Diabetes,
Sugar and You
People with Diabetes can eat sugar
We now know that all carbohydrates break down into sugar or glucose
in the bloodstream. Sugar is just one form of carbohydrate. People
with diabetes can eat foods that contain sugar as long as they
include these foods in the total number of carbohydrates they are
allowed each day.
People with diabetes need to learn which foods are carbohydrates
and try to spread their carbohydrates out throughout the day and
in many cases reduce their carbohydrate portions. Therefore, we need
to educate people with diabetes that it isn’t necessary to
buy “special” foods and that there isn’t a list
of foods that people with diabetes can and can not eat. In fact,
no food is off limits but they may need to know how the specific
food will affect their blood sugar and choose to eat less of it or
eat it as part of their carbohydrate allowance. Since carbohydrates
raise the blood sugar, we can help people reduce their blood sugars
by reducing their carbohydrates at each meal.
The diet does not encourage elimination of carbohydrates, but it
does encourage moderation. The reduction of carbohydrate portions
will not only have an immediate impact of the blood sugars, it will
also result in reducing calories and hidden fats. In other words,
eating a large potato will have the same impact as a candy bar with
regard to increasing blood sugars. People who feel they are "watching
their diet by not eating sweets”, but eat large portions of
bread, pasta, rice, cereal, milk, fruit and juice will not be able
to obtain good blood sugar control. Testing blood sugars one hour
after your meals (Postprandial) will demonstrate how the carbohydrates affect the
blood sugars. Postprandial blood sugars are as important as fasting
blood sugars. Many people have blood sugars within normal range in
the fasting state, but their blood sugars reflect poor control after
eating.
We recommend a blood sugar between 80-110 before eating and
no higher than 140 Postprandial. Diets that recommend the same amount
of calories each day to different people are not realistic. No one
eats the same meals or the same amounts each day. These diets, (i.e.,
1800 calorie diets) do not allow for an occasional sweet or variety
and will therefore not be effective. Likewise a 5’2” woman
needs a different caloric intake than a 6’ male.
Diabetes Treatment Services offers comprehensive classes in carbohydrate
counting. It works! It’s effective! It’s user friendly!
Keywords: diabetes, sugar, blood sugar, glucose,
diet
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