Diabetes is a major health problem caused by problems with the hormone insulin. Insulin helps fat, muscle and liver cells pull glucose out of the blood; problems with how much insulin is produced or how the body responds to insulin can increase blood sugar levels to dangerously high levels. Diet can affect diabetes in three different ways: via direct effects on blood sugar, the body's response to insulin and the risk of complications of diabetes.
Direct Blood Glucose Effects
Diet has a direct effect on blood glucose levels; blood glucose levels drop when a person has not eaten for several hours and rise after food is consumed. Food choices have a major impact as to how quickly and how high the blood glucose levels rise. One major dietary component of this change in blood glucose is carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates, such as table sugar, as well as complex carbohydrates like starch are converted into glucose by the digestive tract. As a result, a diet which is high in carbohydrates can keep blood glucose levels high. One important factor in a diabetic's diet is a food's glycemic index, MayoClinic.com explains. The glycemic index is a measurement as to how much a serving of a given food item increases blood glucose levels. Consequently, diabetics should avoid foods with high glycemic indexes.
Insulin Resistance
Diet can also affect how the body responds to insulin. People who are obese or severely overweight are much more likely to develop insulin resistance, which is caused by a diminished response by fat, muscle and liver cells to the effects of insulin. Insulin resistance is one of the major driving factors behind Type 2 diabetes, which typically strikes later in life. In many cases, Type 2 diabetes can be prevented by losing excess body weight, the Obesity Society reports. Diabetics can also lower their blood glucose by losing as few as 10 lbs. By adopting a dietary plan that includes fewer calories, diabetics can greatly improve their blood glucose control, which can reduce the risk of serious diabetes complications and can allow them to reduce the dose of the medications they take to control their diabetes.
Complications
Diet also affects a person's likelihood of developing diabetes-related complications. Diabetics are much more likely to develop atherosclerosis, Science Daily notes, as the high blood glucose levels cause the arteries to become inflamed, which makes it easier for cholesterol to build up in these blood vessels. Because having diabetes increases a person's risk of developing atherosclerosis, a diet which is low in saturated fat and cholesterol is very important for people with diabetes. Atherosclerosis narrows arteries, resulting in poor circulation, increased stress on the heart and an elevated risk of developing a heart attack or stroke.
