Many clinical studies concern strawberries and diabetes. What is the relationship between them? Doctor Cesare Berra, Metabolic Diseases Supervisor at Humanitas, spoke about this at “Tempo e Denaro” on Rai1.
“Strawberries are a concentrate of substances, such as vitamins and antioxidants, and according to some randomized clinical studies they help against the cardiovascular risks of diabetes by making postprandial hyperglycemia better and positively affecting some important parameters in cardiovascular risk. In addition to this, they are part of the Mediterranean diet and so are ideal not only for diabetics: the Mediterranean diet, in fact, is the best to help fight cardiovascular problems”, Doctor Berra explains.
The Symptoms of Diabetes
“There are many types of diabetes. The most common one is type 2 diabetes (almost 95% of the times), once called “elderly diabetes” or “non-insulin-dependent diabetes”. Type 1 diabetes commonly affects children, and the only therapy available is the insulin therapy.
Diabetes is very often an asymptomatic disease. Generally, symptoms appear when the glycaemia is really high and they typically are polydipsia and polyuria, that is to say increased thirst and urine. However, it is impossible to understand diabetes and treat it in time without blood tests. Individuals at risk should get their blood tested at least once per year”, Doctor Berra recommends.
Correct lifestyles since childhood
“There are really many causes for type 2 diabetes, among which hereditariness, lifestyles (obesity, physical inactivity, hypertension, smoking) and aging. Prevention should start in childhood, with the right food and some ongoing physical exercise. By raising our children the right way and setting a good example we can prevent this disease, that affects 4 million people in Italy (plus the million people who are unknowingly diabetics).
After the diagnosis it is still important to adopt a correct lifestyle to avoid complications. Nowadays there are many medications for type 2 diabetics, so that a customized treatment is possible”, Doctor Cesare Berra concludes.
