Diabetes diet: The 60p ‘versatile’ snack to protect against high blood sugar symptoms – Daily Express
Diabetes is a common condition that affects about five million people in the UK. While the number of diabetes patients is growing, you could still lower your risk of developing the condition by simply making a few changes to your daily diet.
There are two main types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2 – with type 2 diabetes being by far the most common.
It’s caused by the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the body struggling to react to insulin.
Insulin is used to convert sugar in the blood into useable energy for the body’s cells.
Having diabetes increases your risk of several deadly medical conditions, including heart disease and strokes.
READ MORE: Type 2 diabetes: High blood sugar may cause polydipsia – symptoms
“Sunflower seeds are delicious and versatile, making it easy to add them into a healthy and well-rounded diet,” it said.
“Consuming a high-fibre diet rich in foods like sunflower seeds has been shown to help balance blood sugar levels.
“This is because fibre helps slow the absorption of sugar in the bloodstream, preventing spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels and decreasing the chance of developing diabetes or insulin resistance.
“The powerful nutrients in sunflower seeds can help prevent the unstable blood sugar levels that many people experience due to diets too high in sugar, refined grains, sweetened beverages and processed foods.
“In addition to fibre, magnesium has been associated with a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes in some studies.”