Omega-3 Fatty Acids Helps Reduce Diabetes Risk

Are You At Risk For Type 2 Diabetes?

Perhaps you have already heard many things about omega 3 and the benefits that it can bring to your health. But today' let us talk about recent news which says that omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce risks of type 2 diabetes. However, let us first review a little information about omega 3, one of the most beneficial supplements nowadays.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are good fats taken from the food that we eat which are not normally produced by our bodies but which are badly needed by our organs and tissues to function effectively. Indeed omega-3 is a miracle substance. Omega-3 can decrease high blood pressure levels and high cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It can prevent our platelets from excessively clotting too soon. It makes the cell membranes of our cell more fluid as it reduces inflammation on our body tissues. It prevents atherosclerosis and prevents blood sugar levels from rising up, thus promoting weight loss. It also lessens our risk of acquiring cancers. People who have dry itchy skin and brittle nails, chronic fatigue, depression, arthritis, heart and blood vessels disease and diabetes can benefit much from omega-3 fatty acids.

Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids include deep-sea fatty fish, nuts, flax seeds, sardines and walnuts. Omega-3 fatty acids are mostly available at EPA and DHA. These two are primarily found in fatty fish. Nuts, flax seeds and walnuts contain another type of omega 3 fatty acid, ALA, which can still be converted into EPA and DHA. Algae contains the omega-3 fatty acid DHA. However, omega-3 fatty acids can still be made available to us in the form of supplements such as cod liver oil.

Omega-3 and Type 2 Diabetes

A recent study from the University of Eastern Finland have found out that omega-3 fatty acids, such as those from fish and fish oils, can help reduce the risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes. The study, which was published in the journal Diabetes Care, found out that men who took higher omega-3 fatty acid concentrations lowered their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 33 percent as compared to those who took low levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Thus the intake of omega-3 fatty acid truly decreases the risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes later in life.

Type 2 diabetes is a dangerous medical condition with a lot of complicated consequences. It is also the most common form of diabetes around the world. It is either caused by inadequate production of insulin by the pancreas or by the resistance of bodily tissues to the effect of insulin. Diabetes, if left untreated, can lead to eye problems, skin disorders, heart and blood vessel diseases, high blood pressure, depression, hearing problems, infections, gut problems, neuropathies, stroke, erectile dysfunction, and non healing wounds.

Diabetes symptoms include dizziness, nausea, frequent urination, insatiable thirst and hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, slow-healing wounds, sudden or unexplained weight loss, and numbness in the hands and feet. If you have the above signs and symptoms, it is best that you seek consult with your doctor so that proper testing should be done. Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed as a fasting blood sugar level greater than 126 mg/dl. Other tests for workup include oral glucose tolerance test and haemoglobin A1 c test.  

However the researchers stressed out that consuming omega-3 fatty acids should not be the only way of lowering your risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Losing weight for overweight and obese people is one way by which blood sugar levels can be maintained at normal levels. Another is choosing to eat healthy foods, particularly vegetables and fruits. The avoidance of one can of soda everyday can greatly reduce blood sugar levels in diabetics. Physical activity at least 60 minutes each week is recommended for adults to stay in shape.

Start your healthy routine today. For more articles on how to lessen your risk for diseases, check the other articles on this site.