The South Beach diet is an excellent diet for type 2 diabetics or people prone to hypoglycemia. Because of its emphasis on eating low-glycemic index carbohydrates that include a variety of legumes, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, the South Beach program can help stabilize blood sugar levels. Always consult your doctor before beginning any weight loss program.
The Glycemic Index
Although the first two-week phase of the South Beach diet restricts carbs to jump-start weight loss, the program isn't a low-carb diet. Instead South Beach emphasizes choosing the "right" carbs that won't cause a dramatic increase in glucose production. The glycemic index ranks carbs on a scale of 1 to 100, based on their potential to raise blood sugar. The lower a food scores on the GI, the less impact it has on your blood sugar. Foods that score less than 55 are considered to be low-GI foods. These include most vegetables, except starchy vegetables such as corn, potatoes and beets, some fruits, legumes, dairy products and some whole grains.
Glucose and Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is low blood sugar, not enough glucose in your bloodstream. When you eat foods high in sugar and starch your glucose levels can spike; your pancreas responds by flooding your body with insulin to transport glucose into your cells for use as energy. Often your pancreas produces too much insulin and this extra insulin stays in your bloodstream causing hypoglycemia. Your body, thinking you need glucose sends hunger signals, which is why you often crave more sugar just a few hours after eating a sweet treat.
The South Beach Diet and Low Blood Sugar
The South Beach program can prevent low blood sugar in several ways. First, it may help you lose weight. If you're overweight, attaining a healthy body weight will help your body use insulin more effectively, reducing both high and low blood sugar issues. Second, eating low-GI foods helps avoid those sharp glucose spikes that are often followed by episodes of hypoglycemia. The South Beach diet can break the cycle of high and low blood sugar. Third, the South Beach diet spaces meals and snacks evenly throughout the day, encouraging you to eat every three to four hours. The program allows for three meals and three snacks, ensuring that you never go too long between meals. Waiting too long to eat or skipping meals can cause hypoglycemia.
Other Benefits of the South Beach Diet
The South Beach program is designed to be a healthy lifestyle that teaches long-term good eating habits and promotes regular exercise. In addition to helping stabilize blood sugar, the South Beach diet can help lower cholesterol levels and decrease your risk of heart disease. The program emphasizes unsaturated fats, lean protein and low-fat dairy in place of saturated and trans fats. Both trans fats and saturated fats are associated with elevated "bad" LDL cholesterol levels and can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.
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