Mumbai, 12th November 2021 (GNI): World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year on November 14 to mark diabetes awareness around this morbid ailment that impacts over 72 million people across India and is becoming one of the most common diseases across the country[1]. According to the most recent 2019 report from the International Diabetes Federation, more than 463 million adults globally were living with diabetes, and by 2045, that number is expected to increase to 700 million. One in two adults have diabetes and don’t know it. And another million 374 million people – more than one in 13 adults – have prediabetes[2]
Research suggests that lifestyle modifications, including improving physical activity, losing excess weight and making important dietary changes not only help manage type 2 diabetes, but for those with elevated risk, can reduce the risk for developing type 2 diabetes and may even provide better long-term effects than medication[3]. As the world comes together to raise awareness, the theme for World Diabetes Day 2021-23 is Access to Diabetes Care. Even 100 years after the discovery of insulin, millions of people with diabetes do not have access to the care they need to manage the disease[4]. Being a lifestyle disease, the people with diabetes require ongoing care and support to manage the condition and avoid future complications.
Decades of evidence support the role of almonds and other tree nuts as part of an overall dietary pattern that is beneficial for those with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes. Dietary and lifestyle interventions are an important part of diabetes treatment, and the nutrient profile of almonds – a low glycemic index food and providing a powerful nutrient package including plant protein, dietary fiber, good fats and important vitamins and minerals such as vitamin E, magnesium and potassium makes them a smart snack for those with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes.
Integrative Nutritionist and Health Coach, Neha Ranglani, mentioned, “For people who are living with or susceptible to diabetes, diet and regular exercise is paramount. But along with this, it’s also important to re-assess the snacks we consume at home or outside and choose snacks that have a positive impact on our health. I recommend snacking on almonds every day, as according to a study, consuming 30 grams or 23 almonds daily may improve both short-term and long-term markers of blood sugar control in those with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes[6].”
Ritika Samaddar, the Regional Head-Dietetics, Max Healthcare – Delhi said, “Data suggests that 1 on 6 Indians is pre-diabetic[7]. Indians are known to have the highest annual progression to type 2 diabetes from pre-diabetes (about 14-18%), which calls for lifestyle interventions to help reverse this trend[8]. Snacking on almonds can be a good change to begin with as it may help improve glucose metabolism in adolescents and young adults with prediabetes. In fact, as per a recent study, snacking on almonds as part of a healthy diet has been shown to be a beneficial food-based strategy to help prevent or delay the development of diabetes in younger people[9].”
Nutrition and Wellness Consultant, Sheela Krishnaswamy said, “Living with Type 2 diabetes requires a realignment of the lifestyle. After being diagnosed, the person needs to make several changes to the daily routine to control their blood sugar level and manage their symptoms. Besides this, diabetics are more susceptible to developing cardiovascular disease or having a stroke. Research suggests that incorporating almonds in the diet can help improve CVD risk factors for people with type-2 diabetes. A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that a daily snack of almonds, consumed as part of an overall healthy diet, maintained HDL cholesterol, reduced central adiposity (belly fat) and waist circumference, all well-established heart disease risk factors[10].”
This World Diabetes Day re-assess the family’s lifestyle choices and make a conscious effort to lead a healthier lifestyle, for a happier life, stated in the press release.ends
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