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Do you agree?
https://www.diabetesdaily.com/blog/why-diabetics-need-carbohydrates-280726/
Why Diabetics Need Carbohydrates
Many of us also experience weight gain when we start using insulin, so it’s natural to feel that just eliminating all carbohydrates, and not having to use so much insulin, is the best solution to weight management.
In general, I think low carbohydrate diets have their place and time, but I want to make the case that carbohydrates, at the right time and quantity, can actually be beneficial and help you reach your goals, especially if you live an active fitness lifestyle with diabetes.
Why are some carbohydrates better than others?
If you eat large amounts of high glycemic carbohydrates, your blood sugars will quickly go through the roof (diabetic or not) and your body will need large amounts of insulin to get your blood sugars down to a healthy range. That’s the perfect formula for instant fat storage (for more information about low and high glycemic carbohydrates, read this post).
If you eat moderate amounts of low glycemic carbohydrates instead, you won’t see that blood sugar spike. You’ll still need insulin of course, but rather than promoting instant fat storage, the insulin will help convert the carbohydrates into the energy your body needs in order to maintain your brain activity, fuel your muscles, and keep your metabolism running.
If you are a fitness nut like me, carbohydrates are a valuable tool that shouldn’t just be cut out of your diet completely. However, the amount and type of carbohydrates you consume should match what your fitness goals are. I have had very different fitness goals at different times, and I want to take you through how I managed my carbohydrate intake through each of those phases.
It’s very important to keep in mind that when I talk about carbohydrates below, I only include “hard” carbohydrates like rice, pasta, quinoa, potato, etc. I also eat a lot of vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, and cauliflower that contain carbohydrates, but I don’t measure them because they have so few calories and a minimal impact on my blood sugar. They are essentially “free food.” I probably get another 30-50 grams of carbs or more per day from vegetables.
I
https://www.diabetesdaily.com/blog/why-diabetics-need-carbohydrates-280726/
Why Diabetics Need Carbohydrates
- 0
Many of us also experience weight gain when we start using insulin, so it’s natural to feel that just eliminating all carbohydrates, and not having to use so much insulin, is the best solution to weight management.
In general, I think low carbohydrate diets have their place and time, but I want to make the case that carbohydrates, at the right time and quantity, can actually be beneficial and help you reach your goals, especially if you live an active fitness lifestyle with diabetes.
Why are some carbohydrates better than others?
If you eat large amounts of high glycemic carbohydrates, your blood sugars will quickly go through the roof (diabetic or not) and your body will need large amounts of insulin to get your blood sugars down to a healthy range. That’s the perfect formula for instant fat storage (for more information about low and high glycemic carbohydrates, read this post).
If you eat moderate amounts of low glycemic carbohydrates instead, you won’t see that blood sugar spike. You’ll still need insulin of course, but rather than promoting instant fat storage, the insulin will help convert the carbohydrates into the energy your body needs in order to maintain your brain activity, fuel your muscles, and keep your metabolism running.
If you are a fitness nut like me, carbohydrates are a valuable tool that shouldn’t just be cut out of your diet completely. However, the amount and type of carbohydrates you consume should match what your fitness goals are. I have had very different fitness goals at different times, and I want to take you through how I managed my carbohydrate intake through each of those phases.
It’s very important to keep in mind that when I talk about carbohydrates below, I only include “hard” carbohydrates like rice, pasta, quinoa, potato, etc. I also eat a lot of vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, and cauliflower that contain carbohydrates, but I don’t measure them because they have so few calories and a minimal impact on my blood sugar. They are essentially “free food.” I probably get another 30-50 grams of carbs or more per day from vegetables.
I
