Pre-diabetes: Low-Carb Diet May Help to Lower Blood Sugar
In the present day, majority of the people, both young adults and aged individuals are found to suffer from chronic health disorders and one such health problem is undoubtedly diabetes. Today, diabetes is one of the most commonly occurring health problems in the world and this condition is gradually increasing to occur among people, not only in India but also in some of the major parts of the world. One of the major conditions or types of this disorder is known as prediabetes. Prediabetes is a type of health condition that indicates a slight rise in the levels of blood glucose in your body, though the condition of a spike in the blood glucose levels has not turned into a purely diabetic condition yet. In such cases, it is vital to lower the level of blood glucose, because if the blood glucose level is not monitored and controlled now, the case will soon turn into a chronic diabetic condition and can lead to a number of health adversities in the later ages. If you think that you had a recent increase in the levels of your blood sugar content, then there are chances that it might be due to prediabetes. It has often been opined by several health care experts and some dieticians as well, that increased consumption of junk foods and living an abnormal and unhealthy life are some of the major reasons that can be considered responsible for the occurrence of prediabetes and consequent diabetic conditions. Apart from that, having a daily diet that lacks enough healthy nutrients and proper quantities can also be a factor behind the occurrence of prediabetes. When you are having prediabetes, you essentially need a diet that has a low amount of carbohydrate, sugar, or glucose content in the food components. Thus, it is obvious that those who are experiencing prediabetes, or any other symptoms of diabetic conditions should always rely on a low-carb diet other than medication and regular treatment options. This is probably one of the most important articles for those who are suffering from prediabetes or any other diabetic conditions. Read the article till the end in order to get a detailed idea and in-depth knowledge about what prediabetes is all about, and what type of low-carb-containing foods you should include in your daily diet in order to get rid of prediabetes.
Prediabetes: Here Is All You Need To Know About It
As mentioned above, prediabetes is a condition that occurs when your blood sugar levels have just risen, and it is going to resemble the conditions of diabetes sometime sooner or later. It is quite clear from the very name of the disorder, where ‘pre’ means ‘before’. So, prediabetes is the stage that occurs before the occurrence of diabetes. When a person develops conditions such as prediabetes, then there are chances that he or she will develop an impairment of glucose tolerance. In fact, it has been quite commonly opined by many medical professionals and health care practitioners that a majority of those who are suffering from type 2 diabetes or diabetes mellitus presently, have already suffered from prediabetes in the recent past. Thus, it is quite evident that if prediabetes is ignored and not treated in due time, it can lead to type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes is such a condition that can lead to severe forms of health issues, the most obvious one being type 2 diabetes or diabetes mellitus, and other problems as well, such as problems in the heart, kidneys, liver, circulatory disorders, eyes, heart and cardiac functioning, and so on. But prediabetes is a condition that is quite hard to detect if you do not know about the signs associated with the condition. Though the signs and symptoms of prediabetes will differ from one person to the other, there are still certain common signs of prediabetes that will help you to identify and treat the disorder as soon as possible. Some of the major signs and symbols of prediabetes can be listed here as follows:
- Abnormal increase in your thirst
- Blurry vision
- Mild to excessive weakness and fatigue
- Increase in the frequency of urination
Once you start noticing any of the above symptoms, you should consult a healthcare expert as soon as possible.
Low Carb Diet And Prediabetes:
It has often been opined by medical professionals that if you consume low-carb-containing foods in your diet, then it would be quite helpful for you to reduce the risk factors related to prediabetes. In fact, it has been found in recent studies and experimental research that when you have foods that are low in carbohydrate content, then you will be significantly able to reduce the risk of prediabetes developing into type 2 diabetes or diabetes mellitus. If you can continue a low-carb diet while having prediabetes for at least 6 months or so, you would be quite successful to get rid of diabetes mellitus as there will be a lowering in your sugar levels after having a low-carb diet. This happens because a low content of carbohydrate-containing foods in your daily diet can help to reduce your blood sugar levels. The lowering of the hemoglobin A1c will help to ensure the reduction of blood glucose levels.
Low Carb Diet For Prediabetes: Follow These Diet Tips To Get Rid Of Prediabetes
1. Eat more foods that are rich in fiber:
Fibre is quite an important component for those who have higher levels of blood glucose. This is because fiber helps to get bulk into your diet. This not only helps in better movement of bowels through the gastrointestinal tract, but it also helps to better digestion and absorption. Apart from that, having food components that are rich in iron content will help you to lower the urge to eat more sugary foods by keeping you ‘full’ for a longer time. Besides, having fiber-rich foods in your diet will also help you to stay energized. There are certain important fiber-rich food components that you must positively include in your diet while having prediabetes. Some such foods are listed below:
- Cereals that are rich in whole grains
- Fruits and vegetables that are filled with more and more fiber
- whole wheat pasta Top of Form
- bread made out of whole grains
2. Drink a lot of water:
Water is the crucial component of a healthy and balanced diet that will help you to stay hydrated and healthy. Consumption of water becomes more and more essential once you think that you are already having conditions like prediabetes. For those who have prediabetes, it is important to have enough amount of water each day to reduce the risk of occurrence of the risk factors related to prediabetes.
3. Eat more lean meats and healthy proteins:
Lean meats and healthy proteins are very important to include in a low-carb diet while having prediabetes. There are some specific types of protein components that you can have in order to get rid of prediabetes. Some of them can be given here as follows:
- eggs
- chicken and turkey
- low-fat Greek yogurt
- low-fat milk and dairy products
- shellfish such as lobster, shrimp, crab, and others
- soybean, tofu, kidney beans
- lean beef and meat such as ground beef, tenderloin, and so on
- fish such as tuna, haddock, cod, trout, and so on.
4. Include more vegetables into your diet:
Doctors always advise that vegetables are not just good for your health, but they also help to reduce the risk of occurrence of any other disease in the body. When you already have prediabetes, it is very much important to cut the consumption of vegetables that are rich in starch and glucose content such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, butternut, winter squash, and so on. You can instead have vegetables like carrots, spinach, kale, bok choy, bell peppers, broccoli, and other green leafy vegetables.
5. Have more nuts and seeds:
You can undoubtedly include more nuts and seeds in your diet while having prediabetes according to your choice, such as peanuts, pistachios, almonds, walnuts, cashew nuts, and so on. But it is important that you should not have them with salt, which is not at all good for your health. Apart from that, try to take note of the amount of serving that you are having each day.
In order to understand which food to have and in which GI quantity, here is a list that you must follow while having prediabetes:
Food GI
potatoes 71
rice 67
bread 64
breakfast cereals 61
pasta 52
fruits 51
cookies 49
cakes and pastries 48
milk and dairy products 35
nuts and seeds 22