What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease where the body’s cells become resistant to insulin and as a result blood sugar levels are not properly regulated.
Diabetes is a growing problem that currently affects 1 in 11 adults worldwide, and type 2 diabetes makes up 90-95% of all cases. It’s typically a result of poor lifestyle and diet coupled with genetic factors.
Symptoms often develop gradually and you may not even notice them. In fact, 1 in 3 people don’t realize they have diabetes. Early diagnosis is essential for protecting cardiovascular health.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include frequent urination, excessive thirst, feeling hungry all the time and unexpected weight loss.
Treatment for type 2 diabetes
The primary treatment for type 2 diabetes is diet and lifestyle change. In addition to exercising regularly which can help the insulin work more effectively; there are dietary modifications which can help manage your blood glucose levels.
Certain foods such as almonds, dark chocolate, coffee, tea and foods containing resistant starch can help improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.
A low-carbohydrate diet which limits foods such as sugary foods, flour and bread can be an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes.
It has been shown to result in significant improvements in daily blood sugar stability, diabetes medication usage, weight loss, insulin resistance, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides.
