A Diabetes Cure

New research shows that some people can reverse what used to be a lifelong curse

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THERE'S ONE WORD medical researchers rarely utter about diabetes: cure. Yet that's exactly the word researchers from the Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DIRECT) recently used to describe the outlook for people with type 2 diabetes. This ongoing study of hundreds of people with diabetes has revealed that a powerful cocktail of lifestyle approaches can help drive diabetes into remission, meaning blood sugar remains in the healthy range without medication. The recommended lifestyle changes probably aren't nearly as drastic as you're thinking. But the results will be.

Here are some areas to target:

Food: Smarter Carbs and Fat, More Protein and Veggies

The old thinking about diabetes and diet could be summed up in two words: Avoid sugar. While it's still smart to eat less of the sweet stuff, other dietary tweaks are proving just as powerful. Instead of banning foods, think about adding nourishing foods that can help steady blood sugar levels. Fill your plate with:

PRODUCE. Research finds that people who eat three servings of fruit per day cut the risk for developing type 2 diabetes by 18 per cent. Every daily serving of leafy green vegetables-such as lettuce, spinach and broccoli-may lower risk by another nine per cent. Fruits and vegetables tend to be rich in fibre, which helps slow digestion, providing gradual and even rises in blood sugar while curbing appetite. And produce comes packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, which are thought to help ease the insulin resistance that drives diabetes.