Millions of people in the UK have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It is a condition that, if mismanaged, can lead to lifelong consequences.
Type 2 diabetes is typically spotted as high blood sugar levels caused by a lack of a hormone called insulin. Either your body isn’t making enough, or its insulin doesn’t work properly.
Diabetes can lead to its own set of complications. Many people who have the condition are at greater risk of heart and kidney disease as well as nerve damage and eye problems.
Most who live with the condition will need medication to help control their insulin levels if they can’t reverse the damage naturally. However, lifestyle and diet changes can help reduce blood sugar to a healthy level.
Diet plays a major role in staying healthy while managing the condition. Some evidence suggests that people who adopt a ‘Mediterranean diet’ greatly reduce their risk of these complications.
The lifestyle is based on the traditional eating habits of people who live around the Mediterranean Sea, like Spain and Greece. In these countries, there is a lower rate of diabetes overall.
Knowing where to start can be difficult so Diabetes UK has created a simple to follow meal plan using the style of eating as inspiration. It includes three meals a day plus snacks and an evening dessert too.
Each day allows for 225ml of milk (semi-skimmed or whole). Specific recipes created by Diabetes UK will be linked where relevant…
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
