There's little doubt that diet plays an important role in diabetes control. What a diabetic eats directly affects blood sugar and insulin levels. It's also an important factor in preventing the many complications associated with diabetes including the number one killer of diabetics – heart disease. But, what is the best diet for diabetes control and the prevention of diabetic complications such as heart disease? A new study sheds some light on this issue. It compares a traditional low-fat diet with a Mediterranean-style diet to determine which is the better diet for diabetes control and management.

    In this study, researchers assigned 215 people with diabetes to either a low-fat diet or a Mediterranean type low carb diet for four years. The researchers were interested in which diet for diabetes would prove best for keeping people off of diabetes medications. What did they find? The Mediterranean diet proved superior to the traditional low-fat diet. In fact, only forty-four percent of the participants on the Mediterranean diet required medications, while seventy percent of the ones who followed a low-fat diet ended up needing medications to control their blood sugars over the four year period.

    A Mediterranean diet for diabetes control had other health benefits as well. The group who ate the Mediterranean diet showed improvement in their risk factors for heart disease and also experienced greater weight loss compared to the low-fat diet group. This is of particular importance since a lower weight means better blood sugar control. Heart disease is the most common cause of death in diabetic patients, so any diet that reduces the risk of heart disease is beneficial for this group.

    What are the components of a Mediterranean diet for diabetes control? The Mediterranean diet emphasizes whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Less emphasis is placed on meat and when meat is eaten it's usually fish which is rich in heart-healthy omega-3's. Mediterranean cooks also use heart-healthy olive oil and avoid any foods or ingredients that contain trans-fats. In some areas of the Mediterranean, residents eat up to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day. The Mediterranean diet is a healthy diet not only for diabetics, but also for anyone who's interested in achieving better health.

    The bottom line? A Mediterranean diet for diabetes control is almost a no-brainer. This diet is heart-healthy, rich in fiber, and low in simple, processed carbs – all of which work in a diabetic's favor. The best way to transition over to a Mediterranean diet is to start substituting whole grains for processed grains and eat more fresh vegetables, fruits, and nuts in place of starchy side dishes and desserts. Not only will this help to better control blood sugars, but it may be the key to a healthier heart – something everyone can use.

    毫无疑问饮食在糖尿病控制过程中占有十分重要的作用。糖尿病患者吃什么东西将直接影响到他的血糖和胰岛素高低。饮食同样对糖尿病引发的很多并发症其中包括糖尿病的一大杀手--心脏病，有着非常重要的预防作用。但是什么饮食是对控制糖尿病和预防糖尿病并发症如心脏病，最好的饮食呢？一项最新的研究给了我们一线希望。它与传统低脂肪饮食方式相比，地中海式饮食将决定那种饮食方式将对糖尿病的控制和管理更为有利。

    在这项研究中，研究者对215名糖尿病患者分别进行了为期四年的低脂肪饮食和地中海式低碳酸饮食。研究人员对证明那种饮食对糖尿病患者最有利，能够使人们远离糖尿病的困扰充满兴趣。他们发现什么了吗？地中海式饮食被证明优于传统的低脂肪饮食方式。事实上，在这四年中，只有44%的参与地中海式饮食的患者需要药物治疗，而70%参与低脂肪饮食方式的患者最终需要药物治疗来控制他们的血糖。

    地中海式饮食方式不但可以控制糖尿病，还对身体健康有其他好处。才用地中海式饮食方式的患者证明，这种饮食方式可以降低心脏病的危险因素，并且与低脂肪饮食方式相比可以更快的减肥。这一点是非常重要因为体重减轻说明血糖得到很好的控制。在糖尿病患者中，因心脏病死亡，是导致糖尿病死亡的最普遍的原因；因而任何可以降低心脏病发病率的饮食都是对所有糖尿病患者有益处的。

    可以控制糖尿病的地中海式饮食方式的组成成分是什么呢？地中海式饮食方式强调全粒谷物、新鲜水果、蔬菜以及坚果的摄入。坚持少吃肉类，如果吃肉，则应该吃含有对心脏健康有利的欧米茄3的鱼肉。地中海式饮食方式的烹饪要求用对心脏健康有好处的橄榄油，并且避免含有反脂肪的任何食物或者成分。在地中海的一些地区，当地居民一天要吃掉九份水果和蔬菜。地中海式饮食方式是一种健康的饮食方式，不但是因为它可以控制糖尿病，而且还因为它对所有追求健康的人们都有好处。

    底线什么呢？地中海式饮食方式对控制糖尿病时极为容易的。这种饮食方式对心脏健康也极为有利，富含纤维，低简单处理过的碳酸--所有这些在控制糖尿病过程中都是有益处的。转变为地中海式饮食方式的最佳方法是开始用全粒谷物老替代加工过的谷物，多吃新鲜水果和蔬菜，用坚果替代饭后糕点和甜点。这样不仅能帮助控制血糖，可能还是心脏健康的关键--人人可用的东西。