Type 2 diabetes can be a 'devastating diagnosis' says expert
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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 avoid symptoms is to regularly eat strawberries, it’s been claimed.
Strawberries are rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, which help to improve insulin sensitivity.
Eating strawberries everyday for six weeks could lower your risk of high blood sugar, said medical website Healthline.
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“Figuring out the best foods to eat when you have diabetes doesn’t have to be tough,” it said.
“Strawberries are high in antioxidants known as anthocyanins, which give them their red colour.
“They also contain polyphenols, which are beneficial plant compounds with antioxidant properties.
“A 2017 study found that a 6-week consumption of polyphenols from strawberries and cranberries improved insulin sensitivity in adults with overweight and obesity who didn’t have diabetes.”
You could also lower your risk of diabetes by eating more avocados, it said.
They’re low in sugar and carbohydrates, while also being rich in fibre and healthy fats.
That means they’re unlikely to cause a spike in your blood sugar levels.
Eating avocados is also linked to a lower body weight and body mass index (BMI), which is ideal because obesity is a risk factor for diabetes.
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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