In type 2 diabetes, your diet has great power! In fact, your diet can help you normalise blood sugar and HbA1c levels, lose weight, reduce medications and much more.
For the past decade, we’ve been helping people control and reverse their type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, naturally with diet and nutrition.
And let’s just say, we’re always amazed at the results people achieve!
JoAnn B said: “My a1c started out around 9.5. it has been at 5.4 for the past six months. I have lost close to 23kg and my goal is 9kg more to be were I need to be. Thanks again for All the great recipes and help.” …. JoAnn’s 1 year update: ” I used you program after I found out I was Type 2. It has been over a year and with your program and the great information in it, I have been able to keep my A1C at a 6. Thanks for all your help.”
Paul O said: “Hi Jedha, I’ve been following your meal/snack advice for about three months now. I’m a 77 year old male, and went from an A1c reading of 7.9 to 6.0; also lost 9.9kg. Thanks for all the help!”
Let’s look closer and get your started in the right direction with diet.
Understanding How To Control Type 2 Diabetes
With type 2 diabetes, your number one priority is to get your blood sugar and HbA1c levels into a healthy normal range.
Why?
Because higher-than-normal blood sugar can cause serious diabetes complications. You want to avoid getting these, because they can be very serious, even life threatening.
Normal fasting glucose levels are between 4.0 and 6.0 mmol/L.
Normal 2-hour post-meal glucose levels, also called ‘after-meal’ or ‘postprandial,’ are less than 7.8 mmol/L.
Once you have a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, your overall goal to aim for is blood sugar levels as close to “normal” levels as you possibly can.
How do you do this?
Diet is the most important factor as what you eat directly influences your blood sugar levels.
Eat the right things and your blood sugar and HbA1c levels can be normal and you reduce the need for medication.
Eat the wrong things and your blood sugar can go uncontrolled, your diabetes will get worse and you’ll likely need more and more medication – that’s how important diet is!
The Most Important Nutrient In Your Diet
There are 3 macronutrients in the diet – carbohydrates, protein and fat.
The nutrient that has the greatest impact on your blood sugar and HbA1c levels is carbohydrates, as demonstrated in the picture below.
The impact of carbohydrates on blood sugar is significant because they directly affect the levels of glucose in the bloodstream.
When you consume carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into simple sugars, mainly glucose, which is then absorbed into the bloodstream. This is true for ALL carbohydrates you eat.
The rise in blood glucose levels triggers the release of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that enables cells to take in glucose for energy or storage. In people with diabetes, this process is impaired (usually due to insulin resistance), leading to elevated blood sugar levels.
Commonly Told Myths About Carbohydrates
You may have read that different types of carbohydrates have varying effects on blood sugar.
For example, simple carbohydrates, found in sugary foods and refined grains, are easily and rapidly absorbed, causing quicker spikes in blood sugar levels.
Complex carbohydrates, on the other hand, are digested more slowly due to their fibre content, resulting in a steadier and more gradual rise in blood sugar.
This is somewhat true, but the most important thing to understand is that ALL the carbohydrate foods you consume will break down in the body to become glucose/sugar in the bloodstream.
Let us emphasise that again: ALL the carbohydrate foods you consume will break down in the body to become glucose/sugar in the bloodstream.
This means, the type of carbohydrate you eat is important but the amount you eat is even more important; and most people consume way too much, which is why they struggle with controlling blood sugar levels.
How Does Diet Help With Type 2 Diabetes
With the right diet, you can reverse type 2 diabetes:
- get your blood sugar and HbA1c levels back to normal
- lose weight if you need to
- avoid nasty diabetes complications
- reduce or eliminate your need for medication
- life the best life possible
These are all amazing outcomes from following the right diet, wouldn’t you say?
Here’s two resources to get you started with your diabetes diet:
If you’re completely confused by diet and what to do, consider taking our clinically proven T2Diet Program.
Within 16 weeks you’ll understand exactly what to eat to treat diabetes so you can achieve and maintain the best health possible. Plus, the program is clinically proven to lower A1c, weight and medications in 16 weeks.
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