References
- Yoko Yokoyama, Barnard Neal D, Levin Susan M, Mitsuhiro Watanabe. Vegetarian diets and glycemic control in deabetes: a systematic reivew and meta-analysis. Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2014;4(5):373-382.
Keeping weight in check, being active, and eating a healthy diet can prevent most cases of type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult onset diabetes, and is striking people at younger and younger ages with rates skyrocketing globally. The good news is that it’s highly preventable.
- Keeping weight in check and being physically active can help prevent most cases of the disease.
- Choosing a diet rich in whole grains and healthy fats adds even more protection—skip the refined grains and sugary soda.
- Limiting red meat and avoiding processed meat — including bacon, hot dogs, and deli meats — can also help lower diabetes risk.
- Go for healthier protein sources instead, such as nuts, beans, poultry, and fish.
Here are five quick tips to help prevent diabetes:
- Put exercise first—and put television last.Regular exercise by itself can cut diabetes risk. Choose things you enjoy and do them every day. Too much television-watching ups diabetes risk—an increase of 20 percent for every 2 hours you watch. So trade some of your sit-time for fit-time.
- Try to keep weight in check. Being a healthy weight is the best thing you can do to lower your risk of diabetes.
- Choose healthy fats and proteins, and skip the red and processed meat. A diet rich in mono and polyunsaturated fats can help lower your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Canola oil and olive oil are great choices, as are the fats in avocados, nuts, and seeds.
- Focus on plant foods. A diet high in vegetables and whole grains can keep blood sugar and appetite in check (1). Choose a good variety of whole grain foods prepared in interesting ways.
- Cut back on refined carbs and sugary drinks. White bread, white rice, white pasta and potatoes cause quick increases in blood sugar, as do sugary soft drinks, fruit punch, and fruit juice. Over time, eating lots of these refined carbohydrates and sugar may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes. To lower your risk, switch to whole grains and skip the sugar — especially the sugary drinks.
References
- Yoko Yokoyama, Barnard Neal D, Levin Susan M, Mitsuhiro Watanabe. Vegetarian diets and glycemic control in deabetes: a systematic reivew and meta-analysis. Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2014;4(5):373-382.
