Type 2 diabetes can be a 'devastating diagnosis' says expert
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Diabetes is a very common condition that affects about five million people in the UK. Making small changes to your diet plan could have a huge impact on your chances of developing high blood sugar.
Type 2 diabetes is caused by the body not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the body not reacting to insulin.
About 90 percent of all diabetes patients have type 2 diabetes, which can usually be managed with lifestyle changes.
It can be quite difficult to know if you have diabetes, because the symptoms can go unnoticed for long periods of time.
In fact, huge numbers of people have their diabetes diagnosed after a routine health check at their doctor’s surgery.
But making slight changes to your diet is one of the easiest and best ways to lower your blood sugar levels.
Diet plans for diabetes patients should be based around the principles of healthy eating.
Generally, your diet should include a broad range of vegetables, some unsaturated fats, avocados and oily fish.
But one of the best diet plans to protect against high blood sugar is the Mediterranean diet, according to medical website Diabetes.co.uk.
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“Mediterranean diets rich in fruit and vegetables are known to be healthy for people with diabetes,” it said.
“As well as being protective against type 2 diabetes, Mediterranean diets rich in fruit, vegetables and fibre can help people with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels.
“One of the reasons why Mediterranean diets are healthy is that they include a strong vegetable content.
“Vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, olives, onions, rocket and lettuce are not only great for blood glucose levels but make for very visually appealing meals too.”
A Mediterranean diet is generally comprised of oily fish, poultry, fresh fruit and vegetables, legumes, fresh bread, pasta, and olive oil.
Most people should be able to add a moderate amount of fruit to the diet plan.
Lower carb fruits, including berries, are best for patients that are liable to blood sugar spikes.
Combining your Mediterranean diet with regular exercise has been linked to a much lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Large numbers of people may be at risk of diabetes without even knowing it.
The symptoms don’t necessarily make you feel unwell, so it’s often diagnosed at much later dates.
The most common signs of type 2 diabetes include feeling very tired, unexplained weight loss, passing more urine than normal, and feeling very thirsty.
Speak to a doctor if you’re worried about the warning signs of diabetes.
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