If you have type 2 diabetes, your body can’t process the amount of insulin you make. This dysfunction is known as insulin resistance.
The main function of insulin is to regulate blood sugar.
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Without this mechanism, blood sugar levels can skyrocket, which in turn leads to a wave of complications.
Fortunately, insulin resistance can be improved, and diet offers an effective means of achieving this.
Research has uncovered a number of winning components over the years.
Research published in Journal of Medicinal Food suggests that eat a bread incorporated with fenugreek can give results.
Fenugreek is a clover-like herb native to the Mediterranean region, southern Europe, and western Asia.
For the study, the taste acceptability of a bread incorporating fenugreek and its effect on carbohydrate metabolism were tested.
Why carbohydrates?
All carbohydrates break down into glucose (sugar) in the blood relatively quickly, causing spikes in blood sugar. In the absence of insulin, researchers are looking for foods that can help moderate the impact of carbohydrates on glucose control.
The researchers developed a fenugreek bread formula that was produced in a commercial bakery by incorporating fenugreek flour into a standard wheat bread formula.
The wholemeal bread was prepared with the same formula in the same bakery using wheat flour.
Eight diabetic subjects on a controlled diet were served two slices (56 g) and five percent fenugreek.
Blood glucose and insulin were tested periodically over a period of four hours after consumption.
The tests were carried out twice. a week apart once with fenugreek bread and once with normal bread.
The researchers found that «Bread containing fenugreek was indistinguishable from the control whole wheat bread.»
This is significant because «normally, fenugreek flour affects negatively bread quality,» the researchers said.
They concluded: «The bread maintained the functional property of fenugreek to reduce insulin resistance. Acceptable baked goods can be prepared with fenugreek added, that it will reduce insulin resistance and treat type 2 diabetes.»
Why you should go for whole wheat over white bread
diabetes uk explains: «If you have diabetes, whole foods are often better for controlling blood glucose levels because they tend to have a lower glycemic index (GI)«.
This means they don’t affect blood glucose levels as quickly as refined carbohydrate foods.
You should also reduce the following:
- Sugar and sugary foods
- sugary drinks
- White bread
- Potatoes
- White rice.
Type 2 diabetes, do you have it?
Many people have type 2 diabetes without realizing it. This is because the symptoms do not necessarily make you feel bad.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:
- urinating more than usual, especially at night
- feel thirsty all the time
- feel very tired
- lose weight without trying
- Itching around your penis or vagina, or repeated thrush
- Cuts or wounds that take longer to heal
- Blurry vision.