What should diabetics eat? It goes without saying that they should avoid consuming too many carbohydrates. The basic principle for diabetics is to avoid foods that can quickly raise blood sugar levels, as well as foods with high sugar, starch, or fat content, as they can easily be converted into glucose.
【Healthy Diet for Diabetes】
For diabetics, they should not eat rice in large quantities, consume too much fruit, or indulge in desserts. So what can they eat? What foods should they avoid? Nutrition experts have devised a "three should and three should not" healthy diet plan for diabetics.
What foods are good for diabetics? Is it enough to focus on foods that can lower blood sugar levels? Not entirely. After being diagnosed with diabetes, most people start taking medication to lower blood sugar levels. If they are taking metformin, which can affect the absorption of vitamin B12, it is recommended for them to supplement with vitamin B12.
Furthermore, for those taking acarbose, because this medication delays the absorption of glucose in the intestines, it is important for them to not only consume carbohydrates (starch and fat), but also to supplement with a certain amount of protein. Generally, if someone consumes 5 taels of food in one meal, 1 tael should be protein. For those taking sulfonylureas, this medication mainly stimulates the secretion of insulin, which increases the burden on the pancreas. It is recommended to consider changing the medication.
Patients using insulin should carry a few sugar tablets with them to prevent low blood sugar. Regardless of the stage of diabetes, considering the close relationship between diabetes and complications caused by oxidative stress, it is advisable to consume more foods with strong antioxidant properties. Foods high in vitamin E and vitamin C, for example, are beneficial and harmless. In principle, the stronger the antioxidant effect, the better.
【Sources of Carbohydrates】
1. Grains contain 70%~75% carbohydrates, potatoes contain 20%~25% carbohydrates, and root vegetables and legumes contain 50%~60% carbohydrates.
2. Nuts with higher starch content, such as chestnuts and water chestnuts.
3. Fruits and vegetables contain small amounts of monosaccharides, as well as fiber and pectin.
4. Table sugar mainly consists of sucrose, which provides monosaccharides and disaccharides.
【Recommended Dietary Carbohydrate Intake】
