Diabetes has reached epidemic levels in Australia affecting more than 1 million people. The antioxidants found in green tea are beneficial as a treatment for people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes as well as a preventative measure for anyone predisposed to type 2 diabetes.

Normally blood sugar levels produced by the breakdown of fats and carbohydrates are regulated by insulin, diabetes results when either the pancreas is unable to produce insulin or the body is incapable of processing the insulin that is produced. In either case the result is an increase in blood sugar levels. Diabetes often manifests in conjunction with other bodily complications including high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart disease and high cholesterol.

Benefits of Green Tea for DiabetesSipping Tea

There are many benefits for sufferers of diabetes or as a preventative measure for anyone predisposed to type 2 diabetes found in green tea.

Insulin Sensitivity

Green tea improves the overall sensitivity to the insulin produced in the pancreas. This improvement reduced the total amount of insulin the body needs to produce to process sugars in the blood.

Lower Blood Pressure

The majority of diabetics have low blood pressure, the antioxidants in green tea help correct the imbalance and prevent heart failure and stroke.

Heart Disease

Unhealthy arteries become clogged with deposits of fat, dead cells and plaque the antioxidants in green tea help to improve blood flow through the circulatory system and breakdown these build-ups.

Lowered Stress

Drinking green tea lowers overall stress levels. The theanine amino acid aids in controlling blood pressure in the body which in turn reduces stress. This type of body stress is linked with the beginnings of cell mutations which cause certain types of cancers including liver and pancreatic.

Sugar Absorption

The largest and most notable benefit of drinking green tea is that it aids in slowing the absorption rate of sugar a task normally carried out by the small intestine and controlling overall sugar levels in the body.

Further green tea has been shown to delay the onset of type 2 diabetes for those who are prone to contracting the disease. It has been found that drinking green tea lowers the chances of contracting type 2 diabetes compared to those who do not drink green tea at all. This is in part due to green teas ability to help avoid excessive weight gain which is one of the leading causes relating to type 2 diabetes.

Green Tea Brewed

In addition to the above green tea has several additional health benefits including:

  • Reduce the risk of oesophageal cancer and generally counter rogue cancer causing cells without damaging healthy tissue.
  • While it can't stop them entirely green tea has been found to be beneficial in delaying the deterioration in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's disease.
  • Reduce bad cholesterol in the blood and improves the levels of good cholesterol.
  • Improves the linings of blood vessels, allowing them to stay relaxed and able to better tolerate changes in blood pressure which also aids in reducing the chances of blood clots forming.
  • Destroy bacteria and viruses that cause throat, gum and tooth infections.
  • The theanine found in tea leaves provides a relaxing and calming effect on the drinker and leads to reduced levels of depression.
  • Consistently drinking green tea over a long period of time can reduce the long term effects from sun damage and prevent the visible signs of aging.

Green tea contains caffeine and while it's not found in the same levels as is present in black tea or coffee it is important not to drink excessive amounts of green tea. It is generally considered safe for most adults to consume up to five or six cups of green tea per day however if you also drinking other caffeinated drinks this number will need to be adjusted accordingly.

I hope the above has been helpful to you for further reading please visit the Diabetes Australia website, the Eat For Health website and the National Center for Biotechnology Information studies on green tea as a treatment for diabetes and ensure you consult your doctor if you are concerned about your risk of developing diabetes or before making changes to your diet.