Diabetes type 2 requires patients to manage their blood sugar, and to prevent sudden spikes in the amount of glucose in their diet.
One way to control blood sugar is to make small changes to your diet, according to the NHS.
Diabetes patients could prevent high blood sugar by adding extra virgin olive oil to their diet, revealed MedicSpot GP, Dr Zubair Ahmed, to Express.co.uk.
The oil could help to boost the amount of ‘good’ HDL cholesterol in the body, said Ahmed.
It could also help to get rid of triglycerides; a dietary fat that can build up in diabetes patients.
“I would recommend extra-virgin olive oil to diabetics because it contains oleic acid,” said the GP.
“Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fat that has been shown to improve HDL and triglycerides.
“For people with type 2 diabetes, these are often at unhealthy levels.
“Therefore, consuming a little extra-virgin olive oil can be beneficial to type 2 diabetics.”
Ahmed’s claims came after a Spanish study showed extra virgin olive oil lowers blood sugar and cholesterol in diabetes patients.
The oil forms part of the Mediterranean diet, and scientists revealed patients had a lower blood sugar reading after eating meals with an added 10g of the oil.
Diabetes patients could also lower their blood sugar by eating more fatty fish, the GP added.
The fish - which includes salmon, anchovies, mackerel and herring - are all rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which boost heart health, he said.
It’s especially important for diabetes patients to add these fatty acids to their diet, as they’re more likely to develop heart disease or stroke.
Eggs are another important addition to patients’ diets, said Ahmed.
Regularly eating eggs could help diabetics to lower their heart disease risk as they reduce inflammation, while improving insulin sensitivity.
Diabetes is caused by the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin.
Insulin’s role is to convert sugar in the blood into useable energy. About 90 per cent of all diabetes cases are type 2.
Diabetes symptoms can include feeling very tired, having an unquenchable thirst, and passing more urine than normal.
See a GP if you’re worried that you have any of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes, or if you think you may be more at risk of the condition.
Return to News Home
