The human body uses insulin to carry glucose--blood sugar--to the cells. People with diabetes do not produce enough insulin, which causes glucose to remain in the blood. High blood sugar levels increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases, blindness, neuropathy, or nerve pain, and kidney disease. Some doctors prescribe a diet based on the glycemic index to help diabetics control their blood sugar levels.
Glycemic Index
The glycemic index measures how quickly your blood sugar will increase after you eat a food containing carbohydrates. Diabetics need to eat foods that do not cause sudden changes in blood sugar and insulin levels. The glycemic index of each carbohydrate food compares it to pure sugar, which has a glycemic index of 100. The higher the glycemic index of a food, the faster your blood sugar will increase after you consume it.
Glycemic Load
The glycemic index of a food does not tell you everything you need to know about the food. You also need to know how many carbohydrates it contains. Glycemic load describes the amount of carbohydrates in a food and the glycemic index of the food. Diabetics should avoid foods with both a high glycemic index and a high glycemic load, as recommended by Sandra Woodruff, a licensed dietitian for the Thagard Student Health Center at Florida State University.
Foods
Foods made from finely ground flours usually rank high on the glycemic index. These foods include chips, French fried potatoes, processed cereals, baked goods, pretzels, bread and sticky rice. Foods with lower glycemic index values include legumes, oat bran, sweet potatoes, long-grain rice, dairy products, bulgur wheat, pasta, and most fruits and vegetables.
Benefits
Using the glycemic index has several benefits for those with diabetes. Foods with a low glycemic index reduce hunger, help with weight management and make the body more sensitive to the effects of insulin. Following a low-glycemic diet also helps to prevent some of the complications associated with diabetes, including heart disease and high cholesterol, according to the University of Sydney.
Misconceptions
Following a low-glycemic diet does not mean that every food you eat has to have a low glycemic index. In some cases, diabetics need to increase their blood sugar quickly, making high-glycemic foods ideal. If your blood sugar drops during a period of exercise, a high-glycemic food would increase it quickly and keep your glucose level in the safe zone. The safe zone for diabetics is 140 to 180 mg/dL two hours following a meal, according to Ohio State University Medical Center. If your blood glucose levels fall below normal, a high-glycemic food like soda or hard candy will increase it quickly and prevent complications.
