By David VanHorn, HealthAtoZ Health Editor Sugar has long had the reputation of being the enemy of a diabetic diet. But if you have diabetes or are at risk for developing the disease, then you should know that greasy burgers and fries and other fatty foods are the new bad guys. And a new study shows that reducing the amount of fatty foods from your diet can help lower your blood sugar and keep you out of danger. Participants on the low-fat diet also lost more weight in the first three years of the study.
Weight loss helps people with diabetes in two ways.
First, it lowers insulin resistance, allowing your natural insulin to do a better job of lowering blood glucose levels. Anne E. Daly, MS, RD, CDE, president-elect of health care and education for the ADA, says the New Zealand study shows that transforming your lifestyle can have a major impact on your health. To make nutrition an effective deterrent for diabetes, you'll need to make multiple visits to a dietitian, not just a single trip, says Daly, who is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at the Springfield, Ill. Diabetes and Endocrine Center. Your blood glucose should be checked every year if you have risk factors for diabetes, such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or a family history of diabetes. A reading of 126 milligrams per deciliter or above means you have diabetes and need to strictly control your blood glucose.