Diabetes Type 2: Is Diet Critical?
Adopting the Principles of a Low GI Diet May Help Manage Diabetes
The incidence of Diabetes Type 2 is increasing, especially in the younger generation. Adopting a healthy balanced diet for the family can help to prevent further disease.
According to the Diabetes UK website, Diabetes Type 2 affects 2.3 million people in the UK (with in excess of a further 500,000 undiagnosed) and an estimated 150 million worldwide. Having generally appeared in people over the age of 40 it is now becoming common in the younger generation. In addition to therapeutic regimes prescribed by medical professionals, patients suffering from diabetes are encouraged to assess their diet.
What is Diabetes Type 2?
Diabetes Type 2 is caused by the body’s inability to utilise insulin, which is produced by the pancreas, to remove excess glucose from the bloodstream. This results in high levels of glucose, which could ultimately be fatal, if not treated. It predominantly affects those over 40 and can have a hereditary factor. However, it is increasingly becoming more common in the younger generation as a direct result of a modern diet and lack of exercise.
There is no cure for diabetes but is usually controlled by diet or a combination with oral medication or the administration of insulin injections.
Why is diet important?
The food we eat has a powerful influence on not only our health but on our emotional well-being. A balanced diet, made up of a combination of nutrients, can help to control the levels of blood sugar and prevent other diseases associated with diabetes, including heart disease and stroke. Blood sugar levels are affected by the amount of glucose the body converts from carbohydrates.
The effectiveness of therapeutic treatments therefore, could be enhanced by the reassessment of diet when managing diabetes. In addition, it will assist in the prevention of other diseases and the prevalence of diabetes in the younger generation.
The Glycaemic Index is a medical term, which measures the speed at which various foods in our digestive system break down into glucose as a result of carbohydrate conversion. The lower the GI rating of a food, the longer it takes to break down which means that the supply of glucose into the bloodstream is more gradual and therefore helps to moderate blood sugar levels.
Basic principles of a Low GI Diet
- A low GI diet is about eating 'good' carbohydrates.
- Lower GI foods are digested more slowly than higher GI foods, which help to stabilise blood sugar and maintain a feeling of 'fullness'.
- A low GI diet is a simple way of maintaining a healthy, balanced diet which is not dependent on current fashion or entirely focused on weight loss.
- A GI diet reflects recognised eating habits (e.g. National Food Guide) and promotes the adoption of a healthy 'lifestyle', which includes exercise.
Additional Benefits
The adoption of GI principles can help to establish a healthy eating and lifestyle regime for all the family and can easily be adapted as a way of life rather than a one-off activity. It also assists with the education of young people, which could affect the future incidence of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
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