Type 2 diabetes can be a 'devastating diagnosis' says expert
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Diabetes currently affects more than 4.9 million people in the UK. This statistic is set to rise even further, targeting one in 10 by 2030. Blood sugar control is one of the most crucial aspects of this condition. Here’s how a sweet snack can help.
Fortunately, blood sugar levels can be controlled through simple dietary tweaks.
One snack which can do the job is apple, according to nutritionist Rob Hobson who works with British Apples and Pears.
The expert told Express.co.uk that the reason why apples can help lower blood sugar is their fibre content.
He said: “If you’re looking for a snack as opposed to a sugary snack, the sugar with your apples is locked into the cells of the fruit.”
The nutritionist explained exactly how fibre lowers blood sugar in our bodies. When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks them down to sugar quickly which can cause spikes in your blood glucose.
Hobson continued: “[But] if it contains fibre, it’s broken down much more slowly within the body.
“Because the fibre sort of prevents its breakdown, it slows it all down because fibre takes a longer time for the body to assimilate it.
“It’s really just about how it’s broken down, how it slows down the breakdown within the gut.”
However, apples don’t only offer benefits for those with diabetes as a snack.
Hobson also shared that eating them with a meal can help slow down the release of sugar.
He said: “If you are concerned about your blood sugar levels then if you eat them with a meal, then obviously, there’s no risk of having any issues.”
Apart from being packed with fibre, another reason why apples are a “great option” for diabetics is their low glycaemic index.
Hobson explained: “Glycaemic index [GI] is an indication of how quickly carbohydrate is broken down in the body, so that’s another good way to think about.
“Low GI foods are good if you’ve got type 2 diabetes.”
Even though apples can help manage the condition, the nutritionist warned that one singular apple doesn’t offer all the fibre you need on a daily basis.
He added: “It’s a way of adding fibre into your diet and also it’s a way of having that healthy snack over a different snack.
“[However], apple contains about two-and-a-half grams of fibre, it’s not a massive bit but it helps along the way to get to tally it all up.”
The nutritionist stresses that you should aim to eat 30 grams of fibre per day.
Other good fibre sources he named are oats, whole grains, vegetables, beans, pulses and lentils.
He recommends following a healthy varied diet. Hobson concluded: “If you can eat a diet that’s going to help you lose weight and that would include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, then obviously, that’s going to benefit your health and might help improve your diabetes.”
Source: Read Full Article