Written in SCIENCE he
In Mexico there are 12 million 400 thousand people with some variant of diabetesaccording to data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (ensanut), being the type II or mellitus the most common in people over 60 years of age, but did you know that there are foods that help you control these conditions? That’s right, one of them is prickly pear.
The nutritionist at the Regional General Hospital (HGR) number 1 of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) in Tijuana, Baja California, assured that the intake of nopal helps with the control of diabetes and hyperglycemia.
Does it have scientific validity? The doctor affirmed that she has verified the effectiveness in the prevention of diabetes, since this endemic product manages to stabilize and regulate the level of sugar in the blood. Additionally, in people with high cholesterolthe consumption of nopal prevents a large part of it from being absorbed and from accumulating in the body.
Another of the benefits of nopal are the amino acids, fiber and niacin it contains, by controlling excess gastric acids and protecting the gastrointestinal mucosa, preventing ulcers and helping to eliminate toxins caused by alcohol and cigarette smoke.
Diabetes is deadly if not controlled
According to official figures, the annual death rate from diabetes mellitus is 361 per hundred thousand inhabitants, and that of type I is 30 deaths per 100,000.
The head of internal medicine of the National Homeopathic Hospital (HNH) of the Ministry of Health, David Alejandro Vargas, mentioned that the consequences of late care or lack of diabetes are observed in the loss of kidney function, acute problems vision, amputations, myocardial infarction, major cardiovascular events, neuropathy and chronic pain in extremities.
How do I know if I have diabetes?
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidnew Diseases, specified that type II diabetes is caused by several factors, including lifestyle and genes; however, there are people who are more likely to have the disease when they are overweight, obese, have poor food intake and are physically inactive.
The best medicine against diabetes is prevention, by going to annual checkups and staying active, but according to the Ministry of Health, the common symptoms of this condition are:
- Increased volume of urine
- Feeling thirsty and hungry
- Fatigue
- Weight loss and tiredness
- Sometimes accompanied by lack of vision and rapid breathing