From timesnownews.com
Type-2 diabetes, although a condition that increases risk of mortality and other chronic diseases, is in truth triggered by our everyday habits like diet and lifestyle
New Delhi: The year 2020 was debilitating – ironically, not only because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While COVID-19 did claim hundreds and thousands of lives, turns out that type-2 diabetes was another killer in hiding that caused three times as many deaths as coronavirus.
Type-2 diabetes, although a condition that increases risk of mortality and other chronic diseases, is in truth triggered by our everyday habits like diet and lifestyle. While some simple choices can easily ward off the risk, there are others that unknowingly spike blood sugar levels and disturb insulin sensitivity. Wondering what it is? Keep reading to find out.
Diabetes: How it affects health
Diabetes refers to a state wherein the body fails to process sugar (glucose) properly. When a non-diabetic person consumes sugar, the pancreas releases insulin which converts the same component into energy by breaking it down into glucose. When affected with diabetes, the pancreas either does not produce enough insulin or the body becomes resistant to it, thereby disturbing the balance and spiking blood sugar levels.
Over time, high blood sugar levels can affect the arteries and may trigger heart disease, stroke, and eye problems and might even increase risk of limb amputation in extreme cases.
Which dietary habit is a major risk factor of type-2 diabetes?
One of the major risk factors of type-2 diabetes is sugar intake – be it in the form of desserts or through carbonated drinks. When sugar intake increases drastically over time, it can disturb the insulin and blood sugar balance thereby resulting in diabetes. Therefore, the easiest way to not stress the pancreas or task the insulin supply is cutting down or managing sugar consumption.
While fruits contain natural sugars in the form of fructose which in limited quantities is healthy; sugar-sweetened drinks, carbonated sodas, refined carbs like cookies, chips, breads and other processed foods contain high quantities of refined sugars which in no way can benefit your health. To banish them from your diet, replace these foods with complex carbs like whole grains, vegetables and oats so that they take time to break down and don’t spike blood sugar levels drastically.
One of the major risk factors of type-2 diabetes is sugar intake – be it in the form of desserts or through carbonated drinks | Photo Credit: iStock Images
The beverage diabetics must avoid
When it comes to managing sugar intake, sweetened beverages like sodas must be eliminated first. Turns out, one glass of sweetened soda contains 39 grams of sugar which is way more than what a person needs in a day. And to further improve the outcome, a 2017 study published in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine recommends combining a healthy diet with an exercise regimen. This can help improve insulin sensitivity, maintain a healthy body mass index and builds muscle mass.
Is there a right time to eat your meals for type-2 diabetes management?
While diet and exercise play a key role in type-2 diabetes management, what matters more is eating at the right time, and the most important meal of the day – your breakfast – can leave a lasting impact. According to a new study, eating breakfast on the early side of the day can help lower risk of type-2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders. Presented in the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, the study’s results revealed that people who had an early breakfast – before 8.30 am – had lower blood sugar levels and insulin resistance.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a professional healthcare provider if you have any specific questions about any medical matter.
No comments:
Post a Comment