Part 2 - Fighting type 2 diabetes with fiber

The rollercoaster ride of your blood sugar

As soon as the glucose enters your bloodstream, a wild ride begins. Imagine your blood is suddenly flooded with sugar molecules. Your blood sugar level shoots up like a rocket - that's the infamous "spike".

Your body reacts immediately: the pancreas, your body's own blood sugar guardian, sounds the alarm and releases huge amounts of insulin into your bloodstream. Insulin is like a key that opens the doors of your body cells so that they can absorb the glucose.

But two problems arise here:

• Overloading the cells: Your cells are literally flooded with glucose. They can't process all the energy that quickly. They actually stop processing some of the glucose! The result? You feel tired and listless, even though you've just eaten.
• The blood sugar crash: The massive release of insulin removes too much glucose from your blood. Your blood glucose level now drops rapidly - often even below the initial value. This is the dreaded "drop".

And right now something happens that I'm sure you know: Some time after eating, right when the "drop" happens, you are overcome by an irrepressible craving for something sweet. Your body is literally crying out for a quick energy boost to raise your blood sugar levels again.

Your body tries to prevent low blood sugar levels at all costs. If your blood sugar level drops too low, you will pass out!

You are not in this life-threatening situation, but you are still in a challenging position.

If you did NOT reach for a chocolate bar, which is a real sugar bomb, your blood sugar level would soon return to normal. But resisting cravings in this situation is very, very difficult.

If you reach for a chocolate bar, you start the next wild rollercoaster ride for your blood sugar levels. And what do you think will happen after the next up and down ride?

This ups and downs are not only unpleasant - they can also be dangerous in the long term. Frequent sharp fluctuations in blood sugar levels can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes (formerly known as senile diabetes) and increase the risk of other diseases.

And this is where a dangerous vicious circle begins: with every massive release of insulin, your cells become a little more resistant. The pancreas has to produce even more insulin...a real vicious circle.

But don't worry! There's a simple trick you can use to avoid this rollercoaster ride and still enjoy your beloved pasta.

Curious? Then read on!