By Staff Writer
Diabetes is a chronic disease that causes your blood glucose levels to become too high. People who have diabetes must monitor their diet carefully and their food intake. Managing carbohydrate and sugar intake is necessary for a diabetic person because these two things potentially impact blood glucose levels.
We often find people asking questions like should they eat sugar if they have diabetes. Is it ok to incorporate sugary sweets in your daily routine if you have diabetes? Let’s find answers to these questions.
You might have heard everyone around you saying that people with diabetes must avoid all kinds of sweets and sugary foods. Well, this statement is not entirely true. People with type 1 diabetes have the condition not because of lifestyle or eating habits but due to the body’s inability to produce insulin naturally. Regarding type 2 diabetes, the issue is a little more complicated. One of the main contributory factors to diabetes is obesity or being overweight. If too much sugar or sugary food is the reason for this, it is an issue regarding diabetes.
Can a Diabetic Have Sugar?
Occasionally having limited amounts of sugar or sugary sweets into a healthful diet may not be harmful to a diabetic person. As per the American Diabetes Association’s instructions, people with diabetes can still add sugar to their diet. This sugar can be in sweets, chocolate, or other sugary foods, provided it is consumed as a part of a healthy meal and combined with a frequent exercise routine. Also, make sure that the sugar content used each day is not high.
It is generally advisable for diabetic patients to save sugary foods for an occasional treat and consume them in small proportions.
What are Healthy Meals?
A healthy meal keeps your overall body healthy. It is the one that:
- Has limited saturated fat
- It contains a moderate amount of sugar and salt
- It includes lean protein, whole grains, fruits, non-starchy vegetables, and healthy fats
- It does not have processed and refined foods
Why Should People with Diabetes Limit Their Sugar Intake?
When we eat food, our digestive system breaks down the carbohydrates into glucose. After this, our body absorbs this glucose into the bloodstream. Glucose is the primary source of our body’s energy. Insulin is a hormone that instructs the cells to absorb glucose from the blood.
People who have diabetes cannot produce enough insulin, or their cells do not respond to the hormones appropriately, which causes the blood glucose levels to become too high. Hence, diabetic patients must try to limit their sugar intake.
How Much Sugar Can A Diabetic Person Have?
The amount of sugar and carbohydrate that a person with diabetes can consume depends on the following factors.
- The activity level of the individual
- The person is trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight
- The individual is trying to lower their blood glucose levels or not
Consult a Dietician before Adding Sugar to Your Diet
If you have diabetes, consult your dietician about the use of sugar in your diet. A dietician will help you set personal goals and suggest an eating plan that most suits your needs.
Be Cautious While Selecting a Food if you are Diabetic.
While selecting any food, a diabetic person needs to understand how it can affect their blood glucose levels. It helps if you know how to read the labels on the food packaging. Most packaged foods claim to be sugar-free or have no added sugar. However, they still contain calories and types of carbohydrates that can disturb your blood sugar levels. Substituting artificial sweeteners is an excellent help in reducing sugar intake. Experiment to find the ones that match your taste.
You can also replace sugary drinks with naturally flavored water, such as adding fruits or refreshing vegetables such as cucumber or herbs to enhance water’s taste. Finally, preparing meals at home and including fresh vegetables as much as possible will give you more control over any additives or hidden sugars in your meals. These are some ways to control sugar intake and maintain a healthy lifestyle. To explore information regarding diabetes or prediabetes, you can sign up for our magazine.
