www.desertintegrativewellness.com Every November, Diabetes Awareness Month shines a light on a condition that affects millions worldwide and reminds us that, with type 2 diabetes, small everyday food choices can make a difference in your health. Diabetes is not simply about eating too much sugar. It is a complex condition that affects how the body regulates blood glucose, or blood sugar. While type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition and cannot be prevented through diet or lifestyle, a healthy, balanced diet can help with the symptoms. Type 2 diabetes is strongly influenced by a combination of genetics, environment and lifestyle factors. For people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, nutrition, physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight can all play an important role in reducing risk. It’s not just about sugar One of the most common misconceptions about blood sugar is that managing it simply means avoiding obvious sources of sugar, such as sweets, chocolate, cakes and fizzy drinks. While these foods can certainly raise blood glucose levels, they aren't the only foods that affect blood sugar. In reality, carbohydrates have the most direct effect on blood glucose. During digestion, the body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, which it absorbs into the bloodstream and uses for energy. Insulin and other hormones help regulate how the body moves glucose from the bloodstream and uses or stores it. This is why simply removing table sugar or avoiding sweets does not necessarily mean that someone is managing their blood glucose effectively. The total amount of carbohydrate eaten, the type of carbohydrate, the portion size and the overall composition of the meal can all influence the body's blood glucose response. Many carbohydrate foods provide valuable nutrients, including fiber, vitamins and minerals. However, different carbohydrate foods can affect blood glucose differently. For example, highly refined carbohydrates may digest and absorb relatively quickly, especially when eaten in large portions or on their own. In contrast, foods that are naturally higher in fiber and less processed may be digested more gradually. Examples of higher-fiber carbohydrates include whole-grain bread, oats, brown rice, whole-grain pasta, beans, lentils, chickpeas, vegetables, and whole fruit. Fiber is particularly important because it can slow carbohydrate digestion and absorption. This may result in a more gradual rise in blood glucose after eating compared with some lower-fiber, more refined carbohydrate foods. Fruit is not the same as sweets Another common misconception is that people concerned about blood sugar should avoid fruit because it contains natural sugars. Whole fruit contains naturally occurring sugars, but it also provides fiber, water, vitamins and other beneficial nutrients. The fiber and physical structure of whole fruit affect how the body digests it compared with foods or drinks with large amounts of added or free sugars. For example, eating an orange is nutritionally different from drinking a large glass of orange juice. Blood sugar management is about much more than avoiding sweets. It is about understanding how different foods affect the body and recognizing that carbohydrate quality, quantity, fiber, portion size and meal composition can all play a role. The importance of healthy fats Fat doesn't raise blood glucose the way carbohydrates do, but the type of fat we eat matters for cardiovascular health. This is particularly important because people with diabetes have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Include unsaturated fats such as olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocado and oily fish in your diet, while keeping foods high in saturated fat, such as processed meats, pastries and many fried or highly processed foods, to a minimum. What about managing diabetes? If you are someone who has already been diagnosed with diabetes, then you need to understand that nutrition plays an important role in your lifestyle. Individual needs will vary depending on the type of diabetes, medication, lifestyle and any other health considerations. Some may need to pay particular attention to carbohydrate portions, while others may have specific dietary requirements related to medication or other medical conditions. Eating regular meals, balanced portions, plenty of vegetables and high-fiber foods helps to ensure you are on a good management path. Another useful tool is to monitor your blood glucose, as this can help you understand how different foods affect you. Don’t forget that regular physical activity also helps the body use glucose more effectively and is an important part of both diabetes prevention and management. Whether your goal is to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes or to better manage diabetes, nutrition can be a powerful tool. Monica Price is a nutritional therapist and a European health expert. She is a television and radio presenter for numerous media outlets and host of “The Monica Price Show.” Monica invites your questions and can be reached at monica@monicaprice.co.uk. www.monica-price.co.uk. November/December 2026 www.DesertHealthNews.com Fiber content is an important factor for carbohydrate choices. Integrative Medicine The Valley's Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 16 www.desertinfection.com/HBO 760.636.1336 36923 Cook Street, #103 Palm Desert Desertinfection.com/HBO Bachir Younes, MD, MPH Roula Younes, DNP Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is recommended for treating a variety of medical conditions including expediting wound healing. Desert Hyperbaric Medicine is a part of Younes Medical offering comprehensive care for patients. The company encompasses an infectious disease clinic, a state-of-the-art wound care center and the largest independent IV fusion therapy facility in the valley—Desert Infusion Center. Immerse yourself in healing 760.773.3899 www.dsrtdripivclub.com Balancing the Blood Sugar My goal with Konnections isn’t to eliminate technology; it’s to ensure technology doesn’t replace the human connection people of every generation need. My challenge to the community is simple: Bring a young person with you. Invite them to an event and introduce them to three people. You can also become a Konnections Champion and help open the door, because our future workforce isn’t somewhere in the future. They are here now. Let’s invite them into the room and build healthier, more connected generations, one handshake at a time. Kimberly Krause is founder and owner of Konnections Certification and Konnections Foundation. She can be reached at (760) 898.8604 or Kimberly@konnectionscertification.com. Reaching Beyond the Comfort Zone Continued from page 5
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