Type 2 diabetes can be a 'devastating diagnosis' says expert
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Type 2 diabetes details a serious condition in which blood sugar levels can reach dangerous heights unless you manage them. These elevated levels are the result of problems with insulin production. Luckily, there are alternatives when it comes to blood sugar control.
Type 2 diabetes is characterised by lacking the key mechanisms for managing blood sugar.
The hormone insulin is supposed to take up glucose from your blood so it can turn into energy in your cells.
However, type 2 diabetes patients either can’t make enough insulin or the hormone they make doesn’t work properly.
Fortunately, one food that can cause a “marked decrease” in blood sugar levels is pistachios, according to The Review of Diabetic Studies.
The study set out to investigate these nuts as they are packed with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which could lower high blood sugar and improve metabolism.
They looked at 48 patients with diabetes, divided into two groups.
All of the patients in the study were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in particular.
The first group followed a diet of 25 grams of pistachios twice a day.
The control group was given food without nuts to evaluate the results properly.
After following these two regimens for 12 weeks, the volunteers had an eight-week washout.
Then, these two groups were displaced and the second one also received a pistachio protocol for 12 weeks.
The study then found that pistachios were able to reduce fasting blood glucose.
The researchers concluded that snacking on pistachio nuts has beneficial effects on glycaemic control, blood pressure, obesity and inflammation markers in diabetic patients.
Nuts are also characterised by a low glycaemic index, which describes the rate at which the body absorbs carbohydrates.
A study published in the journal Metabolism even found that adding certain nuts on the side of white bread or pasta can slow the speed of carbohydrate absorption.
This in return helped to avoid spikes in blood sugar as the levels were rising more slowly.
What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?
Many might not realise they have diabetes as the symptoms don’t necessarily make you feel unwell, according to the NHS.
In case you’re not aware, symptoms of this condition include:
- Peeing more than usual (especially at night)
- Feeling thirsty all the time
- Feeling very tired
- Unintentional weight loss
- Itching around your penis or vagina, or repeatedly getting thrush
- Cuts or wounds healing slowly
- Blurred vision.
The NHS advises seeing a GP if you suffer from any of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes or you’re worried that you may have a higher risk.
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