Diabetes reduces the level or effectiveness of insulin in the blood. The function of insulin is to control blood glucose or sugar metabolism. Diabetic patients usually have high blood sugar. That is why diabetic patients are asked to eat sugar in moderation.
Nowadays, many people are leaning towards zero-carb or low-carb foods. Many people are practicing various unhealthy diets without realizing it thanks to YouTube and Facebook. Is it actually possible to eliminate diabetes medication by eliminating sugar?
First of all, in a balanced diet, the amount of sugar should be 40-50 percent of the daily requirement. Sugar is the main fuel of the body. The source of daily energy. If sugar is completely eliminated, the body starts breaking down fat instead of glucose as a source of fuel. This leads to the formation of ketoacids, which are harmful. Therefore, there is no need to stop the main source of fuel; rather, you need to see what type of sugar will not increase blood glucose too much.
There are basically two types of sugar. Simple sugars and complex sugars. Complex sugars have more carbon bonds and more fiber. So the glycemic index is low. This means that complex carbohydrates are broken down and absorbed less, and do not increase blood glucose levels much. On the other hand, simple carbohydrates break down quickly and increase glucose levels a lot. Therefore, complex carbohydrates should be chosen instead of simple carbohydrates. White sugar, white rice, foods made from white flour, noodles, pasta, etc. are simple carbohydrates. And red rice, red flour, whole grains such as oats, brown noodles or brown pasta, etc. are complex carbohydrates. Diabetic patients should eat such complex carbohydrates when eating carbohydrates.
Vegetables and fruits also contain sugar or carbohydrates. So shouldn't diabetics eat them? Remember, potatoes are not vegetables. The glycemic index of potatoes is very high, almost like rice. Eating potatoes increases glucose more. Interestingly, sweet potatoes are also high in fiber. As a result, they are complex carbohydrates and do not increase glucose that much.
Many people think that underground vegetables are high in glucose. This idea is also wrong. For example, carrots, radishes, beets, turnips, etc. are underground vegetables, but their glycemic index is low and good for diabetics. Most vegetables have a moderate glycemic index. So there is no problem in eating them.
The same applies to fruits. Some fruits have a high glycemic index, such as dates, watermelon, mango, etc. Most other fruits have a moderate GI. In addition to sugar, they also contain various vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Therefore, diabetics can eat any fruit, but in moderation.
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