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With type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, anything that can give you that edge to lower blood sugar levels more effectively is a great tool, especially when it’s a natural option.
Being our primary goal is to support you with proven nutrition strategies, today you’ll discover five simple, but highly effective, foods proven to help lower blood sugar levels, which in turn helps to lower A1c levels.
Simple things like including these foods in your diet can help make a big difference in your daily blood sugar management.
1. Leafy Green Vegetables
Leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are packed with nutrients and are incredibly low in carbohydrates, making them a great option for supporting blood sugar control.
Rich in fiber and essential minerals like magnesium, they have proven benefits to help improve glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
Magnesium, found abundantly in these greens, plays a critical role in how insulin works in the body.
Studies have shown that higher magnesium intake is associated with lower blood sugar levels and better control of insulin sensitivity.
TIP: Add leafy greens to salads, sauté them with olive oil, or blend them into smoothies for an easy, nutrient-packed meal.
2. Fatty Fish
Fatty fish, such as salmon, sardines, and mackerel, are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown in research to lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.
Omega-3s are also great for reducing inflammation, a key factor in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Plus, fatty fish is packed with protein, which helps stabilize blood sugar by slowing down the absorption of carbohydrates into the bloodstream.
TIP: Grill or bake fatty fish with a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice, or add it to salads for a healthy, satisfying meal.
3. Avocados
Avocados are a nutrient-dense, low carb food packed with healthy fats.
These fats, particularly monounsaturated fats, are essential for improving insulin sensitivity and keeping blood sugar levels stable.
Avocados also contain fiber, which slows digestion and have been shown to reduce blood sugar spikes after meals.
The combination of healthy fats and fiber makes avocados a great addition to any diabetes-friendly meal plan.
TIP: Add avocados to salads, or make a guacamole and use it as a delicious condiment on top of some grilled chicken, beef or fish.
4. Nuts and Seeds
Nuts like almonds, walnuts, and seeds such as chia seeds and flaxseeds are full of healthy fats, fiber, and protein.
These nutrients help slow the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, preventing spikes in blood sugar levels.
Research has also shown that eating almonds can significantly reduce post-meal blood sugar in people living with type 2 diabetes.
Similarly, the soluble fiber in chia and flaxseeds forms a gel-like substance in the digestive system that slows down digestion, providing more stable blood sugar control throughout the day.
TIP: Enjoy a handful of nuts as a snack, sprinkle chia or flaxseeds into your yogurt, or add them to smoothies for added texture and fiber.
5. Berries
Berries, particularly blueberries, raspberries and strawberries, are low in sugar but high in fiber, flavonoids and antioxidants.
These compounds help improve insulin sensitivity and slow down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream.
Research has shown that consuming berries regularly can help improve insulin response in people with insulin resistance.
Being berries are low in carbs and low glycemic index means they won’t cause a large spike in blood sugar, making them a sweet but safe option for type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.
TIP: Add berries to your breakfast, snack on them throughout the day, or blend them into a low-carb smoothie for a sweet treat that won’t spike your blood sugar.
Conclusion
Managing blood sugar doesn’t have to mean giving up flavorful, satisfying foods – not at all!
In fact, when you switch your focus to nutrient-dense foods, it opens a whole new world of flavor and satisfaction that will lower your blood sugar at the same time.
Incorporating these five powerful foods—leafy greens, fatty fish, avocados, nuts and seeds, and berries—into your meals can help you stabilize blood sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity, boost your metabolism, and improve your overall health.
How will you add these foods to your eating plan from today?
References
- Stull, A. J., Cash, K. C., Johnson, W. D., et al. (2010). “Bioactives in blueberries improve insulin sensitivity in obese, insulin-resistant men and women.” Journal of Nutrition.
- Thompson, A. S., Jennings, A., Bondonno, N. P., Tresserra-Rimbau, A., Parmenter, B. H., Hill, C., Perez-Cornago, A., Kühn, T., & Cassidy, A. (2024). Higher habitual intakes of flavonoids and flavonoid-rich foods are associated with a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes in the UK Biobank cohort. Nutrition and Diabetes, 14(32). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41387-024-00288-0.
- Maguire, L. S., O’Sullivan, S. M., Galvin, K., et al. (2013). “Monounsaturated fat and glucose metabolism in diabetes management.” Nutrition Journal.
- Tan SY, Mattes RD. Appetitive, dietary and health effects of almonds consumed with meals or as snacks: a randomized, controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2013 Nov;67(11):1205-14. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2013.184. Epub 2013 Oct 2. PMID: 24084509; PMCID: PMC3898316.
- Crouch MA, Slater RT 3rd. Almond “Appetizer” Effect on Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) Results. J Am Board Fam Med. 2016 Nov 12;29(6):759-766. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2016.06.160128. PMID: 28076259.
- Crouch MA, Slater RT 3rd. Almond “Appetizer” Effect on Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) Results. J Am Board Fam Med. 2016 Nov 12;29(6):759-766. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2016.06.160128. PMID: 28076259.
- Jenkins, D. J., Kendall, C. W., Marchie, A., et al. (2011). “Almonds reduce postprandial glycemia, insulinemia, and oxidative damage in healthy individuals.” Journal of Nutrition.
- Esposito, K., Giugliano, D., Nappo, F., et al. (2004). “Effects of dietary factors on postprandial glycemia.” Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
- Barbagallo, M., Dominguez, L. J. (2010). “Magnesium and Type 2 Diabetes.” Diabetes Care.
- Piuri G, Zocchi M, Della Porta M, Ficara V, Manoni M, Zuccotti GV, Pinotti L, Maier JA, Cazzola R. Magnesium in Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Type 2 Diabetes. Nutrients. 2021 Jan 22;13(2):320. doi: 10.3390/nu13020320. PMID: 33499378; PMCID: PMC7912442.
- Patoa S, Das D. Serum Magnesium Levels and its Association with Glycated Hemoglobin in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients. J Assoc Physicians India. 2022 Apr;70(4):11-12. PMID: 35443355.
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