Diabetes type 2 is caused by the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the body not reacting to insulin.
Without enough insulin, the body struggles to convert sugar in the blood into useable energy, according to the NHS.
Diabetes symptoms include passing more urine than normal, feeling very thirsty, and having cuts or wounds that take longer to heal than usual.
Managing your blood sugar is crucial, as diabetes patients are more at risk of some life-threatening conditions, including heart disease, kidney problems, and strokes.
But, you could lower your blood sugar by swapping carbohydrates for nuts, scientists have claimed.
Eating just 60g of nuts everyday could lower diabetes patients’ blood sugar, according to Canadian scientists.
Cut back on high carbohydrate foods, and replace them with nuts – including almonds, pistachios, walnuts and cashews – they suggested.
Adding more nuts to your diet could improve blood glucose control, while also lowering patients’ risk of heart disease.
The diet swap would also improve glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes, the scientists claimed.
They said: “In line with current advice, we assessed the effect of replacing carbohydrate consumption with mixed nut consumption, as a source of unsaturated fat, on cardiovascular risk factors and [blood sugar] in type 2 diabetes.
“Nut intake as a replacement for carbohydrate consumption improves glycaemic control and lipid risk factors in individuals with type 2 diabetes.”
Previous research has also claimed nuts could lower diabetes patients’ blood sugar.
Chinese scientists revealed eating 60g of almonds every day could lower fasting blood sugar by about three per cent.
You could also lower your blood sugar by eating more strawberries, nutritionists have claimed.
Strawberries contain a group of compounds, known as anthocyanins, that could protect against diabetes.
There aren’t any foods that diabetes patients should actively avoid, according to the NHS.
But, you should limit the amount of sugar, fat and salt in your diet.
Skipping meals could play havoc with your blood sugar, so it’s best to stick to breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday.
If you’re considering changing your diet, you should speak to a GP.
You should also speak to a GP if you’re worried about the symptoms of high blood sugar.
