Lowering blood sugar: how diet helps with diabetes
April 24, 2025
10 min
Diabetes is affecting more and more people - especially type 2 diabetes. However, a targeted diet can stabilise blood sugar levels and effectively prevent the disease. In our blog post, you can find out how you can actively combat diabetes with simple nutritional tips and why a healthy lifestyle is so important. Read now how you can make a big difference with small changes.
Diabetes - A growing health problem: causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention
Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide and represents an increasing health challenge. In Switzerland, too, many people are affected by diabetes or have an increased risk of developing it. But what exactly is diabetes? What types of diabetes are there? And how can a healthy diet help to stabilise blood sugar levels and prevent the disease? Our article will tell you everything you need to know about the importance of nutrition in diabetes.
What is diabetes? - Definition and types of diabetes
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body produces too little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is responsible for regulating blood sugar levels. If the body lacks insulin or is unable to use it properly, the blood sugar level rises. Sooner or later, this can lead to health problems.
There are different types of diabetes. The most common forms are
- Type 1 diabetes: An autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This form often occurs in childhood or adolescence, affects around five per cent of all diabetics and requires lifelong insulin therapy.
- Type 2 diabetes: This form often occurs in adulthood, but can also be observed in overweight children and adolescents. In type 2 diabetes, either not enough insulin is produced or the body develops insulin resistance. This form is strongly associated with lifestyle factors such as obesity, lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet.
- Gestational diabetes: Also known as gestational diabetes. This occurs during pregnancy and disappears in most women after giving birth.
The role of diet in diabetes
Nutrition is one of the most important pillars in the treatment and prevention of diabetes. A balanced diet not only helps to stabilise blood sugar, but can also improve the effectiveness of insulin on cells and reduce the risk of complications.
How can a healthy diet stabilise blood sugar levels?
The recommendations for a healthy diet apply to all people with diabetes. The following measures can also help to have a more stable blood sugar profile:
- Favour complex carbohydrates: foods such as wholegrain products and pulses are digested more slowly and cause blood sugar levels to rise less high and more slowly.
- Eat a diet rich in fibre: fibre from vegetables, wholegrains, pulses and fruit slows the absorption of sugar into the blood and helps to keep blood sugar levels stable.
- Reduce sugar: Foods high in sugar, such as soft drinks, fruit juice drinks, smoothies, sweetened dairy products, large amounts of sweets or pastries, lead to a rapid and high rise in blood sugar. This damages the blood vessels and the metabolism and should be avoided.
What dietary tips are there for people with type 2 diabetes?
For people with type 2 diabetes, it can be helpful to pay attention to the glycaemic index (GI) of foods. The GI indicates how quickly a food causes blood sugar levels to rise. Another important point is the normalisation of body weight. If you are already overweight, a weight reduction of just five to ten per cent can help to improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels. Knowledge of a balanced diet and the interpretation of nutrient analyses of foods are fundamental measures for positively influencing metabolism and health.
The role of nutrition in prevention
Of the 575,000 known diabetics in Switzerland, 90 per cent suffer from type II diabetes. While type I diabetes cannot be prevented by nutritional therapy measures, nutrition plays a central role in the prevention of type II diabetes.
The following preventive measures are particularly important:
- Plate model: The plate model is ideal for ensuring a balanced and needs-covering energy and protein intake with all important nutrients in everyday life. With the help of the illustration and the portion sizes simplified using the hand model, all relevant food groups can be clearly visualised and their composition easily checked.
- By choosing seasonal and regional foods that are fresh and less processed, the proportion of sugar and fat in the meal can be reduced. This can help to prevent obesity and metabolic problems.
- Daily exercise in everyday life promotes health, stabilises body weight and blood sugar levels and, alongside a balanced diet, is the best prevention.
How does the nutritional counselling at Zollikerberg Hospital provide support?
At Zollikerberg Hospital, we offer individual nutritional counselling for people with diabetes. We work on a scientifically sound basis and in an interprofessional team with the endocrinology department. The implementation of customised nutritional recommendations has a positive effect on blood sugar levels, weight and quality of life.
Health insurance covers the costs of nutritional counselling under basic insurance if prescribed by a doctor. Without a doctor's prescription, counselling is possible on a self-pay basis.
Nutrition as the key to managing diabetes
Nutrition as the key to managing diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that can be managed well with the right diet and a healthy lifestyle. Our experts at Zollikerberg Hospital are always available to provide you with further information or personalised nutritional advice.
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