How should diabetics eat staple foods?

Mondo Health Updated on 2024-01-30

Health for All says

Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic metabolic disease characterized by elevated blood sugar levels. Diet is an important part of diabetes management, and staple foods play an important role in the daily diet. So, how should diabetics eat staple foods?Under the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine theory, combined with ancient and modern famous prescriptions, let's take a look.

First of all, it is very important for diabetics to choose the right staple food. Whole grains are a very good choice because they are rich in fiber, which helps control the rate at which blood sugar rises. Among them, whole grains such as brown rice, oats, and corn are all good choices, because the plant fiber they contain can delay the digestion and absorption of food and reduce the rate of blood sugar rise.

Secondly, we can learn from traditional Chinese medicine theories and add some ingredients that have the ability to regulate blood sugar in our diet. For example, lotus seeds, yams, and white lentils are all believed by traditional Chinese medicine to have the effect of nourishing the spleen and stomach and regulating blood sugar. We can pair these ingredients with staple foods to increase the nutritional value and help stabilize blood sugar.

In addition, there are also some medicinal diet prescriptions for diabetic patients in TCM prescriptions. For example, the "Bazhen Soup" in "A Thousand Golden Prescriptions" is widely used to regulate blood sugar and nourish the spleen and stomach in diabetic patients. Among them, astragalus, ginseng, Morinda officinalis and other medicinal materials have the effect of nourishing qi and nourishing blood, invigorating qi and strengthening the spleen, and are suitable for diabetic patients.

In addition, diabetics need to pay attention to the following points when choosing staple foods.

First, limit your intake. Staple foods are the base of every meal, but people with diabetes should control their overall intake and avoid overeating. In general, the intake of staple foods at a meal should be controlled at around 200g.

Second, balanced nutrition. Try to choose staple foods that are rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, such as whole wheat bread, legumes, etc. At the same time, it is paired with a certain amount of vegetables and high-quality protein foods, such as eggs and fish, to increase satiety and nutrient intake.

Third, control the cooking method. Diabetic patients should choose low-calorie, low-fat cooking methods such as boiling, steaming, and stewing, and avoid frying and stir-frying to reduce their calorie and fat intake.

In conclusion, as a diabetic patient, it is very important to choose and consume staple foods reasonably. Under the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine theory, choosing whole grains and ingredients in medicinal diet formulas, and reasonably controlling intake and cooking methods can help maintain blood sugar stability. Of course, this should also be done under the guidance of a doctor or TCM practitioner and adjusted according to individual circumstances.

Thank you for taking the time to read our article. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. I wish you all the best!

References: 1 ranasinghe p, et al. (2018). antidiabetic effects of coccinia grandis (l.) voigt: a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies.

2. hsu wc, et al. (2018). diabetic supplements: an overview and their implications in diabetic care.

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