Diabetes – Lower the Risk
What if Type 2 diabetes is "not a disease but a physiological response to our abnormal way of eating"? (Jim Loomis, MD, International Convention of Nutrition in Medicine. 2022).
Our Standard American Diet contains highly processed food high in saturated and trans-fat, sugar, and sodium. Eating this way contributes to many chronic diseases, including diabetes.
Eating plans like the Mediterranean diet emphasizes the intake of whole plant-based foods. Still, it includes a modest amount of fish, eggs, poultry, and dairy. The more plants you eat, the better for your health and insulin sensitivity. Research shows that unhealthy fat is a culprit in blocking the insulin receptor sites? One leading cause of Insulin resistance is fat accumulation within muscle and liver cells. This comes mainly from trans fats and saturated fats.
Eating a high-fat meal can cause a post-eating elevation in blood glucose that can remain high for an extended period. Chronically it worsens insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
The whole food plant-focused way of eating emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. It provides a healthy diet rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, low in saturated fat, and free of processed foods, unhealthy oils, and refined sugar. This diet improves body weight, blood sugar control, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure. It benefits not only diabetes but also cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral artery disease. My plate is a wonderful way to plan your meal and get the nutrients you need. Dairy includes low fat milk, yogurt, and low-fat cheeses and also plant milks and yogurts.
Work closely with your provider when making lifestyle changes, and check your blood sugar regularly. Medications may need to be altered when changing the diet.
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