Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease affecting about 422 million people worldwide. The medical condition known as diabetes mellitus, adult-onset diabetes, and T2D causes sugar levels (glucose) to build up in the bloodstream because of the body’s inability to produce enough insulin.
If not properly managed, T2D can lead to heart disease and other complications that can result in death.
Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop slower than those of type 1. The symptoms can go unnoticed at first and can last for a short period to as long as several years before you may notice.
Regardless of this, here are some symptoms you may develop when you have type 2 diabetes.
- Feeling thirsty and urinating more than usual
- Feeling fatigued
- Increased hunger
- Blurred vision
- Loss of weight even without trying
- Sores that become difficult to heal
- Numbness or tingling in the feet or hands
It is important to note that only one or two of these symptoms are not evidence enough that you may have type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it is important to get tested or speak to a physician.
Causes of Type 2 Diabetes
There are numerous causes of diabetes but one known characteristic is that it begins with insulin resistance. The body resists insulin the pancreas produces when you have type 2 diabetes.
This causes the pancreas to work more than normal until it becomes difficult for it to produce any insulin.
When this happens, glucose is buildup in the bloodstream and the body is starved of energy.
While it is not ascertained why this happens, experts have linked several factors that are responsible for type 2 diabetes. They include the following.
- Genes and family history – Black people have a higher chance of having the disease.
- Overweight/Obesity
- Physical inactivity
Foods that Increase Your Risk of Diabetes
Diet plays an important role in Type 2 diabetes. According to many studies, junk, saturated fats, and red and processed meats are the major foods that increase the risk of getting the disease.
In a nutshell, it has been proven that diet influences diabetes risk.
In any case, here is a breakdown of the types of foods that expose you to type 2 diabetes
Heavily Processed Carbohydrate
This is often an easy-to-make food but it increases the risk of diabetes. These types of foods include white flour, white sugar, and several other processed foods with high sugar.
These types of foods include cakes, candy, bread, pizza, doughnuts, pasta, and crisps.
See Also: 10 Celebrities With Diabetes
Drinks that Contain Sugar
A Healthline article reports that a study shows that “drinking one to two sugary drinks per day increased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 26 percent, compared with having less than one serving a month.”
Some of these drinks include soda, sweetened tea, and lemonade.
Saturated and Trans Fats
Consuming saturated and trans fats is common but it exposes the body to cholesterol which will also increase the chances of T2D.
This type of oil can be found in many oils used in frying, cooking, etc. Some of these foods include fried foods, poultry skin, beef fat, ice cream, and full-fat dairy products.
Red and Processed Meats
Many processed meats are high in sodium and nitrites which make them a gateway to having risks of Type 2 diabetes. Red meat is not left out as experts have proven it to be a high-risk food when it comes to diabetes mellitus.
In a nutshell, eating the likes of beef, bacon, and hot dogs will increase your risk of the disease.
Foods that Regulate Blood Sugar
From fruits and veggies to dairy products, grains, nuts, and seafood, there are a lot of foods that are great for regulating sugar levels in the body.
A list of the foods include:
Okra
A research carried out by the National Library of Medicine shows that ” okra treatment improves glycaemic control in patients with pre-diabetes or T2D”. The fruit which is often used as a vegetable is rich in polysaccharides and flavonoid antioxidants which as beneficial in lowering sugar levels.
Avocados
Avocado is rich in fiber and that is a major reason why it helps in managing sugar levels. They are also rich in unsaturated fat.
Regardless, studies have shown that avocado reduces the risk of diabetes in females but not necessarily in males. While the reason for this is not ascertained, avocados reduce some heart disease which is one of the major risks associated with diabetes.
Beans
Beans digest slowly and help the body to stabilize the body’s sugar level. Beans contain fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates that are low on the glycemic index (GI) scale.
Other foods that can regulate your sugar level are:
- Pumpkin and pumpkin seeds
- Eggs
- Oats and oat bran
- Apples
- Kefir and yogurt
- Flaxseed
- Chia seeds
- Pumpkin and pumpkin seeds
- Berries
- Oats and oat bran
- Citrus fruits
- Seafood
- Broccoli and broccoli sprouts
- Kale Leafy Greens
- Kimchi and sauerkraut
- Nuts and nut butter
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Millet
