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Editor's Note: This is part of a yearlong series, Defy Diabetes. Diabetes is one of the biggest health threats our children will face as they grow into adulthood, primarily due to poor diet and lack of exercise. It's been reported in the news, promoted by public service campaigns, and discussed by pediatricians during doctor visits. The focus on prevention has resulted in a continual stream of information from research studies. Each quarter during this yearlong series, we will recap the latest findings for you. As reported in Medical News Today, the quality of the carbohydrates you consume can directly reduce your risk of diabetes. A diet of wholegrain foods, including fiber rich cereals, fruit, vegetable and legume fiber are associated with lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome, an early indicator of diabetes. (Cereals should list whole grain or bran as the first ingredient and have at least 2 grams of fiber per serving.) Finnish researchers have discovered, while following the dietary habits of 4,000 people over the last 23 years, that those who eat diets rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin E, are 30 percent less likely to develop diabetes. Also, carotenoids, found in red, yellow and orange colored fruits and vegetables, are said to help reduce risk. Eat breakfast. After studying 2,681 young adults over eight years, researchers say those who ate breakfast every day had a 35 to 50 percent lower rate of developing obesity and insulin resistance, precursors to diabetes. Aerobic exercise and strength training boost muscle mass and reduce fat storage, which ultimately improve insulin sensitivity and help control blood sugar. Specifically, working large muscle groups and abdominal muscles are key, according to a study reported in the November issue of Diabetes Care. Cinnamon? It's long been thought that spices impact blood sugar and may be instrumental in managing type 2 diabetes. But now, in the first study to prove its effect, the results comes from 60 people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for at least one year but who were not taking medication; they were given capsules containing 500 milligrams of cinnamon. After 40 days, blood samples were taken and a reduction in glucose levels of up to 29 percent were reported. Babies with a family history of diabetes who were fed cereal before ages 4 to 6 months may be predisposed to developing diabetes. A team of researchers whose work was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reported that those fed fiber or rice cereals were four to five times more likely to develop a condition that destroys islets cells in the pancreas, which produces insulin. The report stressed that feeding infants cereal does not cause diabetes, but may predispose children to it. A Harvard study reports that drinking more than six cups of caffeinated coffee per day may reduce your chance of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 50 percent. The study suggested that coffee contains antioxidants and minerals like magnesium that may strengthen the effects of the body's own insulin. The study followed 125,000 men and women over an 18-year period. - By Kimberly A. Porrazzo |
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