Suffering from type 2 diabetes? This plant-based supplement can help improve insulin, lower blood sugar levels
If you’re living with type 2 diabetes, you need to make changes in your diet and daily lifestyle. The good news is, there’s a lot you can do to help manage your condition. In type 2 diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or resist the effects of this hormone, which leads to a buildup of glucose in your bloodstream. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells. Your body needs insulin in order to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Not all people with type 2 diabetes need to use insulin - if they do, that's because their pancreas isn't making enough insulin on its own. Moreover, as the condition progresses, it is more likely that patients will need to take insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Research has shown that certain foods can help enhance insulin sensitivity and keep blood sugar levels in check. Resveratrol is one such food shown to be beneficial for diabetes management. In fact, this plant-based supplement has been linked to several health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, suppressing cancer cells and protecting brain cells.
Resveratrol is a plant compound that can act as an antioxidant, which can help manage diabetes. It is found in certain foods, including red wine, berries and peanuts.
How resveratrol can help improve insulin sensitivity
Research suggests that resveratrol can increase insulin sensitivity and prevent complications from diabetes. It is claimed that this potent antioxidant compound can prevent a certain enzyme from turning glucose into sorbitol or sugar alcohol. The buildup of sorbitol can create cell-damaging oxidative stress in diabetics.
Here are a few ways resveratrol can benefit people with diabetes:
- Resveratrol is a potent anti-inflammatory compound, which means it can help decrease or lessen inflammation - a key factor contributing to diabetes and other chronic conditions.
- Resveratrol has antioxidant properties, which may help protect against oxidative stress linked to the development of diabetes complications.
- Resveratrol may help activate AMPK, a protein that helps the body metabolise glucose. The activation of AMPK may help keep blood sugar levels low.
With resveratrol showing several benefits for diabetes in animal studies, including developing better insulin sensitivity, researchers hope that the natural compound could be used to treat diabetes and its complications in the future.
Conclusion
Eating a healthy diet is one of the best ways to avoid high blood sugar. Proper management of blood sugar is important for diabetics to maintain overall health and well-being. There’s no cure for type 2 diabetes, but eating well and exercising, losing weight, taking medications as prescribed by the doctor can help manage the condition and improve the quality of life.