Diabetes affects 29 million Americans, but many people might be suffering from this condition and not know it. Those diagnosed with diabetes may take insulin, avoid eating certain foods, and take conventional treatment to deal with their condition. However, many more people have prediabetes, which often goes undetected. Prediabetes is characterized by a high blood sugar but is not yet at sufficiently elevated levels to lead to a diagnosis of full-blown diabetes. Since prediabetes carries no real symptoms, many people don’t realize they have elevated blood sugar levels, because they don’t see a reason to get tested. There are a number of diet and exercise options that can help treat prediabetes and prevent it from developing into a serious condition.
There are two kinds of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and can’t be prevented by lifestyle changes. However, symptoms of Type 2 diabetes can be lessened in severity by eating the right foods and getting plenty of exercise. The following list of foods can help those with prediabetes avoid developing actual diabetes and can lower or maintain the blood sugar levels of Type 2 diabetics.
1. Whole Grains
Many people have been rethinking carbs in their diet in recent years. For preventing and managing blood sugar levels, it isn’t necessarily a question of cutting out carbs, but choosing your carbs carefully. When the body digests carbohydrates, it produces glucose that can raise blood sugar levels.
Consuming carbohydrates with fiber can slow down this process and make the introduction of glucose less abrupt and can provide additional nutrients that promote general health. In addition, whole grains keep you satisfied for longer and can prevent binges on sweet foods.
