Type 2 diabetes can be a 'devastating diagnosis' says expert

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A diet high in fat, calories, and cholesterol increases a person’s risk of diabetes. A poor diet can lead to obesity (another risk factor for diabetes) and other health problems. A healthy diet, on the other hand, can not only reduce your risk of developing the condition but can also significantly lower blood sugar levels. Much emphasis is put on food, but certain drinks can be just as powerful with either of these three proving best.

Black tea

Black tea was found to help type 2 diabetes in a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

As part of the research, black tea and green tea were given to diabetic rats for three months.

Alongside inhibiting diabetic cataracts, the tea was found to have a blood sugar-lowering effect.

The researchers wrote: “Black and green tea represent a potentially inexpensive, nontoxic, and, in fact, pleasurable [blood-sugar-lowering] agent.

“Tea may be a simple, inexpensive means of preventing or retarding human diabetes and the ensuring complications.”

Green tea

According to studies, green tea consumption is associated with decreased fasting glucose levels and A1C levels, as well as reduced fasting insulin levels, which are a measurement of diabetes health.

It has been suggested the antioxidant activity of polyphenols and polysaccharides are the benefits which help with blood glucose management.

These same antioxidants are credited with anticancer, cholesterol lowering, blood pressure benefits and even hair increasing effects.

Another study published in Diabetes Care in 2005 included 10 people with type 2 diabetes, 11 people with insulin resistance, and a control group of eight people without diabetes or insulin resistance.

The participants were randomly assigned to drink apple cider vinegar or a placebo drink and then eat a meal of a white bagel, butter, and orange juice.

The vinegar increased insulin sensitivity and significantly reduced post-meal blood glucose and insulin levels.

Other studies have also hinted that apple cider vinegar can benefit blood sugar levels after eating meals.

Apple cider vinegar

In a study with the American Diabetes Association, apple cider vinegar to help improve insulin sensitivity after a high-carbohydrate meal was investigated.

The study involved participants who were either insulin sensitive, insulin resistant or with type 2 diabetes.

Participants were randomly assigned to consume either 20g apple cider vinegar or a placebo drink after a meal.

Blood samples were collected at fasting and 30- and 60-min post meal for glucose and insulin analyses.

The study found compared with placebo, vinegar ingestion raised whole-body insulin sensitivity during the post meal interval in insulin-resistant subjects and improved this parameter in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

It was concluded that taking 20g of apple cider vinegar diluted in 40ml of water could lower blood sugar after meals.

There are other factors that contribute to a healthy lifestyle that could reduce a person’s chance of developing the condition.

The global diabetes community mention five health-boosting factors for preventing type 2 diabetes.

These include eating fresh vegetables regularly through the day and making time for physical activity each day.

Other factors include not smoking, keeping alcohol intake to a minimum and reducing any consumption of processed foods.
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