Reviewer: Yang Xubin (The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University)
1. True or false: Diabetic patients should not eat sweets such as candy and cakes
Error.
Sweet treats like candy, pies, and cakes used to be off-limits for people with diabetes, but not anymore.
In fact, research shows that starches like potatoes and white bread can affect blood sugar levels like sugar, sometimes causing dangerous spikes in blood sugar.
Most vegetables or whole grains contain carbohydrates that don’t have much of an impact on blood sugar.
Calculating carbohydrate totals and choosing the healthiest carbohydrates is more important than banning sugar altogether. It’s okay to have a little sweet tooth.
At a wedding, for example, you can eat a small piece of cake (a very small piece) to replace another starchy carbohydrate you might eat (such as a small potato or a slice) bread).
For people with diabetes who have a very sweet tooth, desserts, candies and carbonated beverages made with sugar substitutes are available.
Many artificial sweeteners have no carbohydrates or calories, so they don’t need to be factored into meal planning.
In addition, other carbohydrates made with sugar substitutes are absorbed more slowly in the blood than sugar, so they do not pose a threat to blood sugar levels.
Once you don’t eat sugar and sweeteners for a few weeks, your body and taste buds will adapt and you won’t crave these sweet foods anymore.
Fruit and other whole foods taste sweeter and provide more satisfaction.
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2. True or false: A glass of wine with dinner is OK for diabetics
Correct.
A person with diabetes is allowed to consume alcohol within certain limits, but there are exceptions and should not drink alcohol if blood sugar levels are uncontrolled, or if there is nerve damage caused by diabetes.
For drinkers, keep the amount in moderation, with a maximum of 1 serving per day for women and 2 servings per day for men.
Remember, a serving of alcohol means:
150ml wine.
Or 350ml of beer.
Or 45ml spirits.
3. True or false: Fiber-rich foods like beans help lower blood sugar levels
Correct.
A diet high in fiber (more than 50 grams per day) can lower blood sugar levels. What is its mechanism? The body digests fiber-rich foods more slowly, which means glucose (a type of sugar) is gradually absorbed into the bloodstream, helping to control blood sugar levels.
To achieve this effect, the diet must be very high in fiber.
A high-fiber diet has also been shown to help lower cholesterol levels, lose weight, increase satiety, and maintain regular bowel movements.
Fiber-rich foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads and crackers, and gluten grains.
Check food labels for carbohydrate and sugar content before eating, many high-fiber foods have added sugar.
Image source: Zhanku Hailuo
4. True or false: A high-protein diet is at risk for some diabetic patients
Correct.
For people with kidney problems, a high-protein diet may cause some problems.
Excess protein means that for people with kidney problems, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends getting 15% to 20% of your calories from protein.
Consuming protein such as beans, fish or chicken regularly instead of fatty cuts is good for the heart.
Those who want to lose weight should eat a balanced diet that reduces their calorie intake by 500 calories per day, which should lead to a 10% weight loss without increasing the risk of kidney disease.
Image source: Zhanku Hailuo
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