Certain nutrients may benefit individuals with type 2 diabetes
Maintaining a proper diet is critically important for anyone with type 2 diabetes. However, most people with the condition focus on limiting their intake of carbohydrates, fat and sugar. While this is important, there are other nutrients individuals with the condition should consider consuming more often.
For example, several studies have shown that vitamin D may play an important role in the development and progression of type 2 diabetes. Getting adequate amounts of this nutrient may be critical for anyone struggling to manage their condition.
Most recently, a team of researchers reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that people who ate more vitamin D-fortified dairy products had better control over their blood sugar levels over a period of 12 weeks. On average, participants who ate the fortified foods saw their glucose levels drop from 184 mg/dl to 172 mg/dl.
While these levels of blood sugar are still considered to be in the diabetic range, the reduction could lead to many benefits. In particular, tighter control over glucose levels is known to help a person avoid experiencing health complications like heart disease, loss of vision, neuropathy and kidney damage later in life.
The benefits of higher vitamin D levels don't stop at blood sugar regulation. Other studies have shown that the nutrient may help individuals avoid diabetes entirely. Recently, a team of investigators from the University of Melbourne in Australia showed that individuals who had the lowest levels of vitamin D in their blood were 58 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
Researchers reported in the journal Diabetes Care that there is a strong association between blood levels of vitamin D and insulin resistance, one of the first symptoms in the development of type 2 diabetes.
Individuals with the metabolic condition are generally most concerned about what they leave out of their diet. However, findings such as these suggest that paying closer attention to the nutrients they include could also be beneficial.
For example, several studies have shown that vitamin D may play an important role in the development and progression of type 2 diabetes. Getting adequate amounts of this nutrient may be critical for anyone struggling to manage their condition.
Most recently, a team of researchers reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that people who ate more vitamin D-fortified dairy products had better control over their blood sugar levels over a period of 12 weeks. On average, participants who ate the fortified foods saw their glucose levels drop from 184 mg/dl to 172 mg/dl.
While these levels of blood sugar are still considered to be in the diabetic range, the reduction could lead to many benefits. In particular, tighter control over glucose levels is known to help a person avoid experiencing health complications like heart disease, loss of vision, neuropathy and kidney damage later in life.
The benefits of higher vitamin D levels don't stop at blood sugar regulation. Other studies have shown that the nutrient may help individuals avoid diabetes entirely. Recently, a team of investigators from the University of Melbourne in Australia showed that individuals who had the lowest levels of vitamin D in their blood were 58 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
Researchers reported in the journal Diabetes Care that there is a strong association between blood levels of vitamin D and insulin resistance, one of the first symptoms in the development of type 2 diabetes.
Individuals with the metabolic condition are generally most concerned about what they leave out of their diet. However, findings such as these suggest that paying closer attention to the nutrients they include could also be beneficial.
First published on: August 16, 2011
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