Yue Yue: In recent years, as living standards have gradually improved, significant changes have occurred in dietary habits and lifestyles. The incidence of diabetes is rising yearly, and the affected population is expanding from the middle-aged and elderly to younger people, which is truly alarming! If one is unfortunately diagnosed with diabetes, what kind of tea can be consumed for recuperation?

It is well known that diabetes is a metabolic endocrine disease characterized by high blood sugar. It results from insufficient insulin and excessive blood sugar, leading to disorders in the metabolism of sugars, fats, and proteins. The ancient Chinese medical text "Compendium of Materia Medica" records that coarse old tea can treat "thirst quenching" (a term for diabetes symptoms). Japan still uses tea drinking as a dietary therapy for diabetes. Modern clinical experiments have also confirmed that tea drinking can completely eliminate or reduce urine sugar in patients with mild to moderate chronic diabetes. For severely affected patients, it can lower urine sugar and significantly alleviate various main symptoms. The primary reason tea can treat diabetes is that tea leaves contain polyphenols. These substances help maintain the normal toughness of capillaries and regulate their permeability, thereby restoring normal capillary toughness in diabetic patients with fragile capillaries, playing a certain role in treating diabetes.

The most suitable tea for diabetic patients is white tea, as it contains higher levels of tea polyphenols and tea polysaccharides—useful substances that control the rise of human blood sugar—compared to other types of tea.

In addition to the inherent nutrients found in other teas, white tea also contains active enzymes essential for the human body. Medical research both domestically and internationally has proven that long-term consumption of white tea can significantly increase the activity of lipase in the body, promote fat decomposition and metabolism, effectively control insulin secretion, delay intestinal absorption of glucose, break down excess sugar in the blood, and promote blood sugar balance.

Diabetic Patients Need to Be Cautious with Diet

For diabetic patients, "eating" is a significant issue that directly affects the stability of their blood sugar levels. Therefore, dietary habits must be carefully managed.

1. Eat less high-sugar and high-salt foods: Doctors typically restrict the diet of diabetic patients, especially limiting the intake of high-sugar foods. However, little attention is often paid to limiting salt intake. Modern medical research shows that excessive salt can enhance the activity of amylase, promoting starch digestion and the absorption of free glucose in the small intestine, which can increase blood sugar concentration and worsen the condition. Therefore, diabetic patients should not consume too much salt.

2. Avoid alcohol: Alcoholic beverages are high in calories. Excessive drinking can lead to hyperlipidemia or metabolic disorders, increasing the burden on the liver. When diabetic patients drink alcohol and consume carbohydrate-containing foods, their blood sugar can rise, causing a loss of diabetes control. Thus, patients with severe diabetes complicated by liver and gallbladder diseases, especially those using insulin and oral hypoglycemic drugs, must strictly avoid alcohol.

3. Eat less fruit: While it is often said that eating more fruit is beneficial for health, the opposite is true for diabetic patients. Fruits contain relatively high levels of glucose and fructose, which can be rapidly absorbed by the body, causing a rise in blood sugar. Therefore, patients with severe diabetes should not consume too much fruit.

Three Healthy Teas

Bitter Melon Tea

【Ingredients】10-15 grams of dried bitter melon slices.

【Preparation】Grind into coarse powder, place in a thermos flask, and steep with an appropriate amount of boiling water for 20 minutes.

【Usage】Drink frequently as a tea substitute throughout the day.

【Efficacy】Lowers blood sugar and improves immunity.

【Indications】Thirst quenching (diabetes symptoms) or heatstroke.

Mulberry Leaf Tea

【Ingredients】5 grams of dried mulberry leaves.

【Preparation】First tear the mulberry leaves into fragments, place them in a tea bag, then steep with hot boiling water before drinking.

【Usage】Drink as a tea substitute.

【Efficacy】Lowers blood sugar and reduces fat.

【Indications】Diabetes, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Kudzu Root Tea

【Ingredients】30 grams of kudzu root.

【Preparation】Wash the kudzu root, cut it into thin slices, add water, boil, and then drink.

【Usage】Drink as a tea substitute.

【Efficacy】Lowers blood lipids, blood sugar, and blood pressure; protects the liver and stomach.

【Indications】Hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes.