foods (such as pasta, potatoes, legumes, bread, etc.) which can disrupt sugar levels and cause weight gain,” points out the Dietitian – Nutritionist, Karolos Papalazarou.

Specifically, during the fasting period, the diabetes sufferer should:
To continue to calculate the amount of starchy foods in his meals, which should always be in the form of a side dish and not the main meal. This practically means that he should avoid consuming a large plate of shrimp pasta but choose to eat grilled shrimp with 1 cup of potato salad, or octopus with 1 cup of macaroni kofto, or whole wheat barley and plenty of green salad.
Also, it is preferable to consume a serving of non-starchy vegetables such as artichokes instead of a serving of starchy vegetables such as peas.
It is still necessary to turn to alternative sources of protein such as legumes, mushrooms and some substitutes for dairy products, such as milk and soy yogurt. In addition, seafood such as squid, cuttlefish, shrimp, etc., are good sources of protein, but should be avoided in large quantities mainly because of their high cholesterol content. And of course, not to skip the sugar measurements.

“On these days, the daily routine in terms of meal times or physical exercise is likely to be disrupted, which could affect blood sugar levels and lead to episodes of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. For this reason, snacks between meals are necessary, as a fruit or some nuts, at midday and in the afternoon, contribute to the regulation of blood sugar levels”, emphasizes the Pathologist – Diabetologist dr. Andreas Melidonis.

Easter table

“A person with diabetes, in order to achieve a better course of his disease, has learned to live with some small dietary restrictions and follow a specific plan within the framework of the Mediterranean diet. A more “free” nutritionally Easter table that takes place one day a year will not affect this timeless effort. Therefore, if there are no comorbidities such as chronic renal failure or hyperuricemia, he can consume whatever is on the table (lamb, chicken, tzatziki eggs, etc.) but without excesses in the amounts of starchy foods (such as pies, potatoes, bread) and sweets”, continues Dr. Melidonis.

“A good piece of advice we could give is for diabetics to accompany the meat they will eat with plenty of salad, as vegetable fiber binds some of the cholesterol in the food, while at the same time reducing the glycemic load of the meal, leading to a smoother increase in blood sugar levels.
Regarding alcohol, 2 units of alcohol are allowed during the meal, which practically corresponds to about 2 glasses of wine or 2 cans of beer or 2 shots of tsipouro. In case of a desire for something sweet, it would be preferable to consume it in the afternoon with some time difference from the meal and to prefer a sweet with stevia. Finally, we should not forget physical exercise. A good walk after eating can contribute to digestion and also to avoid gaining unwanted weight”, adds Mr. Papalazarou.

“In conclusion, Holy Week and the Easter that follows can and should be an exercise of faith, patience and persistence in the compliance of healthy dietary choices. Such a diet and health behavior will lead to the resurrection of the Lord with the metabolic “resurrection” of people with diabetes”, the experts conclude.