Find Out What Are The Best Foods To Treat Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. However, with good eating habits, exercise, and the right medications, you can keep your blood sugar under control.

There are certain foods that you can eat when you have diabetes that help regulate the glycemic index. Diabetes is a disease that affects the way our body uses glucose, which is our main sugar in the blood.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. When it comes to this type of disease, the pancreas is able to produce insulin, but the body’s cells do not respond normally. There is therefore resistance to insulin.

At first, the pancreas tries to compensate for this resistance by producing more insulin. Over time, the organ is no longer able to maintain this rhythm and therefore no longer able to produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood levels.

The poor uptake of glucose by cells causes the build-up of sugar in the blood. This creates two problems. On the one hand, cells do not have enough energy. On the other hand, high blood sugar can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart.

Type 2 diabetes can be controlled by changing certain lifestyle habits; you need to follow a balanced diet, take certain oral medications and administer insulin in some cases.

The best foods to eat when you have type 2 diabetes

Changing your eating habits, playing sports regularly as well as taking pharmacological treatments are measures that can help normalize glucose levels in the body.

Therefore, the integration of good dietary recommendations, with foods to control diabetes, is the main treatment to apply.

Carbohydrates

Sugars, among which is glucose, belong to the group of carbohydrates.

You would think that reducing or eliminating the consumption of sugars in your diet would solve the problem of diabetes. However, it is not that simple, because this measure is not enough to treat the disease.

Among carbohydrates, there are two types of compounds. Both play an important role in diabetes:

• “Simple” sugars or carbohydrates, which quickly release a large amount of glucose into the blood. This includes white sugar as well as sweeteners, fruits, fruit juices, sugary drinks, milk and yogurt, chocolate and pastries.
• Starches or “complex” carbohydrates, which allow a more gradual release of glucose, in a healthier way. Some foods that contain starches are rice, pasta, potato, bread, or cereal.

It is for this reason that in order to control diabetes, it is necessary to reduce their consumption, in particular that of sugars. In this sense, we can find some natural sweeteners, which can help control the glucose levels.

Natural sweeteners: food alternatives for diabetes.

Stevia

If we are talking about natural sweeteners, then stevia is one of the most important, because it is able to impart flavor without adding calories.

Stevia is a great food for people with diabetes because it helps stabilize optimal sugar levels. In this way, she is able to counter the effects of type 2 diabetes to some extent.

Likewise, it can have positive effects on glucose tolerance and help control body weight. Hence, it becomes a compound with excellent properties for controlling diabetes.

Oils and fats

Consuming foods high in fat generally does not have a direct effect on those high in carbohydrates. However, excessive consumption of these foods can lead to dysregulation of glucose levels.

Likewise, it can lead to obesity and alter metabolic parameters,  which is very harmful to the health of any individual, but even more so to that of diabetics.

In this way, it is advisable to mainly avoid saturated fat. These are usually found in foods such as burgers, fried foods, bacon, or butter.

Instead, you can opt for foods that contain polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fatty acids. For example, those contained in fish, nuts or vegetable oils.

Fibers

It is advisable to consume more fiber which is present in foods such as oats, barley, fruits, vegetables or legumes, as these are very good foods for controlling diabetes.

Fiber slows down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. In this way, they regulate the rise of sugar in the blood after meals. Therefore, fiber intake can help control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.