Glycemic Index & Diabetes - What's The Relation?

Did you know that some carbohydrates can make your blood sugar shoot up faster than others? So, when you eat a lot of these good slower acting carbs, you can potentially control your blood sugar levels. The glycemic index is a handy tool that indicates the slow acting good carbs from the fast bad carbs.

What is glycemic index?
It is a simple number that lets you know how fast your body converts carbohydrates in your food into glucose. Two foods with the same number of carbohydrates can end up having different glycemic index numbers. The bigger the number, the higher impact it has on your blood sugar levels.

• 55 or less is low and good for controlling sugar
• 56-69 is mediocre
• 70 or higher indicates a high number and is not so good

Where to Look for the glycemic index or GI?
Look for the indication on the labels of packaged food. You can also find the glycemic index for common foods on the Internet or ask your dietician for the same. Also, keep in mind that natural foods like fruits and veggies have a lower glycemic index than refined or processed foods.

Benefits of low glycemic diet
If you have diabetes, a diet with low glycemic foods can help you manage your condition better.

• Enhance your cholesterol levels
• Help in weight management
• Reduce risk of heart disease
• Help you stay full for a long time
• Increase your energy levels
• Controls blood sugar spikes

Carbohydrates act as an essential fuel for the body. Instead of limiting all carbs, focus on eating the healthy variants. A glycemic index is a great tool that can quickly help you to identify the good carbs from the bad ones.

Find the right balance
If a food has a high GI, does it mean you should avoid consuming it? Well, not necessarily the glycemic index should not be the prime consideration when making choices about what to eat, you should also consider other nutrients. For example, potato chips have a low GI than oatmeal. Also, the portion size of the food matters. It is good to offset a food high in GI with a food low in GI. If you take a food that has a high glycemic index during the day, be sure to balance it with a food that has a lower glycemic index in the night.

Keep in mind that when you eat a well-balanced meal full of protein, fats and carbohydrates, the digestion of the food that has a high GI slows down and shoots up the blood sugar level. So, it is important to find the right balance. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult an Endocrinologist.