Being overweight causes health problems, but when you are a diabetic, it can be even more dangerous, which makes appetite suppressants valuable. The more you eat, the more insulin your body requires to control blood glucose levels. Being overweight also makes treating diabetes more difficult. Natural appetite suppressants are your safest options due to possible drug interactions.
Fiber
Fiber is in many foods suitable for a diabetes diet, including legumes, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds. These foods take longer to chew, giving your brain more time to register that you're full. Insoluble fiber swells when it mixes with water, helping to bulk up your meals so you feel full. Fiber also slows down the rate at which your stomach empties, prolonging satiety or fullness.
Supplements
Supplements, such as fiber pills like glucomannan and starch blockers, are also effective at suppressing appetite. Starch blockers, such as those made from white kidney beans, also help to improve glucose metabolism, which provides additional benefits for diabetics. Do not take any supplement without first consulting your physician. Some appetite supplements can cause side effects such as gas, bloating and abdominal cramps, or may interact with your diabetes medications.
Better Sleep
People with diabetes often suffer from sleep problems such as sleep apnea, nighttime hypoglycemia and sleep disruption due to neuropathic leg pain. Poor sleep at night disrupts hormones that are responsible for controlling your appetite. A lack of sleep also makes you sluggish and less inclined to exercise, which is another natural way to suppress your appetite. Properly managing your diabetes and disorders such as sleep apnea can help improve sleep and control your appetite.
Exercise
Regular physical activity should be part of any diabetes treatment plan. Exercise helps to lower blood glucose levels and improve insulin sensitivity. But another benefit of exercise is that it helps to suppress appetite in some people. If you have diabetes, you have to take special precautions when exercising, such as wearing protective shoes and carrying a snack with you. Work with your diabetes specialist to create a safe exercise program to control diabetes and curb your appetite.
References
- KidsHealth: Weight and Diabetes
- Joslin Diabetes Center: Sleep Problems and Diabetes
- Harvard School of Public Health: Sleep Deprivation and Obesity
- Nutrition ATC; Men, Women Respond Differently to Exercise; Joannie Dobbs, et al.; August 2010
- The Record Online; Exercise Affects Hunger Depending on Body Type; Laura Bailey; June 2008
- MayoClinic.com; Dietary Fiber: Essential for a Healthy Diet; November 2009
