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Part 2 of our advice on Non-pharma management of diabetes - Limit consumption of these everyday staples

Posted by Eamonn Brady on

Diabetes: Non-Pharmacological Treatment Options Part 2

 

Foods to restrict (Continued)

White rice, pasta, and bread
These are one of the worst foods you can consume if you are trying to regulate blood sugar level. This group of foods are refined starches and are made with white flour. These white carbohydrates are almost pure glucose and are recognised by your body as sugar once it begins to digest them. Opt for whole grains, like brown rice and pasta, porridge, high fibre cereals, and whole grain breads.

 

Fatty cuts of meat – While meat will not interact with your blood sugar levels it can increase your cholesterol and promote inflammation in the body. This means that an individual with diabetes is at greater risk of heart disease. Opt for lean protein choices like fish, turkey, chicken, pork, and even lean beef. Always trim any visible excess fat from meat and don’t eat more than two portions of red meat in a week.

 

Processed and pre-packed foods – Apart from the high levels of sugar that foods like packaged snacks, baked goods, and white flour products etc. have, they also contain trans-fats. Trans-fats increase your LDL (bad) cholesterol and lower you HDL (good) cholesterol thus increasing risk of heart disease. These trans-fats are much more detrimental than saturated fat for an individual with diabetes. There is no level of trans-fats deemed safe to consume but thankfully under EU legislation trans-fats now need to be shown on the food label, so identifying them is much easier. Checking your food label is vital; keep an eye out for hydrogenated oils on ingredients labels as they are a major source of trans-fats. Stay with your healthy fats from oily fish, nuts, seeds, avocado and oils like canola, flax, and olive.

 

Fried food – Fried foods are soaked in fat and oil which offer no nutritional benefit, only additional calories. Over-consumption of these types of foods means you are ingesting hydrogenated oils and trans-fats, rising LDL cholesterol.

 

What is BPro Cardio Screen Service?

BPro Cardio Screen measures stiffness of your arteries to identify risk of blockages and risk of cardiovascular disease and circulation problems. BPRo is placed like a watch on your wrist and is pain free. A pulse wave reads and calculates a wave signal that indicates the elasticity of large, small, and peripheral artery walls as well as tests for stress, central blood pressure, heart rate, and more. It is now €35 (was €50); it only takes about 15 minutes. Catch us on Facebook for details of our next clinic at Whelehans Pearse St. Book by calling Whelehans at 04493 34591.

 

To be continued… next week.

 

For comprehensive and free health advice and information call in to Whelehans Pharmacies, log on to www.whelehans.ie or dial 04493 34591 (Pearse St) or 04493 10266 (Clonmore).

 


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