Glycaemic Index Diet (GI Diet) and Diabetes
GI Diet
Although not as prominent as low-carbohydrate diabetes diets, glycaemic index diets for people with diabetes also enjoys a following in the UK.
Glycaemic Index diets (GI Diets) rank food depending on the rate at which the body breaks it down to form glucose.
What do high GI foods do in relation to diabetes?
Those foods that are high in GI break down very quickly. They therefore cause blood glucose levels to spike, and leaving the dieter craving more food quickly.
For people with diabetes, this can be particularly dangerous as the ability of the body to control blood glucose levels is reduced or non-existent.
For this reason, people with diabetes have to be careful when it comes to eating high GI foods.
What do low GI foods do in relation to diabetes?
Low GI foods tend to break down much more slowly. This leaves the dieter feeling more satisfied over a longer period of time, less likely to binge and with a steady impact on blood glucose levels.
GI diets are based around low GI foods.
What foods are considered low GI?
Low GI foods that are considered suitable for people with diabetes include
- fruit,
- vegetables,
- whole grains,
- nuts,
- lean meats,
- low-fat dairy, and
- legumes
All of these foods have a high nutritional value, and provide prolonged release of energy. High GI foods include sugar and products based on white flour.
This type of food has often been refined and processed, stripping it of essential nutrients. People with diabetes should avoid high GI foods.
