Due to various misconceptions, many people are led to believe that diabetes is not a serious condition, and that it only strikes older people. Such perceptions have contributed to a sense of paralysis, in which high-risk people feel uncompelled to prevent the disease. As such, it is only valid to do away with these notions and confront hard facts for more active participation in risk reduction and prevention of diabetes.

According to the American Association of Diabetes Educators, the said condition ranks as the 7th cause of fatalities in the U.S. Other complications that may arise include end-stage renal disease, and adult blindness, and it is serves as a major risk factor for heart disease. Furthermore, children as young as 5 have been discovered to suffer from diabetes, and there are cases where several teenagers below 18 develop types 1 and 2 diabetes.

Symptoms are often ignored, and the disease does not usually get proper clinical diagnosis at its early, wieldier stage. Due to these realities, the need for natural risk reduction and prevention of diabetes becomes more urgent. Based on a newly-conducted study that is allegedly the first of its kind, blueberries have the potential to prevent the onset and may exert its effects toward type 2 diabetes.

The Role of Insulin in Diabetes

Insulin is a natural hormone produced by the pancreas, which serves to regulate sugar glucose levels found in the blood. Glucose is the main energy source of cells that comprise tissues and muscles, and it is validly considered as the body’s main fuel source. Insulin enables cells to use glucose for energy production or conversion, or for liver preservation as glycogen. As such, there is a need to emphasize on the key role of insulin. Cells cannot use glucose for producing energy without it, which is the same effect if insulin is present but the body is unable to properly use it.

With insulin resistance, the liver, muscle, and fat cells are unable to properly utilize the natural hormone. These cells have become resistant to insulin’s effects, demanding more insulin amounts to be produced. The pancreas strives to meet the insulin demand to a point where it can no longer keep up. Insulin insufficiency is associated with the pancreas’ failure to produce ample insulin amounts. Both insulin resistance and insulin insufficiency render excessive glucose build-up in the blood stream. The situation heightens risks of heart ailments and diabetes, where insulin resistance is generally associated with type 2 and insufficiency is associated with type 1.

Resisting Insulin Resistance through Blueberry Smoothie Consumption

In the study led by Professor William Cefalu at the Center for the Study of Botanicals and Metabolic Syndrome, Louisiana State University System, results showed that insulin-resistant individuals may reduce their risk of diabetes by drinking blueberry smoothie. This is achieved through blueberry components’ contribution to increasing insulin sensitivity, which may be linked to the fruit’s potent flavonoid contents.

Published in the Journal of Nutrition, it involved 32 obese, non-diabetic but insulin-resistant participants. They assigned participants to consume either a smoothie with 22.5 grams of blueberry bioactives, or another smoothie with the same nutritional value on a daily basis for a 6-week span. Around 67% of the blueberry group members reportedly gained at least 10% increase in insulin sensitivity, while only 41% of placebo group members were associated with such favourable changes. There were no inflammatory markers, and participants did not have changes in their BMI and body fat.

Uniqueness of the Study

According to Professor Cefalu, the venture is reportedly the first of its kind through the design’s characteristics as being randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled. Furthermore, it is believed to be the first conducted human study on the effects of blueberries, particularly of dietary supplements containing blueberry bioactives, on insulin sensitivity in obese, insulin-resistant, and non-diabetic people.

Because of the yielded promising findings, the study was able to imply that further research and evaluations on blueberries’ role in improving insulin sensitivity is needed. As such, more potential benefits of blueberries can be further established.

More Natural Sources for Diabetes Prevention

This list shows how people can potentially eat their way towards diabetes prevention, besides consuming blueberries.

Fish oil

All fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, but certain kinds have richer concentrations such as tuna and salmon. Nut oils, algae, and krill also contain the said polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).

Omega-3 fatty acids offer multi-benefits. It potentially reduces risk of fatal and chronic diseases like cancer and heart ailment through alleviating inflammation, and these have significant roles in improving behavioural and cognitive function. In relation to diabetes, those who suffer from the said disease possess low levels of HDL and high levels of triglyceride. As such, one of omega-3 fatty acids’ key roles in diabetes risk reduction is through raising HDL levels and decreasing apoproteins and triglycerides.

Bitter melon

The vegetable, also referred to as bitter gourd or bitter cucumber, has long been used as a folk diabetes treatment in certain parts of the world. However, clinical studies that prove its potential benefits have emerged, with results that suggested the potentially effective role of Asian bitter melon in lowering concentrations of glucose.

Bitter melon allegedly targets non-pancreatic and pancreatic cells. Its potential capacity to lower levels of sugar glucose is associated with some of its protective properties such as charantin and polypeptide-P, which is an insulin-like protein. Based on clinical trials and studies, oral administration of 50-60 ml bitter melon juice demonstrates favourable effects on the studies’ results. Dosage should be regulated according to healthy levels.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon, the inner bark of a  particular evergreen tree indigenous to Sri Lanka and India, is able to reduce characteristics that heighten risks for type 2 diabetes—levels of blood glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol. Half a teaspoon of the spice was shown to increase the cell’s sugar use. The positive effects of regular cinnamon intake also extended benefits to the heart, making it another potentially multi-beneficial ingredient. Furthermore, cinnamon shows how a simple addition to the daily diet may have favourable effects in risk reduction and prevention of diabetes.

Onions

Onions contain APDS, an ingredient that has the capacity of blocking the liver’s activities of breaking down insulin. It may also stimulate insulin production, which in turn has favourable effects on the reduction of blood sugar levels. It has also been shown to reduce lipid levels and have antihypertensive effects.

Beef steak

It may be alarming to end this list with beef steak, but it truly has benefits to those who suffer from diabetes due to one of its active and protective compounds. According to the authors of Beat Diabetes Naturally, the conjugated linoleic acid found in beef has potential capacity of repairing sugar metabolism issues. Simultaneously, CLA has been shown to have potential benefits that combat cancer.

With the presence of several other natural sources that may provide anti-diabetes effects; perhaps it is time to realize how such natural remedies have always been abundantly present — how these are just waiting to be consumed at healthy levels, for optimized results in preventing diabetes and other fatal diseases.

Sources
nutraingredients.com
mayoclinic.com
diabetesinformationhub.com
medic8.com
diabeteseducator.org
umm.edu
rwood.com
diabetes-diabetic-diet.com
naturalhealthontheweb.com
naturalhealthontheweb.com
medicinenet.com
naturaldiabetics.com