Five Eating Habits Can Increase Diabetes Risk

Type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance that occurs when the body can not properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar levels.

There are a number of things that can cause insulin-producing cells to become exhausted and fail. The main causes such as inactivity, obesity, smoking, consuming too much alcohol, and regular eating foods with high glycemic levels that increase blood sugar.

However, many people do not know that their daily habits can also increase the risk of diabetes. Like the following five habits that may seem harmless, but can actually trigger diabetes.

1. Eat only starchy vegetables

It's good to include vegetables in your daily diet. However, it is best not to pair starchy vegetables with high carbohydrate foods, such as rice with sweet potatoes, corn or peas. To make sure each meal is balanced, fill half the plate with green vegetables, then with protein and grains or starchy vegetables.

To make sure each meal is balanced, fill half the plate with green vegetables, then the rest with protein and grains.

2. Frequent snacking of dried fruits

It may often be considered a healthy snack. But as quoted from the old Prevention.com, dried fruit causes a spike in blood sugar and does not prevent hunger such as fresh fruits. The fiber in dried fruits is mostly reduced much from the original. Though fiber is important to help regulate blood sugar.

3. Do not often eat nuts

Healthy polyunsaturated fats found in nuts and seeds are believed to help prevent type 2 diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity. Moreover, the walnut can activate parts of the brain involved in appetite control.

4. Too much red meat

Still on the same page mentioned that although red meat is usually linked to heart disease risk, there is research evidence that eating it even in small amounts can increase the risk of diabetes by 19 percent. Although researchers are not sure how red meat may increase the risk of diabetes, its high iron content can play a role in damaging insulin-producing cells.

5. Processed foods

Harvard School of Public Health meta-analysis found that eating processed meat daily increases the risk of diabetes by 51 percent. The high levels of preservatives and salt in processed meats such as those written by Kelsey Kloss in this "5 Diet Habits You Never Knew Could Raise Your Diabetes Risk" may play a role in this condition.

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