Food

An interesting study published in Nature Medicine on June 4, 2025, is changing how we think about blood sugar after meals. Traditionally, foods have been labeled by their glycemic index, suggesting a “one-size-fits-all” approach.

But this research shows that your body’s response to food, your post-meal blood sugar spike, is shaped far more by your own metabolism than by the food itself. This insight could transform how we prevent and manage type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease.

www.t2dnetwork.ca

Recent research shows that post-meal blood sugar spikes are highly individual and influenced more by metabolism than food. Understanding these personalized responses can guide smarter dietary choices and precision nutrition strategies for preventing and managing type 2 diabetes.

A review paper, just published in Dec 2025, shows that healthy dietary patterns, like Mediterranean, DASH, vegetarian, or low-carb, can help lower blood sugar, improve insulin sensitivity, and support healthy weight management.

On the other hand, diets high in ultra-processed or “Western-style” foods can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. While researchers continue to study the best approaches, focusing on whole, balanced foods is a simple step to protect your health.

This isn't new, we already know this. So why is it so hard to change what and how we eat?

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0899900725002230

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Learn practical, evidence-based tips for managing type 2 diabetes through diet and exercise, with insights on Canadian activity and nutrition patterns.

Key Insights

✅ Nutrition and exercise are key for managing T2D.

✅ Combined aerobic and resistance training improves blood sugar.

✅ Gym-based resistance training is most effective.

✅ Canadians are mostly sedentary; fruit and vegetable intake low.

Statistics Canada’s 2023 data show that only 1 in 5 Canadians aged 12+ consumed fruits and vegetables five or more times per day. Intake was lowest among 18–34-year-olds (17.8%) and highest in adults 65+ (25.6%), showing a clear trend of increasing consumption with age.

Younger Canadians continue to fall short of recommended fruit and vegetable intake.

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310009612