Type 2 diabetes can be a 'devastating diagnosis' says expert
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High blood sugar levels are the main threat posed by type 2 diabetes – a chronic condition which affects millions of people in the UK. Blood sugar is the main type of sugar found in blood. It supplies the body with energy and helps to control weight, but levels must remain stable. The primary goal of insulin is to regulate blood sugar. However, if you have type 2 diabetes, this mechanism is hampered. The result? Rising levels of blood sugar.
Fortunately, you can moderate high blood sugar levels by making sensible dietary decisions, some of which are more effective than others.
According to a study published last year in the journal Food Science and Technology, supplementing with fenugreek seeds prior to eating can cause high blood sugar levels to plummet.
Fenugreek is an aromatic plant that has many uses, both culinary – fenugreek is a key ingredient of curries and other Indian recipes – and medicinal.
The plant, which is widely grown in South Asia, North Africa and parts of the Mediterranea, has small round leaves and also produces long pods that contain distinctive bitter-tasting seeds.
Sixty patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited for the study, which spanned two months.
They were randomised into two treatment groups with 30 patients in each. Group one took fenugreek and the second group was a control group.
The fenugreek group received fenugreek seed powder of 10 grams in sachet form before breakfast and 10 grams of fenugreek seed powder before dinner.
Their demographic profile along with fasting blood glucose and HbA1c level was determined at baseline, after one month of trial and at the end of study.
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Fasting blood glucose measures your average blood sugar after an eight-hour fast and HbA1c measures average blood sugar over three months.
“When fenugreek seeds were given to T2DM patients, significant decreases in their glucose levels were seen after 30 and then 60 days of treatment,” the researchers observed.
What accounts for this effect?
Diabetes.co.uk explains: “Fenugreek seeds (trigonella foenum graecum) are high in soluble fibre, which helps lower blood sugar by slowing down digestion and absorption of carbohydrates This suggests they may be effective in treating people with diabetes.”
Multiple studies have been carried out to investigate the potential anti-diabetic benefits of fenugreek.
“Of these, several clinical trials showed that fenugreek seeds can improve most metabolic symptoms associated with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in humans by lowering blood glucose levels and improving glucose tolerance,” reports Diabetes.co.uk.
The health body cites a study India, which found that adding 100 grams of defatted fenugreek seed powder to the daily diet of patients with insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes significantly reduced their fasting blood glucose levels, improved glucose tolerance and also lowered total cholesterol, LDL or “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides.
In another controlled trial, incorporating 15 grams of powdered fenugreek seed into a meal eaten by people with type 2 diabetes reduced the rise in post-meal blood glucose, while a separate study found that taking 2.5 grams of fenugreek twice a day for three months lowered blood sugar levels in people with mild, but not severe, type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes – symptoms to spot
Many people have type 2 diabetes without realising. This is because symptoms do not necessarily make you feel unwell.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:
- Peeing more than usual, particularly at night
- Feeling thirsty all the time
- Feeling very tired
- Losing weight without trying to
- Itching around your penis or vagina, or repeatedly getting thrush
- Cuts or wounds taking longer to heal
- Blurred vision.
“See a GP if you have any of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes or you’re worried you may have a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes,” advises the NHS.
According to the health body, you’ll need a blood test, which you may have to go to your local health centre for if it cannot be done at your GP surgery.
“The earlier diabetes is diagnosed and treatment started, the better.”
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