When Michael Trailovici of Stuttgart, Germany, began feeling unusually hungry and thirsty, the 42-year-old editor didn’t imagine they could be symptoms of a condition, let alone a serious one. He didn’t see his doctor. That was in 1997. Today Michael, now 66, is one among millions with type 2 diabetes, and 40 per cent of them, like Michael, were initially unaware they had it. The disease is so prevalent that the World Health Organization (WHO) calls it an “epidemic”.
If type 2 diabetes is left untreated, or not well managed, the consequences can be devastating. It risks damage to the blood vessels, heart, liver, kidneys and eyes. It can increase the risks of Alzheimer’s disease. It can lead to amputation, and even death.
But there is hope. Experts say that the numbers of type 2 diabetes cases are so high and climbing so fast due largely to our modern diet; this means the disease and its severity are mostly within our control. Recent research has found that with attention to lifestyle and diet alone, these numbers can be reduced, and future cases prevented. In some cases, we could even be able force the illness into remission.
Here is the latest research on type 2 diabetes and diet. There are some actions you can take to help reduce your chances of developing it, and if you have already been diagnosed, how to maintain control.
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