When it comes to our overall health and fitness, it’s safe to say that what we eat, and indeed the amount we eat, can have a direct effect on our health.

Take sugar for instance. Consuming large amounts of sugar is a recipe for disaster, as diets rich in sugar are one of the main causes of diabetes. Diabetes is basically a condition in which the body can no longer regulate and maintain blood sugar levels, often causing them to rise which can create a whole heap of problems both in the present, and indeed the future too.

When we consume sugar, ordinarily, the pancreas secretes insulin which helps to lower our blood sugar levels, allowing the body to convert these sugars into energy. However, the more sugar you eat, the harder the pancreas has to work to produce enough insulin to break down these sugars, until finally... it breaks down and is no longer able to secrete insulin to regulate blood sugar levels.

When this happens, a person is then classed as diabetic. In order to control and regulate their blood sugars, they’ll either have to inject insulin after each meal, or control it via swallowing a tablet. However, recent studies have now found that Omega 3 fatty acids contained in oily fish such as salmon and mackerel, and krill oil, could help to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, as well as help manage a number of conditions associated with the disease.

So can omega 3 fatty acids help prevent and manage diabetes?

Oily fish which contains high doses of omega 3 fatty acids is beneficial for the human body in a whole variety of different ways. These fatty acids help the brain to function, help our eyesight, help maintain healthy skin, are great for our metabolism, our digestion, and much more on top of that too.

However, recent research and studies are also finding more and more evidence to suggest that Omega 3 fatty acids could also help to prevent type 2 diabetes, as well as manage several other conditions associated with the disease.

As far as preventing diabetes goes, being overweight is classed as one of the highest risk factors, as well as consuming a diet which is rich in sugar.

This suggests that dietary and lifestyle choices play a key role in determining whether or not a person contracts diabetes, as opposed to simply genetic factors. In various countries however, scientists and experts have discovered a link between large amounts of fish consumption and low levels of diabetes.

Omega 3 Benefits

Studies have found that omega 3 fatty acids contained in many types of fish, especially oily, have several benefits for those suffering with diabetes. These include:

• Omega 3 being highly useful and effective when treating circulatory conditions, often associated with diabetes. This is because the fatty acids cause the walls of veins and arteries to become more elastic and smoother, thus allowing more blood to flow through them. 
• Omega 3 fatty acids have also been found to help reduce insulin resistance levels in diabetics.  
• As omega 3 fatty acids are a form of polyunsaturated fat (healthy fat), they’ve been proven to help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes quite substantially. 
• Studies have found that those on a diet rich in fish which contain high amounts of fatty acids, were able to metabolise glucose and insulin far easier than those who weren't consuming enough of these fatty acids.
• Finally, a recent study conducted in Finland, concluded that men which consumed large quantities of omega 3 fatty acids, showed signs and symptoms pointing to the fact that they were 33% less likely to contract diabetes than those who were on low doses of the fatty acid.