Traditionally the advice given to people with diabetes has focussed around avoiding sugar as this was thought to be the key to good diabetes control.
However evidence has shown that although it is very important to achieve good diabetes control, avoiding sugar and doing nothing more to improve lifestyle may not be enough to stay well with diabetes in the long term.
Research shows that people carrying more weight particularly around the tummy are more insulin resistant and may struggle to achieve good diabetes control.
Current diet advice focuses on a low sugar diet, low fat diet with weight loss where necessary, in order to have optimal diabetes control.
ASIAN DIET
The advice is very much the same for people with diabetes from an ethnic background. Historically the Asian diet was low in fat and sugar and therefore, very healthy. However since the migration of people from East Africa to the UK thirty years ago the diet has changed and become higher in both fat and sugar.
Overall as a nation, activity levels are at an all time low. The use of energy saving devices such as cars, vacuum cleaners, washing machines mean that walking and manually doing tasks such washing clothes are a thing of the past. As a result our activity levels are less.
As a consequence of a higher calorie intake and reduced activity levels, the UK population is becoming overweight and as a result of this the incidence of type 2 diabetes has increased.
Research has shown that 8 out of 10 people with diabetes are overweight.
If you are overweight and carrying the extra weight around your tummy this makes it difficult for the body’s’ insulin to work properly. (About diabetes)
Consider trying to lose some weight. Just 10% weight loss can drastically lower your blood glucose levels (Losing Weight )
Although it is important to follow a balanced eating plan it is important to consider which foods influence your blood sugar levels and also how these foods impact your weight. Speak to your Diabetes Dietitian for more individual advice.
