How to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes, Suggests New Study

Maintaining a healthy diet is just as important as working out when it comes to preventing type 2 diabetes. However, certain foods have been shown to be effective in the fight for how to prevent type 2 diabetes. Foods like leafy greens will help you fight diabetes. There are other foods that affect your blood sugar that can influence the development of the disease. However, a new study has found that eating one surprising food may greatly contribute to diabetes prevention.

Looking to take a bite out of senior diet myths? Check out this article.

How to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes, According to New Study

In one new study, 152 patients aged 65 or older diagnosed with prediabetes were placed on a nutritional program. This program was designed to help stave off the disease. One group of seniors was given 200 grams of sardines (about two cans) each week. This was part of their diet and asked to eat the bone-in fish to preserve the vitamin D and calcium.

Before the experiment commenced, 27% of participants who weren’t assigned to eat sardines were at high risk of becoming diabetic. While 37% in the sardine eating group were at high risk for developing the disease. After a year, the non-sardine eating group saw a 5% point drop in high-risk patients, bringing the total number down to 22%.

Meanwhile, those patients in the sardine eating group saw an 8% drop in high-risk patients, bringing the total number from 37% to 29%. In addition to seeing a reduction in diabetes risk, the sardine eating group gleaned other health benefits. Researchers also noted a reduction in triglycerides and blood pressure, a reduction in insulin resistance index, an increase in “good” cholesterol, and increased production of a hormone that helps break down glucose, called adiponectin.

What This Means

The reason this is such a breakthrough in how to prevent type 2 diabetes is that sardines are reasonably priced and safe for consumption with little to no side effects. This makes it the perfect solution to pre-diabetes prescriptions. The effects may be equally beneficial to younger people as well and not just at-risk seniors. This means that as we get older, restrictive diets can help prevent diabetes in older people as well as the young. Suggesting sardines may even be used as a preventative measure.

Supplements vs. The Real Thing

Some may be unhappy to learn that researchers were quick to point out that taking supplements to get the vitamin D, calcium, omega 3 fatty oils, and taurine that sardines contain won’t necessarily produce the same results. Essentially, supplements may not be the shortcut you were hoping for if you are not partial to the small fish. Since many nutrients and their effects are caused by the synergy between them, the results from supplements that are taken in isolation (without other nutrients) may vary.

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