If the management of type 2 diabetes is based on therapeutic treatments and natural solutions, the adoption of health and diet rules is also essential. Professor Jean-Marie Bard enlightens us on lifestyle habits to change.
- “In patients suffering from obesity and type 2 diabetes, weight loss of more than 5% to 10% improves glycemic control, lipid levels and blood pressure,” according to Jean-Marie Bard, professor emeritus in biochemistry and hospital pharmacy practitioner.
- To lose and control your weight, he advises focusing on the Mediterranean diet, which is “recognized for its many virtues.”
- The specialist also recommends practicing regular physical activity and stopping smoking in order to reduce your blood sugar levels.
4 million. This is the number of French people living with type 2 diabetes, which represents around 90% of diabetes cases. As a reminder, this chronic disease is characterized by the presence of excess sugar in the blood, called “hyperglycemia”, which exposes it to numerous complications (stroke, myocardial infarction, retinopathy, kidney failure, etc.). If type 2 diabetes occurs with age or because of a genetic predisposition, it is also often linked to changing lifestyles, according to the Ministry of Health. Thus, one of the first actions to manage this metabolic pathology is to adopt healthy lifestyle habits.
Mediterranean diet: “a weight loss of more than 5% to 10% improves glycemic control”
“In patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes, weight reduction is one of the cornerstones of treatment. Weight loss of more than 5% to 10% improves glycemic control, lipid levels and blood pressure. This begins with a change in diet. declared Jean-Marie Bard, emeritus professor of biochemistry and hospital pharmacy practitioner, during a press conference held on November 7. More specifically, the specialist recommends opting for the Mediterranean diet, which is “recognized for its many virtues”.
The expert advises:
- Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
- Limit intake of saturated fatty acids in favor of mono or polyunsaturated fatty acids
- Eat whole grains
- Eat nuts and seeds such as almonds or walnuts
- Moderate your consumption of red meat and favor lean meats
- Promote the consumption of fish and seafood
- Reduce salt consumption in favor of spice consumption
- Reduce the consumption of ultra-processed products
Stop smoking and practice regular physical activity in case of diabetes
“Everything is not based on diet, it is also strongly recommended to practice regular physical activity, because this helps to reduce blood sugar, bad cholesterol, stabilize blood pressure, reduce insulin resistance or even promote sleep We recommend 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity activity, or 5 sessions of 30 minutes. Possible activities are walking, cycling more than 15 km/h, dancing, aquagym or gardening. Otherwise, 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity activity such as running, tennis or swimming. explained the professor before adding that stopping smoking is also essential for diabetics, because tobacco causes instability in blood sugar levels. “When quitting smoking, it is important to be supported by a health professional.”
