Type 2 diabetes warning as 'healthy' drink can send blood sugar levels soaring

It’s also a growing problem. The NHS spends at least £10 billion a year on diabetes, roughly 10 per cent of its entire budget.

Despite the condition's prevalence and the exorbitant cost to the taxpayer, many people are sleepwalking into disaster.

Senior clinical pharmacist Janki Rao, who works at Shakespeare Health Centre in Hayes, believes information about many foods which people might view as "healthy" can have a negative impact on blood sugars which are particularly dangerous for patients with type 2 diabetes.

“Treatment for type 2 diabetes includes medicines and changes to your diet and activity levels to help control your blood sugar levels,” explained Janki.

“But I find a lot of people who I help with their diabetes don’t know where some of the hidden problems are in foods, particularly when they are marketed as being healthy."

Smoothies are one of the chief offenders, Rao says.

“The process of blending up fruit and veg destroys the fibre which means the sugar from the fruit is released straight into the bloodstream and causes a blood sugar spike," the pharmacist warned.

In the long-term the excess glucose can cause damage around the body, leading to diabetes complications such as kidney and eye disease. But also isn’t great for those without it as it can lead to a craving for more sugar afterwards.

“When people give up alcohol, they often reach for the fruit alternatives. But whilst an occasional glass of fresh fruit juice can be a great way of getting vitamin C, too much processed fruit isn’t good," Rao said, adding: “Swapping to sparkling water with fresh lemon or lime is a better alternative.”

LATEST HEALTH DEVELOPMENTS

• The 27p seed that reduces high blood sugar within MINUTES
• Victorian-era diseases that killed millions back in Britain
• World's deadliest infection at highest level since records began

Top tips 

Rao’s top 10 tips for healthier choices with diabetes include:

Enjoy a balanced diet whilst watching your carbohydrate intake - you can access a host of meal plans and recipe ideas at Diabetes UK, each packed with whole foods, snacks and even desserts!
Avoid smoothies -blended fruits release glucose much faster whilst whole fruit also provides a good dose of fibre helping to blunt those glucose spikes
Stay hydrated - 6-8 glasses of water is best, avoiding drinks with artificial sweeteners if you really want to curb those sweet cravings
Build some physical activity into your daily routine - NHS Couch to 5k is a great programme to help you get started
Get to know your health care team - attend for your yearly ‘diabetes MOT.’ Blood pressure, foot checks, urine checks, eye checks and blood tests help your specialist spot signs of diabetes related problems. If we spot them early enough, we can usually reverse them
Take your medication as prescribed - speak to your practice pharmacist if you have any concerns.
Become friends with your glucose monitor - you only need to self-check if your specialist has advised this, otherwise a routine Hba1c blood test is sufficient to help us see how well controlled your glucose levels are.
Be aware of your emotional well-being - stress, low mood and anxiety can make it even harder to make healthier choices. Getting the right help can make a huge difference towards a happier and healthier you.
Set realistic goals in your diabetes review and reflect on them - if things aren’t going to plan then reach out to your specialist to help you get back on track. The key is to keep trying, it’s all about progress, not perfection!
Empower yourself - be sure to check out Diabetes UK for advice on living with diabetes. If you live in London you can visit here where you can activate your personalised account using your NHS app login details. View and understand your diabetes test results, access educational videos, e-learning and more to help you understand more about managing diabetes.

Don't forget to watch out for the symptoms of type 2 diabetes, which include feeling more thirsty than usual and frequently needing to urinate.