Type 2 diabetes: Bestdiet to follow to keep blood sugar levels low
A chronic condition that requires a person to completely change their diets, Type 2 diabetes is a serious health risk.
A diet that is low in Glycemic Index is said to be one of the most effective diets in curing the disease. The diet measures the manner in which carbohydrate-rich food increases blood pressure. It ranks food in accordance to their effect on blood sugar levels. The rate at which different foods raise blood sugar in some people is compared with the absorption of 50g of pure glucose. When this used as reference food and has a 100 GI value.
This diet was created by a Canadian professor, Doctor David Jenkins in the 1980s. It looks at how the fat and fiber content in food lowers the GI of the product. The rule of thumb is that the more a food is cooked, the higher the GI will be.
Studies have shown that the low GI diet could cause weight loss, reduced blood sugar and lesser risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Food which is lower in GI value is preferred since it is digested slowly and absorbed which means the blood sugar levels rise in a smaller amount. However, food which is higher in GI should be limited as these are quickly digested and absorbed which causes a quick rise and fall in blood sugar levels and is detrimental for those suffering from Type 2 diabetes.
Only foods that contain carbohydrates have a specific GI value. Foods like beef, chicken, fish, eggs, and herbs do not have any carbohydrates and so do not make the GI list.
Three factors affect the rate at which foods raise blood sugar levels. These are the type of carb, nutrient composition, and the amount consumed.
