Preventing Diabetes
What is Diabetes?
There are three types of diabetes. Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational.
Type 1 is an auto immune condition where the body does not produce enough insulin. Type 1 diabetes most often starts in childhood, but not always.
Gestational diabetes is temporary and is when a pregnant mum has high blood sugar caused from the inability to produce enough insulin or becomes resistant to the effect of insulin.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and is preventable. Caused by our cells becoming resistant to the effect of insulin and then eventually the body not producing enough insulin.
Type 2 diabetes is increasing in the population and the risk is linked to other chronic issues such as obesity, high blood pressure, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and unhealthy levels of fats in the blood. It usually starts in adulthood but increasingly clinicians are seeing more children and teenagers with Type 2.
Why is type 2 diabetes increasing in the population?
We are bathed in a steady diet of refined and ultra-processed carbohydrates from early childhood.
Our blood sugar levels are constantly being sent sky high after we have eaten sugars and refined carbohydrates and then our body must pump out the insulin to bring our blood sugars under control. This constant barrage eventually leads to insulin resistance and may then eventually lead to diabetes.
Of course there are other factors but this is one of the biggies. Here are some other factors: Increasing levels of obesity and inactivity, urbanisation and “sitting in the car or at the office desk” rather than more physical daily work, increasing alcohol consumption, poverty, chronic stress, lack of sleep, increasing population age, etc etc!
What can we do to reduce our own risk of type 2 diabetes?
Firstly, reduce those sugars, refined carbs and ultra processed foods!
Eat more vegetables, whole foods and other minimally processed foods. Cut the sugar out as much as possible and become used to a less sweet taste. Get plenty of exercise. Get plenty of sleep and reduce/manage our stress.
Check out the range of minimally processed foods that we make that help you make healthy choices the easy choice.
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.
