type 2 diabetes

Understanding insulin in our bodies, the effects of too much sugar, and diabetes management

what is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is an impairment in the way the body regulates and uses sugar (glucose) as a fuel. This long-term (chronic) condition results in too much sugar circulating in the bloodstream. Eventually, high blood sugar levels can lead to disorders of the circulatory, nervous and immune systems.

Keep your blood sugar levels close to normal to avoid many of these complications. The American Diabetes Association's goals for blood sugar control in people with diabetes are 70 to 130 mg/dL before meals, and less than 180 mg/dL after meals.

Any sugar levels higher than normal are unhealthy. Levels that are higher than normal, but not reaching the point of full-blown diabetes, are called prediabetes.

According to the American Diabetes Association, 86 million people in the U.S. have this condition, which can lead to diabetes if you don't make healthy lifestyle changes that your doctor recommends. It also raises the risk for heart disease, although not as much as diabetes does. It's possible to keep prediabetes from becoming diabetes with diet and exercise.

causes of type 2 diabetes

In type 2 diabetes, there are primarily two interrelated problems at work. Your pancreas does not produce enough insulin — a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells — and cells respond poorly to insulin and take in less sugar.

Type 2 diabetes used to be known as adult-onset diabetes, but both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can begin during childhood and adulthood. Type 2 is more common in older adults, but the increase in the number of children with obesity has led to more cases of type 2 diabetes in younger people.

There's no cure for type 2 diabetes, but losing weight, eating well and exercising can help you manage the disease. If diet and exercise aren't enough to manage your blood sugar, you may also need diabetes medications or insulin therapy.

management of type 2 diabetes

You can follow many different eating patterns and diets to meet your health needs.

With type 2 diabetes, be sure to pick a diet rich in nutrient-dense foods, which can help provide the fiber, vitamins, and minerals that your body needs. You should also be sure to enjoy a variety of heart-healthy fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. These can help reduce your cholesterol levels to support heart health, according to a 2017 research review trusted source

Similarly, eating plenty of foods high in fiber can enhance blood sugar management and help keep you feeling fuller for longer to help prevent eating when you’re not hungry.

Your diet should also be sustainable and easy to follow. Diet plans that are overly restrictive or don’t fit your lifestyle can be much harder to stick with in the long run.

the mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet is a diet inspired by the eating habits of people who live near the Mediterranean Sea. When initially formulated in the 1960s, it drew on the cuisines of Greece, Italy, France and Spain.

You will eat mostly plant-based foods like fruits and vegetables, potatoes, whole-grains, beans, nuts, seeds and extra virgin olive oil. Meals are planned around these foods. The diet also includes moderate amounts of lean poultry, fish, seafood, dairy and eggs.

foods to avoid

You should limit these processed foods and ingredients when following the Mediterranean diet:

Added sugar: added sugar is found in many foods but especially high in soda, candies, ice cream, table sugar, syrup, and baked goods

Refined grains: white bread, pasta, tortillas, chips, crackers

Trans fats: found in margarine, fried foods, and other processed foods

Refined oils: soybean oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, grapeseed oil

Processed meat: processed sausages, hot dogs, deli meats, beef jerky

Highly processed foods: fast food, convenience meals, microwave popcorn, granola bars

foods to include

Vegetables: tomatoes, broccoli, kale, spinach, onions, cauliflower, carrots, Brussels sprouts, cucumbers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips
Fruits: apples, bananas, oranges, pears, strawberries, grapes, dates, figs, melons, peaches
Nuts, seeds, and nut butters: almonds, walnuts, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almond butter, peanut butter
Legumes: beans, peas, lentils, pulses, peanuts, chickpeas
Whole grains: oats, brown rice, rye, barley, corn, buckwheat, whole wheat bread and pasta
Fish and seafood: salmon, sardines, trout, tuna, mackerel, shrimp, oysters, clams, crab, mussels
Poultry: chicken, duck, turkey
Eggs: chicken, quail, and duck eggs
Dairy: cheese, yogurt, milk
Herbs and spices: garlic, basil, mint, rosemary, sage, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper
Healthy fats: extra virgin olive oil, olives, avocados, and avocado oil

in conclusion

While there’s no cure for type 2 diabetes, there are ways to manage it and thrive. There’s no one-size-fits-all diabetes management and treatment plan. Your doctor, diabetes education specialist, and other health care professionals can create a plan for your specific needs. A successful diabetes management plan will include healthy eating, exercise, medical support, and emotional support. Yes, emotional support. Getting emotional support is just as important as any other part of diabetes care and treatment.

There is no such thing as a “diabetes diet.” Your doctor will most likely tell you that you should eat the same way everyone else should eat. Eating healthy foods that are lower in carbs, added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium (salt) will be key to managing your blood sugar. You can work with a diabetes care and education specialist to make a meal plan that works for you. With some small changes, you can still enjoy many of the foods that you love and grew up with and manage your diabetes too. And don’t be afraid to try new foods. For those of you with a sweet tooth, with a little planning ahead, you can still keep dessert on the menu.

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