Did you know that nearly 1 out of every 4 Americans is at risk of developing type 2 diabetes? That number has climbed in recent decades. Even just 20 years ago, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes wasn't that high. So what gives?
Diabetes is an inflammatory condition that causes cells to become insulin resistant. Insulin is normally used for transporting sugar out of your bloodstream and into cells where it can be used for energy. But when too much sugar is consumed on a consistent basis, insulin resistance results. And America, as a whole, is consuming way more sugar and other inflammatory processed foods than it should. No bueno.
So what can you do to slash your diabetes risk? Chances are you already know that too much sugar is bad for you. That's not uncommon knowledge. What you may not be aware of is that even so-called "healthy" habits can raise blood sugar and lead to insulin resistance down the line.
One of the things I'm referring to, if you didn't take a hint from the photo above, is juicing. Fruit juice, while deemed healthy and nutritious, can pack quite a blood sugar spiking punch. Especially for those of us who are prone to insulin resistance thanks to genetics. While fruit juice contains natural sugars, and is a far better choice than soda or froufrou latte drinks, it's still quite high on the glycemic index. So yes, even though it's natural, it can still increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
What can you do instead? Drink herbal tea or water. Get your nutrients from whole fruits and vegetables where the fiber is still intact. Don't make a daily habit out of extracting all the juice from your fruits and vegetables and discarding the fiber. If you enjoy juicing, choose fruits that are lower on the glycemic index.
And to truly slash your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, keep your blood sugar in check by forgoing as much of the sweet stuff as possible. Of course, this is all very bioindividual. So ask your doctor, nutritional therapy practitioner, or naturopath to help you figure out what specifically you can do to not end up as one of the 25% of Americans who will develop type 2 diabetes in their lifetime.
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