‘ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS’ AND RISK OF TYPE 2 DIABETES
According to the NOVA classification system, the phrase ‘ultra-processed foods’ encompasses a wide range of foods and beverages, including (but not limited to): carbonated soft drinks; sweet or savoury packaged snacks (e.g., corn chips, potato crisps, etc…); ice cream, chocolate, candies (confectionery); mass-produced packaged breads, buns, cookies (biscuits), pastries, cakes and cake mixes; breakfast ‘cereals’, …
THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET AND RISK OF TYPE 2 DIABETES
The Mediterranean diet (Med-diet) is a traditional pattern of eating that involves the habitual consumption of foods and drinks from the countries located in and around the Mediterranean Sea. It is characterized by high consumption of vegetables, fruits, olive oil, legumes, wholegrains, nuts, and seafood, moderate intake of dairy (especially fermented varieties like yoghurt and …
TYPE 2 DIABETES AND RISK OF CANCER
Most people with diabetes already know they have a higher risk of premature death, mainly due to their increased risk of cardiovascular disease (e.g., heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease). There is also some evidence that people with diabetes have an increased risk of developing and dying from certain forms of cancer. However, it …
WHY YOU SHOULD BREAKFAST LIKE A KING
Managing the rise in blood glucose levels after meals is an important part of managing type 2 diabetes, and can help to reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications, including cardiovascular disease (e.g., heart disease and stroke). There are many factors which affect post-meal blood glucose levels, including the sensitivity of the body’s cells to insulin, …
GLYCEMIC LOAD AND DIABETES
People have long known that, compared to the other major nutrients protein and fat, the amount and type of carbohydrate that we eat or drink has the most pronounced effect on blood glucose levels in people with diabetes. Before the glycemic index (GI) was conceived, people with diabetes predominantly counted carbohydrate using carbohydrate exchanges (15 …
FRUIT AND DIABETES
If you have diabetes or are at risk, you may be confused about fruit. Is it a healthy choice or something you should be avoiding due to its sugar content? It is true that fruit contains natural fruit sugars but in whole fruit this is packaged along with fibre, vitamins and minerals. This makes it …
RESISTANT STARCH AND DIABETES
As explained in this month’s Food for Thought, resistant starch is the part of starchy foods that resists digestion in the small intestine. Instead, it acts in a similar way to dietary fibre, passing through to the large bowel largely undigested where it provides fuel for gut bacteria. Bacteria in the large bowel ferment and …
THE MICROBIOME AND RISK OF DIABETES
There is increasing interest in the role that the microbiome may play in our health. One area that is the subject of much recent research is the impact of our gut bacteria on glucose metabolism and risk of type 2 diabetes. Many studies have shown differences in the gut microbiome between people with and without …
DIABETES CARE
DIABETES IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA In 2019, there were an estimated 88 million people in South-East Asia living with diabetes and the number of people with diabetes is projected to increase to 153 million by 2045 unless successful preventative measures are implemented. There is mounting evidence that Asians have higher postprandial (after-meal) blood glucose levels and …
DIABETES CARE
RICE AND THE MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES Due in part at least to the current popularity of “low carb” diets, people with diabetes are often advised to at the very least severely limit, if not completely avoid rice. This is of course a major issue for people who traditionally eat rice for all of their main …
