People suffering from diabetes need to take proper care of their diet in order to keep their blood sugar levels in check. Diabetes sufferers generally need to eat foods with a lower GI (Glycemic Index) and regulate their carbohydrate intake as well. Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables are a great choice of food for diabetics, but they do contain carbs, which is why they should be consumed with caution. If you want to learn how to balance your diet in case of diabetes, continue reading the article below.
Useful diet tips for diabetics
Eating a healthy diet is highly important for diabetics. If you’re suffering from the disease, you’ll need to eat foods rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals while avoiding processed foods, sweets and fatty foods as well. We suggest consulting your doctor who will create a special diet suited to your needs.
Counting carbs
Diabetics need to count their carbs on a daily basis. Carbohydrates can raise blood sugar levels, which is why it’s very important to keep their intake regulated. This is why it’s important to create a daily and weekly meal plan which will allow you to count the carbs in your food easily.
The number of carbs you get from any type of food depends on your physical activity, weight, goals and certain medications you may be on. In general, the limit of carbs should exceed 20 gr. per snack or 60 gr. per meal. Besides counting carbs, you’ll also need to pay attention to the glycemic index of your foods. The GI depends on the state of the food, the processing, the amount of fat and fiber, the ripeness and the variety of food as well.
Foods with a high glycemic index can raise your glucose levels pretty easily, while those with a low GI can be eaten safely. One of the best foods with a low glycemic index is the pineapple, a fruit rich in fiber and vitamin C and is also low on carbs. However, this only goes for fresh or frozen pineapple chunks – pineapple juice is a rich source of sugar, so it should be consumed in moderation. If you plan on including pineapple in your meals, make sure you combine it with low or medium GI foods to prevent your blood sugar levels from going up.
You can safely combine pineapple with pasta, brown rice, oatmeal, legumes, whole grain bread, and barley. On the other hand, it shouldn’t be combined with saltine crackers, pretzels, instant oatmeal, white bread or potatoes.
As we already said, pineapple is best consumed frozen. It has a lower glycemic index than a cup of pineapple juice, so you may only combine a bit of the juice with frozen pineapple chunks. Canned pineapple is great as well, but you should consume it with caution as it contains syrup full of sugar.
Conclusion
Pineapple can be consumed by diabetics, although it’s pretty important to pay attention the amount. In general, it’s best to see how you’re feeling after eating pineapple slices or drinking the juice, and report any change in your blood sugar levels to your doctor. If it raises your glucose levels or they drop too low, you should immediately stop consuming this fruit.
Source: World Around Us