Diabetes is a common condition that affects more than four million people in the UK, and 90 percent of all cases are caused by type 2 diabetes. You could lower your risk of high blood sugar by avoiding certain cereals, and by eating more porridge.
Type 2 diabetes could be caused by the body not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the body not reacting to insulin.
Without enough of the hormone, the body struggles to convert sugar in the blood into usable energy.
It’s crucial that if you think you may have diabetes, you speak to a doctor as soon as possible.
One of the best ways to avoid hyperglycaemia is to swap your breakfast cereal for porridge.
Porridge is an ideal meal for diabetes patients, as it takes longer to digest.
Foods that are digested more slowly have a lower risk of causing blood sugar spikes.
Meanwhile, some other common breakfast cereals may be high in added sugar, warned charity Diabetes UK.
Look out for cereal with limited amounts of added sugar, and simply add chopped fruit to make it sweeter.
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“Although the packaging may make some cereals – like granola and cereal clusters – appear healthy, they are often full of added sugars [also known as free sugars] and unhealthy fat,” it said.
“Instead, why not switch to porridge? Porridge oats or the instant variety are both fine – just avoid those with added free sugars like honey and golden syrup.
“Wheat biscuits, shredded wheat or muesli [with no added sugar] are also great alternatives. For sweetness, add chopped fruit.
“When buying cereal, the best thing to do is look at the ‘front of pack’ label, and try to go for cereal with as many green lights as possible.”
You should also avoid drinking large amounts of fruit juices while eating your porridge, it added.
Fruit juices and smoothies tend to be rich in added sugars, and it’s easy to drink a lot in one go.
It’s always best to eat whole fruit instead of fruit juice.
But if you prefer to have a cup of juice everyday, stick to no more than 150ml.
Many people may have diabetes without even knowing it, because the signs and symptoms don’t necessarily make you feel unwell.
Common diabetes symptoms include having cuts or wounds that take longer to heal, having an unquenchable thirst, and passing more urine than normal.
You should speak to a doctor if you’re worried about the warning signs or symptoms of diabetes, or if you think you may be at risk.
Diagnosing the condition early is very important, because patients are more at risk of some deadly complications, including heart disease and strokes.
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