The Unexpected Food That Can Help You Prevent Diabetes

Diabetes is a serious illness that impacts the body's ability to process sugar from broken-down foods and use it to produce energy (per Healthline). Type 1 diabetes is known as insulin-dependent diabetes because with this condition the pancreas produces little or no insulin (per the Mayo Clinic). It typically appears during childhood or adolescence. With type 2 diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic, the body cannot properly regulate and use sugar (glucose) as a fuel. It is more common in older adults.

More than 37 million Americans currently are living with diabetes, according to 2021 statistics by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It's been found that many people with diabetes are unaware that they have the disease. About 8.5 million of the population have undiagnosed diabetes, increasing the risk of severe health complications.

While there's no cure for diabetes, you may be prescribed certain meds to maintain blood sugar levels. Additionally, most of the symptoms can be easily managed by living a healthy lifestyle such as getting sufficient sleep, exercising, and even eating a healthy diet.

You might be familiar with the benefits of certain kinds of fish and crustaceans in balancing your sugar levels. Everyday Health reports that since diabetics have more chances of experiencing cardiovascular problems such as heart attack, seafood can be a great source of proteins and good fats. They particularly focus on the advantages of consuming trout, cod, shrimps, lobsters, and salmon, as they're rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

A 2021 study published in Food Reviews International explored the amazing benefits of nutrient-packed sardines for people with diabetes. Sardines are rich in fats that balance sugar, carrying loads of beneficial amino acids and proteins. In addition, researchers discovered that sardines have high amounts of vitamin D and numerous anti-inflammatory and anti-glycemic agents, helpful in maintaining blood sugar levels and preventing heart diseases.

Furthermore, research from a 2021 randomized trial published in Clinical Nutrition found that older people with prediabetes who followed a diet rich in sardines for one year show significant reductions in risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with those placed on a similarly healthy diet minus the sardines (via Medscape).