Flax seed and flax seed oil offer benefits for diabetics and those wishing to prevent diabetes by controlling their blood sugar levels. Two primary ingredients in flax seed are responsible for this blood sugar control - namely the omega 3 fatty acids and mucilage.
Over the last couple of decades we have been taught to lower our intake of fats and have seen an increase in the amount of carbohydrates in our diet. Carbohydrates tend to raise blood sugar levels, the body then fights back with insulin and the blood sugar tends to go to low. These blood sugar spikes lead to food cravings and hunger pangs and so you put on weight which complicates matters further and obesity is linked to type 2 diabetes.
Essential fatty acids on the other hand tend to suppress the appetite, do not lead to blood sugar spikes and so tend to give greater blood sugar control.
Flax seed also contains mucilage. This mucilage assists in blood sugar control by slowing down the release of sugar into the blood and giving more time for the carbohydrates to be burned. Udo Erasmus on his website says, "In other words, mucilage fiber can turn bad carbohydrates into good carbohydrates, because if they are burned at the same rate they are absorbed, no excess carbohydrates will be flooding the blood stream to cause the usual carbohydrate problems." (http://www.udoerasmus.com/articles/udo/from_fat_to_fit.htm)
In order to benefit from these blood sugar control characteristics of flax seed you should include ground flax seed in your diet as well as flax seed oil supplements. Ground flax seed may be sprinkled in cereals, salads and smoothies. Flax seed oil or flax seed oil capsules may also be taken on a daily basis to help get enough omega 3 essential fatty acids to help stabilize blood sugar levels.
Flax seed and flax seed oil are able to control blood sugar levels by acting as an appetite suppressant and not presenting the same symptoms of blood spikes as carbohydrates do and also help to slow down the release of carbohydrates into the blood so giving the body more time to burn them. In order to benefit from the blood sugar control mechanisms of flax seed you should include ground flax seed in your diet and take supplements of flax seed oil.