Diabetes is a common condition that affects almost 4 million people in the UK. Around 90 per cent of all cases are caused by type 2 diabetes.
The condition is caused by the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the body not reacting to insulin.
You could lower your risk of high blood sugar by making some small dietary changes.
Having just a small glass of apple cider vinegar after dinner could significantly lower blood sugar, scientists have claimed.
Apple cider vinegar could prevent blood sugar spikes after eating a starchy meal, revealed Greek scientists.
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Just 20g of the vinegar is all that’s needed to have the desired effect, they said.
It works by improving insulin sensitivity, which makes cells more reactive to insulin, added the scientists.
The Diabetes Council said: “Apple cider vinegar has long been a favourite natural remedy for an extraordinary number of ailments.
“It contains acetic acid, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, polyphenols and other types of acids.
“Evidence is beginning to pile up for at least some uses of apple cider vinegar. Many professionals will recommend, however, that you only use the ‘mother’ apple cider vinegar and not any filtered apple cider vinegar products.
“Recent research has indicated that apple cider vinegar can significantly reduce blood sugar levels after a starchy or a high glycaemic index meal, but not after a low glycaemic index meal.
“Other research has indicated that apple cider vinegar can decrease the A1c value when it is used regularly. This effect seems to hold true in both type 2 diabetes and type 1 diabetes.”
Taking vinegar before going to bed could also lower blood sugar levels the following morning, it added.
The best way to take apple cider vinegar is as a beverage, said The Diabetes Council.
Take one to two teaspoons and add it to around 180ml of water. Take it three to four times a day, it said.
Managing blood sugar is crucial for diabetes patients, because they’re more at risk of some damaging complications, including heart disease and neuropathy.
But you could lower your risk of high blood sugar by regularly exercising, said the NHS.
Everyone should aim to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week.
You may even have diabetes without even knowing it, as the symptoms don’t necessarily make you feel unwell.
Common diabetes symptoms include unexplained weight loss, extreme tiredness, and passing more urine than normal.