Diabetes patients are always looking for ways to reduce blood sugar. The more they can reduce naturally, the less insulin and fewer drugs they need to take.
That is a great goal. The next question is what types of food lower blood sugar?
Before you can answer that question, you need to understand what makes up blood sugar.
Different types of sugar
Sugar isn’t just the white processed kind everyone is familiar with for putting in coffee and cereal. Three types of sugar are in your body.
Fructose, contrary to propaganda, is a natural element in its raw form. It’s in honey and fruit. Fructose is even found in root vegetables like carrots and beets.
The white table sugar everyone knows is sucrose. While it’s a natural version found in grains, vegetables, and fruits, it also comes in the processed form in foods like ice cream and cake.
Glucose is what your body makes from your food intake. This is what your blood monitor tests when you use the strips to find your sugar level.
Foods that help control sugar
Some general rules exist that help you pick foods that control blood sugar.
- Go with proteins.
- Choose fruit over a fatty dessert.
- Put complex carbohydrates into your diet
Beyond those rules, there are specific things that help lower your glucose. More proteins like eggs, beans, fatty fish, and nuts help stave off sugar cravings. They also give you more energy than a candy bar ever could.
Good fruits will also bring your glucose levels down, even though they contain fructose. Grab an apple, an
orange, plums, pears, blueberries, and strawberries when craving something on the go.
Complex carbs are better than typical carbs because they digest slowly and are high in fiber. That will help control sugar. These include butternut squash, sweet potatoes, nuts, and various beans.
Conclusion
Diabetic patients don’t need to feel limited in their diet choices. There are plenty of alternatives that can be substituted for some of their favorites. This will have long-term results so you can eventually lower the doses of medicine required to keep your blood sugar under control.
