Do you know a healthy low-GI diet plus physical activity is the most powerful way for a person with type 2 diabetes to optimize their insulin sensitivity and maintain stable blood glucose levels over the whole day?  And when you read this you will see how this type of diet increases the rate of weight loss compared to a conventional low-fat diet.

What is it?   

The Glycemic Index is a measure of how fast carbohydrates hit the bloodstream.  Carbohydrates are compared weight for weight.

It is important to understand not all carbohydrates have the same fuel efficiency.  Many refined or simple carbohydrates, or high-GI, cause blood sugar level highs and lows.  In other words they hit the bloodstream quickly, there is a period of high energy followed by a period of extremely low energy.  The diabetic is then left craving more of the simple quick release carbohydrates.  So I call these the fast carbohydrates.

Evaluation of the diet of people who develop diabetes compared to those who don’t, show the ones with the fast carbohydrate diet most often developed type 2 diabetes.  Once this condition is present, those who then eat the slow carbohydrate diet have the lowest blood glucose levels, and their triglycerides and LDL (bad cholesterol) levels fall.

Choosing slow carbohydrate food over fast carbohydrates, helps keep your blood sugars balanced and they contain the fiber and minerals usually removed in making their counterpart.  An example is whole wheat bread (slow) and white bread (fast).  

Foods containing slow carbohydrates are:

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• pasta

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• whole grains

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• legumes (beans)

They release glucose more gradually into the bloodstream and have a low-GI.  The slow and steady digestion of these produces a smoother blood sugar curve, giving a feeling of fullness and reduced disturbance to insulin and blood sugars.

You don’t have to just eat slow carbohydrates to get the health benefits, the two groups can be combined and the overall response is between the two.

It is known that a diet based on slow carbohydrate choices will:\r

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• reduce blood glucose spikes

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• improve insulin sensitivity

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• improve blood cholesterol levels

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• increase feelings of fullness after eating

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• reduce hunger between meals

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• increase the weight loss rate

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• help prevent weight gain over a longer period

Renovate your diet by:

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• substituting with slow carbohydrate food

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• being aware of the quantity of carbohydrates you eat

Low-GI foods will help you manage your Type 2 diabetes and your weight.

• The Problem of Diabetes in Nigeria
• Type 2 Diabetes - A Mediterranean Diet Can Help
• Treat Diabetes in 12 Easy Steps
• Diabetes Diagnosis
• Know Different Types of Diabetes
• Proper Control of Diabetic Diet - A Golden Pathway to Stay Healthy

1 Comment »

1. [...] Original post by admin [...]

   Pingback by Type 2 Diabetes - Get Into the Low-GI Habit | Discuss Diabetes | Low-GI | if you do the low-gi diet you need supplementing — April 24, 2009 @ 5:46 pm

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