Diabetics typically experience high blood sugar, so many people are hesitant to eat sweets. But can sweets affect blood sugar? Let's take a look at whether diabetics can eat sweets.
Diabetes is a disease of affluence and requires lifelong medication. We may know that diabetic patients cannot eat sweets, but this is not the case. Diabetic patients can eat sweets in moderation, but there are a few things to keep in mind.
If a diabetic has a craving for sweets, sweeteners can be included as part of their normal diet. Sweeteners such as sucrose, fructose, corn sweetener, concentrated fruit juice, honey, maltose, and various sugar alcohols all produce energy and must be included when calculating energy intake.
Studies have shown that consuming sucrose, which accounts for 12% to 38% of a diabetic's total energy intake, has no adverse effect on blood sugar, possibly because such foods have a low glycemic index. Fructose and sugar alcohols do not require insulin for absorption and metabolism, and therefore have little impact on blood sugar; they can be used to replace sucrose or glucose. However, excessive intake of sucrose, fructose, or sugar alcohols may have adverse effects on blood lipids. Therefore, the consumption of these sweeteners is not recommended for diabetic patients.
Foods suitable for diabetics:
Generally speaking, diabetics can eat millet porridge regularly. It is rich in phosphorus, calcium, iron, selenium, zinc, magnesium and other elements, which can regulate blood sugar levels and promote diuresis and lower blood pressure. Other options include buckwheat cakes, corn porridge, red bean porridge, barley porridge, tofu, tofu pudding, shredded tofu, wheat bran cakes, oatmeal, boiled baby corn, black sesame paste, black bean cakes, roasted soybeans, boiled white lentils and mung bean cakes.
Vegetables have a relatively small impact on blood sugar because they are rich in minerals, vitamins, and fiber. In addition, onions, cabbage, tomatoes, and other vegetables contain bioflavonoids, which are natural antioxidants that help maintain normal microvascular function. It is recommended that diabetic patients eat more vegetables. Bitter melon is also beneficial; its saponins, known as plant insulin, have a significant blood sugar-lowering effect and are especially suitable for patients with type 2 diabetes.
In addition, seafood such as kelp, laver, boiled scallops, steamed eel, boiled clam meat, stewed black carp, jellyfish skin, stewed loach, boiled snails, stewed crucian carp, stewed silver carp, boiled oysters, stewed grass carp, stewed yellow croaker, and stewed grass carp can also be helpful in the treatment of diabetes.
While a diabetic diet requires strict control, it doesn't mean that patients can't eat any sweets at all. In fact, patients can eat a little bit of sweets, especially fruits, which can supplement the body with essential vitamins. So it's okay to eat some fruit occasionally, just in moderation.
