Type 2 diabetes, a chronic disease characterised by high levels of sugar in the blood, predisposes the body to a host of complications. Caught early, however, it can be reversed.
Jade Rivers was on her way to a diagnosis when she implemented two lifestyle changes that stopped the disease in its tracks.
In a recent clip, the content creator described a range of debilitating symptoms signalling her body’s struggle with insulin resistance.
"This is someone who's heading towards type 2 diabetes. This is someone who has insulin resistance," she told viewers, while displaying a picture of herself on the screen.
Jade's body was struggling with insulin resistance
|TIKTOK
"This person feels intense cravings for sugar and carbs, has intense hunger, even after eating, and this person feels like they have to eat every few hours to have energy."
She also experienced afternoon exhaustion and mental cloudiness, which took a severe toll on her concentration.
"They get fatigued or tired in the middle of the day, they have brain fog, difficulty focusing," Jade noted about herself.
In addition, she found herself putting on weight with ease and struggling to shed the pounds, while also dealing with skin breakouts and painful periods.
Fortunately, the health enthusiast discovered two strategies effective for reversing her pre-diabetic state, through personal experimentation over several years.
"The first thing I did was eat fibre first," she said. "What I mean is at the beginning of every meal, take fibre, whether that’s cruciferous greens or fruits, or a supplement."
She explained that having fibre at the start of a meal serves two crucial functions: it creates lasting satiety and reduces the rate at which sugar enters the bloodstream.
"What this fibre does is incredible," Jade declared.
The second intervention involved periodic food abstinence to allow blood sugar and insulin to come back down.
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Jade's body was struggling with insulin resistance
|GETTY
"There are so many incredible benefits to fasting. When we take a break from food, [this] helps our bodies become more insulin sensitive," Jade explained.
How to avoid type 2 diabetes?
Anyone who has high blood glucose levels, generally defined as levels between 100 and 125 mg/dL, is at increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
They can help prevent the condition by maintaining an ideal body weight, exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet.
Those who already have a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, on the other hand, are advised to keep tight control of their blood sugar to reduce the risk of further complications.