Yes, you can eat chocolates in diabetes...but
One of the common beliefs in
diabetes is that a diabetic person will have to completely stop eating sugar as
it will be bad for them. If you are a chocolate lover and/or have a huge sweet
tooth, having diabetes in such case will be the most painful, isn’t it?
Well, the good news is YOU DO
NOT have to give these sweet items up forever. The important point is to
understand that sugar compounds will increase your blood sugar levels more
quickly than other carbohydrates, but the total amount of carbohydrate intake
is most important. Accordingly, if people with diabetes can keep the meal serving
size small, they can enjoy their favorite sweet food as long as they take into
account that the overall total carbohydrate intake and calories do not exceed
their usual dietary levels. Which means eating a small portion of sweets should
be offset by eating other foods that contain no "sweets."
The most painful part of diabetes is not the disease but
the lack of understanding among general public. There are many a myths and
ignorance which makes a diabetic suffer more than the painful insulin syringes,
and the regular control of what to eat and what not to eat.
Question
So, if by eating sugar we can offset the increased blood
sugar levels why a diabetic person experiences the swings in blood sugar? What
are the factors to affect it?
Well, to answer
that:
CATEGORIZED BELOW ARE A FEW FOOD AND OTHER FACTORS WHICH
AFFECTS THE BLOOD SUGAR SWINGS.
AVOID HIGH CAFFEINE FOOD
Blood sugar levels can rise
after drinking coffee, black tea, and some energy drinks due to the presence of
caffeine. Following Food items contain large portion of Caffeine which makes
the blood sugar increase:
Coffee / Tea
Soda / Soft Drinks
Weight Loss pills
Chocolates
Ice Cream
Pain
Relieving Pills
Energy
Drinks
Even though the
sports drinks/ energy drinks main purpose is to help replenish fluids quickly,
many of them contain large amounts of sugar. IF you are involved in moderate sports or exercise, having plain water instead of energy drinks would be
enough to replenish your fluids.
AVOID HIGH CARBOHYDRATE FOOD
There are many food items which claim to be
"sugar-free," but these foods increase blood sugar levels because
many of them contain carbohydrates in starches, fats, and even fiber. Foods with
high levels of carbohydrates are likely to raise blood sugar levels very high,
and eventually may cause organ damage over time in people with diabetes
AVOID HIGH FAT FOOD
Foods high in
fat can cause blood sugar to stay higher for longer periods of time. Pizza,
French fries, and most fried foods are high in carbohydrates and fat.
AVOID GETTING DEHYDRATED
Blood sugar
rises as your body tries to fight any type of illness. Dehydration, which sets
in due to many forms of illness, can elevate your blood sugar. If you are sick
with diarrhea and vomiting for more than an hour it may affect your blood
sugar. Medicines taken in such illness such as antibiotics may also change your
blood sugar. You can check your blood sugar levels during these situations so
you can help determine how your body is reacting to these illnesses and
treatments.
AVOID STRESS
Stress can cause
your body to release hormones that can cause rises in your blood sugar. This is
very common in people with type 2 diabetes, practice relaxation techniques with
deep breathing and exercise, if possible, to reduce stress. To know more about
how stress affects your diabetes you can read our
blog on stress
AVOID DRY FRUITS
Have you
heard people saying, FRESH FRUITS ARE ALWAYS GOOD? Yes, they are perfect for people
with diabetes, because unlike the fresh fruits the dried fruits contain large
amount of carbohydrates. Consider this example, a small piece of fresh fruit has
the same amount of carbohydrates as in 2 tablespoons of dried raisins or
cranberries or cherries. So, eating a handful of dried fruits may cause high
spikes in blood glucose levels in many individuals.
Alcohol with its high carbohydrate will take your blood sugar levels on a roller coaster ride. At first, glucose levels may have a steep rise but then it can fall and remain low hours after drinking. Alcohol has anyways not done any good to our society or to any individual's health in anyway, why to take more chances when you are a diabetic. Avoid it!
The way your blood sugar level gets high
due to various food and factors, there are many factors which helps in lowering
the levels too. It’s good to know them and follow to better manage your sugar
levels.
EATING LOW FAT CURD CAN HELPS TOO
Curd contains
"healthy" bacteria that may help protect against gastrointestinal
problems. The best way to eat curd is eating its plain low-fat option with no
added sugar or fruit. Curd is a probiotic food which helps people with diabetes
by improving digestion. Want to know more about benefits
of curd on a diabetic person? Read our blog!
Oh, YES! HOUSEHOLD TASKS HELPS in reducing blood sugar
level, so help your partner
Ordinary work such as dusting,
mopping, cleaning the terrace, taking your pet for a walk, gardening etc. are moderate
physical activities which can be beneficial for a person with diabetes and obviously
for other people, too. These kinds of activities may help in lowering the blood
sugar in a person with diabetes.
People with diabetes should
participate in mild to moderate physical activity because the activity may
lower blood glucose and increase overall fitness.
EAT MORE VEG
Eating a vegetarian diet consisting more of green plants
helps a diabetic to have a much better blood sugar control and required less
insulin. We will suggest you to consult your doctor if you are changing your
diet plan. Else, you
can call or contact us for any clarifications.
*********************************************************************************
Singhal
Diabetic Clinic - A trusted name in diabetic prevention which is serving for over
two decades
As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure, your knowledge
towards your own body and the lifestyle you chose determines your future. Get your
personalized report on the risk of diabetes. If you have any queries, we will
be pleased to assist you.
Yours,
Dr. M Singhal
Phone: +91-1334-224625 | Mobile:
+91-9837178358