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Diabetic Diet

Hello all,
I’m a newbie.  I am  pre-diabetic:  A1C  =    6.2
I have done a lot of research with the hopes that via diet I can get my A1C  below 5.7.
From what I have read, it appears that when deciding which foods are best to eat, Glycemic Load is even more important that Glycemic Index.  With that in mind, I am having some trouble making decisions pertaining to the all-important   Rice, Potato, and
Bread categories.  My doc says stay away from white,  and that  brown is much better, i.e.   whole grain bread is preferable to white bread,  and brown rice is preferable to white rice.  
That seems to make sense, but from what I’ve found on multiple  Web  sites,   Uncle Ben’s Original Parboiled  rice has a much lower Glycemic Load than brown rice (14 vs. 18).  Uncle Ben’s Original Parboiled  rice  is White Rice.  
Also, from what I’ve read on multiple sites, pumpernickel bread has a lower Glycemic Load count than whole grain breads (5 vs. 9).  Pumpernickel is not a “whole grain” bread.

It appears that yams have a lower Glycemic Load than sweet potatoes, and sweet potatoes have  much lower  Glycemic Load than white  potatoes.  That’s good news, I prefer yams and sweet potatoes to white potatoes.   Also, supposedly  the way in which a potato is cooked affects the Glycemic Load.   A baked potato has almost twice the Glycemic Load of  a boiled potato.    

Regarding pasta, it looks like this is a case where the “browns”  are better than the “whites”.  A small plate of whole wheat pasta  has a Glycemic Load of   15, whereas   a
small plate of whole wheat pasta  has a Glycemic Load of  23.        

What is the consensus regarding cinnamon?  Does it help keep the blood sugar levels down?

There has been talk in the news recently that one to two glasses of red wine per day can be somewhat helpful in keeping the blood sugars level down.   Is there any truth to this?  

I’d appreciate all feedback.
  
Thanks,
Zeppo      
5 Responses
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Cat
osakaroseExternal User
I, for one, am a great believer in the Glycemic Index. It works for me. Yes, you have to watch the amount of carbs you eat but it does matter what kind of carbs they are and where they fall on the GI. As for rice, white or brown, it has the same effect on my blood sugar (a bad one!) and so I have cut it out of my diet. Pumpernickel works for me and does not spike my glucose levels. The best pasta to eat is a brand called "Dreamfields"; it is specially processed to reduce the amount of digestible carbs. It is delicious and has a low glycemic index. I read the other posters re:glycemic index but I disagree with them. I have managed to lower my A1C from a 9.8 to a 6 all with exercise and diet. You can do this, zeppo, and I will be rooting for you!
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231441 tn?1333892766
COMMUNITY LEADER
My best advice is eat to your meter. if you eat a food and 2 hours later your blood sugar is higher than 140 (ideally target 120, not 140), then that food doesn't work for you.

Forget GI.  Just see which foods work for you.  Low carb is the best way to control blood sugar.  You will need to cut the carbs and increase the fats (healthy fats that is: from animals and dairy, nuts, avocado).  Avoid processed foods / transfats.
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141598 tn?1355671763
Do not base your nutritional plan on the Glycemic Index or Glycemic Load. What the GI or GL fail to mention are carbohydrates. Carbs are quickly digested. The easier a food is digested the quicker its sugars enter your bloodstream. Type 2 diabetics must pay careful attention to the amount of carbs eaten. Consider carbs as an equal to table sugar. On nutrition labels carb sugars are listed in grams. Every 7 grams equals one heaping Tablespoon of refined sugar.  

Changing lifestyle habits can go a long way in controlling type 2 diabetes. Restrict & avoid refined sugars, practice and adhere to weight control, do some sort of exercise daily, practice stress management, and get adequate sleep. These are all important in managing this illness, the most important, along with proper nutrition, is physical activity.

Foods made with white flour like breads, pasta, crackers, etc. and starches like potatoes and white rice can cause a drastic rise in your blood sugar if you aren't careful. [They are converted to sugar after you eat them.]

Other foods/drinks need care too [example; milk, fruit, fruit juice] can also cause blood sugar to rise [so serving sizes and moderation are important]. With fruit it’s important to eat them with other foods to slow the absorption of fructose [fruit sugar]. I'm NOT saying that these foods aren't allowed. What I AM saying is that you need to use care and follow the guidelines for diabetics. Eat whole grains, lean meats, fish and poultry and vegetables.

Alcohol contains sugar. Drink carefully. Cinnamon was studied for around 10 years. No consensus of it lowering blood sugars. Cinnamon has been found to stabilize blood pressure. I can attest to that.

If you have an Endocrinologist, a diabetes doctor, or a diabetes nurse, or a nutritionist they can help you a lot with nutritional guidelines. [Serving sizes, and how many servings of each type food that's safe for you.] Good luck -


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Avatar universal
I did spell check, sorry for missing so many ....
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Avatar universal
Hi, first i want to tell you that I am not diabetic. I think it is important that I tell you this so you can judge for yourself what I say. My Mom's husband is, and I always had lower blood sugar, so I do my best to follow a diabetic diet as I find I feel much better.
Now in the foodregardss. You want your grains to be as close to nature as possible. Brown rice, not white rice. UncleBen'ss might be a lower score due to fat added in the rice mix? You can cook red potatoes in a little oil ( I like olive oil) and then you just reduced the g-load.
I also like Sprouted breads better than other breads, though for myself I will use double fiber bread and that seems to be alright- again, I don't have an issue ( yet).
Please don't do the wine, it's loaded with sugar. If you must, do so with a meal as your trying to prevent a raise in your insulin levels which will through your blood sugar off like crazy.
Now all this being said, do they know the cause of your blood sugar?
On pasta, I use a whole grain one and I look at which one has more protein. Also, if you don't cook it as long it is better for you ( 7 minutes instead orinserince in cold water to stop the cooking process...heat it up when needed.        
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