20/04/2023
Why do people with diabetes need to limit their daily carb intake?
1. Carbs promote blood sugar
Compared to protein and fat, carbohydrates have the biggest impact on blood sugar, which is why monitoring carb intake is so important for diabetes control.
The digestive system breaks down carbs into glucose, which is blood sugar. This is the main source of energy for the body. When sugar enters the bloodstream, the pancreas normally secretes the hormone insulin, which allows cells to process and absorb that sugar, so blood sugar levels drop.
Diabetes affects how the body can produce or use insulin. In people with type 1 diabetes, their pancreas cannot make insulin. The body of a person with type 2 diabetes cannot make enough insulin, so glucose builds up in the blood.
In both types of diabetes, an insulin deficiency can lead to dangerously high blood sugar if not treated appropriately. Persistently high blood sugar can adversely affect blood vessels, eyes, feet, kidneys and heart, causing many health complications.
2. Healthy carbs are good for people with diabetes
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people with diabetes get about 45% of their daily calories from carbohydrates. However, for people with diabetes, eating well isn't just a matter of counting grams and calories. Choosing the right foods is an important key to controlling blood sugar. People with diabetes who want to control blood sugar need to pay attention to the amount of carbs consumed in addition to taking medications and prescription support products.
There are two main types of carbs:
Complex carbohydrates, found in foods like potatoes, whole grains, and corn, provide nutrients and fiber that take longer to digest.
Simple carbohydrates are found in fruit, milk, and in refined foods such as snacks, sweets, soft drinks, and desserts.
People with diabetes should eat complex carbs, limit consumption of simple carbs. Simple carbs enter the bloodstream quickly and can lead to blood sugar spikes compared to complex carbs.
Low-carb meals are beneficial for people with high blood pressure
Low-carb meals are beneficial for people with high blood pressure
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Choose foods that contain complex carbs because these are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals , and low in sugar, sodium, and unhealthy fats. Nutrient-rich carbs such as unprocessed vegetables, non-starchy ones like lettuce, cucumbers, broccoli, tomatoes; starchy vegetables such as corn, green beans, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and sprouts; legumes such as black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, green lentils, peas, ...
People with diabetes should limit their intake of refined, processed foods that contain a lot of carbohydrates and sugars such as sodas, soft drinks, juices, refined grains such as white bread, white rice and sugary cereals. sweets and fast foods such as cakes, cookies, candy and chips,...
3. Low carb diet helps stabilize blood sugar
The American Diabetes Association recommends a daily carb intake for people with diabetes that ranges between 135-180g for your three basic meals, along with 60-90g of additional carbohydrates at a snack. Therefore, your daily recommended carb intake can vary between 135g and 270g if you don't snack. Because these recommendations are quite broad, the American Diabetes Association recommends working with a diabetes counselor or dietitian to get advice more specific to your individual condition. your personality, lifestyle and health status.
