
Type 2 diabetes: The essentials
Odds are, you or someone you know has diabetes. It certainly pays to reinforce what you know about this disease and to take stock of the lifestyle changes you can make to manage it.
Diabetes is New Zealands fastest growing chronic health problem, with nearly 300,000 affected by the disease. Its estimated another 500,000 people have pre-diabetes.
People with type 2 diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than people who dont have the disease; and they are more than twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke.
But its not all doom and gloom controlling blood glucose levels and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can signficantly reduce the complications associated with type 2 diabetes. Research shows you dont have to be a saint to make a difference to your health, either. These five changes will well and truly have you on your way.
Low-GI carbohydrates are slowly digested by the body, meaning they trickle glucose into your bloodstream instead of quickly bursting into your system. Research shows that a low-GI diet can improve blood glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes.
Including just one low-GI carbohydrate at each meal and snack can make a noticeable difference. Low-GI foods include wholegrain bread, pasta, basmati rice, apples, pears and low-fat yoghurt.
Search this website for more information on low-GI foods, or visit www.glycemicindex.com to find the GI values of specific foods. Look for foods with a glycaemic index of 55 or less.
2. Eat at least two serves of wholegrains daily
Upping your intake of whole grains
Continue
reading