Diabetes and high blood sugar is a growing problem in the United States and worldwide.
Complications of diabetes include heart disease, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, eye damage as well as increased mortality.
A few simple lifestyle choices can be used to help control blood sugar as well as the recommendations provided by a healthcare professional.
One approach to help normalize blood sugar may be through the use of fiber.
Fiber comes in two forms including soluble fiber and insoluble fiber.
Examples of soluble fiber include psyllium, oats, barley, nuts, beans, lentils, peas, and some fruits and vegetables.
Soluble fiber works by absorbing water and swelling providing several benefits. In can help soak up cholesterol and slow down the absorption of sugar.
By slowing down the absorption of sugar a person the blood sugar will be lower allowing insulin to work more efficiently.
A recent study published in the Nutrition Journal reported how an 8 week study improved blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes patients.
Here are the details of the study:
- 40 type 2 diabetes patients were enrolled in the study
- Consumed 10.5 grams daily of soluble fiber for 8 weeks
- 7.0 grams was given before lunch with 150 mL (about 5 ounces) of water
- 3.5 grams was given before dinner with 150 mL (about 5 ounces) of water)
Here are the results of the study:
- Soluble fiber reduced body mass index compared to control group
- Fasting blood sugar reduced from 163 to 119 mg/dl
- HbA1c reduced from 8.5 to 7.5%
- Insulin level reduced from 27.9 to 19.7 micro IU/milliliter
Take away message:
There are two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber works by slowing the absorption of sugar. By preventing spikes in sugar after eating, insulin produced by the pancreas can work more efficiently. In this study, over 8 weeks, an average decrease of fasting blood sugar from 163 to 119 mg/dL was observed with 10.5 grams of soluble fiber given daily. An imortant point is that soluble spread out over the day works best as opposed to taking it all at once. Soluble fiber is something that everyone should consider adding to their diet to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Blood sugar, Diabetes, Plant Medicine