Corned beef originated in the era before refrigeration, when salt was the primary meat preservative. Production of corned beef involves curing the meat with salt grains or brine. Like other meat, corned beef contains no carbohydrates. Thus, eating corned beef by itself will not elevate your blood sugar level. Other foods eaten with corned beef, however, may affect your blood sugar.
Glycemic Response
Glycemic response describes the effect of various foods on your blood sugar level. Carbohydrate-containing foods, which break down into simple sugars in your digestive system, typically increase your blood sugar to varying degrees. Pure proteins and fats do not cause elevated blood sugar levels. Because corned beef contains protein and fats but no carbohydrates, it does not elevate your blood sugar.
Corned Beef Sandwich
In all likelihood, you do not to sit down for lunch or dinner and eat corned beef without other foods. Consider the glycemic effect of a corned beef sandwich. Although corned beef is carbohydrate free, bread contains a high concentration of starch. When foods that affect blood sugar, such as bread, are eaten with foods that have no effect, the glycemic response is reduced. You can expect a corned beef sandwich on whole-wheat bread to cause a small to modest increase in your blood sugar level. If you eat the sandwich on white bread, which has a greater effect on blood sugar than whole-grain bread, expect a more pronounced elevation of your blood glucose level.
Corned Beef and Cabbage
Perhaps you enjoy a traditional meal of corned beef and cabbage. High-fiber, nonstarchy vegetables such as cabbage have little effect on your blood sugar level. Thus, you can enjoy corned beef and cabbage without worrying about the effect on your blood sugar level.
Corned Beef and Potatoes
Potatoes have a high glycemic index because the starch they contain rapidly breaks down into simple sugars that enter your bloodstream. Although the protein and fat in corned beef dampen this effect, expect a modest rise in your blood sugar when you eat corned beef and potatoes. The magnitude of the rise in your blood sugar depends on how much of each food you eat, other foods consumed with your meal, the time it takes for the meal to pass into your small bowel and the severity of your diabetes. Your doctor may recommend that you check your blood sugar level after meals to help you determine your response to specific foods and meals.
References
- The Kitchen Project: The History of Corned Beef
- "Nutrition & Metabolism"; Control of Blood Glucose in Type 2 Diabetes Without Weight Loss by Modification of Diet Composition; Mary C. Gannon, Ph.D., et al.; March 2006
- USDA Agricultural Research Service: What's in the Foods You Eat Search Tool
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; The Hypoglycemic Effect of Fat and Protein is Not Attenuated by Insulin Resistance; Xiaomiao Lan-Pidhainy, M.Sc., et al.; January 2010
- University of Sydney: Glycemic Index Database
- The GI Diet Guide: High, Medium and Low GI Foods
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