Diabetes type 2: Dr Zoe Williams discusses high blood sugar risks
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Diabetes is a common condition that affects about five million people in the UK. While the number of diabetes patients is growing, you could still lower your risk of developing the condition by simply making a few changes to your daily diet.
There are two main types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2 – with type 2 diabetes being by far the most common.
It’s caused by the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the body struggling to react to insulin.
Insulin is used to convert sugar in the blood into useable energy for the body’s cells.
Having diabetes increases your risk of several deadly medical conditions, including heart disease and strokes.
However, you can make some easy lifestyle changes to protect against diabetes.
One of the best ways to lower your blood sugar levels is to regularly eat sunflower seeds, it’s been claimed.
Sunflower seeds are rich in fibre, which is crucial for avoiding blood sugar spikes.
Fibre helps to balance blood sugar levels as it slows down the absorption of sugar in the bloodstream, according to medical website Dr. Axe.
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“Sunflower seeds are delicious and versatile, making it easy to add them into a healthy and well-rounded diet,” it said.
“Consuming a high-fibre diet rich in foods like sunflower seeds has been shown to help balance blood sugar levels.
“This is because fibre helps slow the absorption of sugar in the bloodstream, preventing spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels and decreasing the chance of developing diabetes or insulin resistance.
“The powerful nutrients in sunflower seeds can help prevent the unstable blood sugar levels that many people experience due to diets too high in sugar, refined grains, sweetened beverages and processed foods.
“In addition to fibre, magnesium has been associated with a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes in some studies.”
However, if you’re not a big fan of sunflower seeds, you could always try adding more strawberries to your diet to lower your blood sugar levels.
Strawberries are rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, which help to improve insulin sensitivity.
Eating strawberries every day for six weeks could lower your risk of high blood sugar, said medical website Healthline.
Simply add them to your regular breakfast routine to gain the benefit.
Meanwhile, it’s not always easy to know if you’re at risk of diabetes, because the symptoms can be very subtle.
The most common signs include fatigue, passing more urine than normal, and blurred vision.
You should speak to a doctor if you’re worried about the symptoms of diabetes.
A quick blood test should be enough to reveal your chances of type 2 diabetes.
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