Type 2 diabetes is a condition which causes the levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood to become too high. If blood sugar isn’t controlled properly and stays too high, it can result in complications, including kidney failure, nerve damage, heart disease and stroke.
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When looking to prevent and control the condition, it’s important to look at the causes.
As well as being overweight or obese and having high blood pressure, regularly eating a poor diet can increase a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes or cause blood sugar levels to spike.
So what changes to your diet should you make?
The NHS advises there’s nothing you cannot eat if you have type 2 diabetes, but you’ll have to limit certain foods.
It states: “You should eat a wide range of foods – including fruit, vegetables and some starchy foods like pasta.
“Keep sugar, fat and salt to a minimum.
“Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day – do not skip meals.”
Individual foods have also been found to control blood sugar levels, and when it comes to the first meal of the day, breakfast, one drink which could replace your usual tea, coffee or orange juice, is karela juice.
Karela juice is a drink made from bitter melon – also known as bitter gourd.
Bitter melon is a tropical vine, closely related to zucchini, squash, pumpkin and cucumber and cultivated around the world for its edible fruit.
It’s considered a staple in many types of Asian cuisine, but over the years, it’s also gained recognition for its health benefits.
Several studies have confirmed the fruit’s role in blood sugar control.
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A three-month study involving 24 adults with diabetes showed taking 2,000mg of bitter melon daily decreased blood sugar and haemoglobin – a test used to measure blood sugar control over a three month duration.
Another study involving 40 people with diabetes found taking 2,000mg per day of bitter melon for four weeks led to a modest reduction in blood sugar levels.
The supplement also significantly decreased levels of fructosamine, which is another marker of long-term blood sugar control.
Bitter melon is believed to improve the way sugar is used in the tissues and promotes the secretion of insulin – the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar.
Bitter melon is widely available in supplement form, but can also be enjoyed in meal, either pan-fried, steamed or baked.
It can also be enjoyed as a nutrient packed beverage along with other fruit and vegetables.
A popular recipe for karela juice is raw bitter melon and water blended, with a dash of salt and a squeeze of lemon.
But if you have type 2 diabetes it’s important to consult your doctor first before trying any alternative remedies.
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