Yeditepe University Hospitals Nutrition and Diet Specialist Buket Ertaş Sefer talked about the known misconceptions about diabetes and diet and made important suggestions.
dit. Buket Ertaş Sefer pointed out that nutrition has a very important place in the follow-up of diabetes, which is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world, and that applications made by hearing from the environment will bring more harm than good and may negatively affect the treatment.
Dyt, who draws attention to the nutritional mistakes made by people with diabetes or prediabetes, thinking that they are healthy or correct. Buket Ertaş Sefer gave the following information on the subject:
“Wholegrain or diet products do not raise my sugar”
Stating that wholegrain products contain more fiber than normal products, and fiber is a type of carbohydrate (cho) that plays an important role in balancing blood sugar, Dyt said. Buket Ertaş said, “Excessive consumption of wholegrain products both raises blood sugar and makes you gain weight. Dietary products defined as light are generally low-fat options and provide energy. Therefore, when these products are consumed in more portions than necessary, they can cause weight gain and increase blood sugar.”
“Desserts made from natural fruit without added sugar do not harm me”
Pointing out that the consumption of excess fructose, that is, fruit sugar, may increase the risk of imbalances in blood sugar, susceptibility to gestational diabetes, fat in the liver and thickening of the belly area. dit. Buket Ertaş Sefer gave the following information on the subject:
“Undoubtedly, one of the most harmful components to the body is added sugar. It is a type of food that we do not want not only for diabetics, but also for healthy individuals. These days, when healthy life and healthy eating are popular, sweets without added sugar are on the agenda. Consuming these recipes instead of sugary desserts was a very logical and healthy transformation. However, it was forgotten that these products also have calories and contain fructose, albeit natural. Excess fructose, that is, fruit sugar, increases the risk of imbalances in blood sugar, susceptibility to gestational diabetes, fat in the liver and thickening of the belly area. Therefore, yes, it is very healthy not to consume added sugar, but this does not mean that we can consume unlimited natural fruit sugars.”
“If I do not eat carbohydrates, my sugar will not rise”
Reminding that every person needs quality carbohydrates, whether they have diabetes or not, Dyt. Sefer continued his words by saying:
“In general, complex carbohydrates that do not raise blood sugar rapidly and are nutritious are the general definition of carbohydrates that we call healthy. Legumes, whole wheat, rye, einkorn, buckwheat bread and its derivatives, such as bulgur. These are the sources of carbohydrates that should be in our lives. Of course, if portion control is not done in these foods, the effect on blood sugar may be negative. With a simple logic, our blood sugar rises according to the amount of carbohydrates we take, and our insulin level takes over the storage task to lower our blood sugar. If the insulin we take or the oral antidiabetic drug we take is not enough to balance our sugar, blood sugar remains high and other complications may develop in the long term. For years, bread has been seen as a food that should be cut completely. Most people still think so. In fact, eliminating this group, which contains a lot of vitamins and minerals, triggers more protein and fat consumption. Did you know that even if carbohydrates are not consumed, the body can produce glucose from other macroelements? Therefore, it should not be forgotten that protein sources such as meat and chicken consumed in excess, or fat sources such as nuts can cause an increase in sugar.”
“Freshly squeezed fruit juices do not harm diabetics”
exp. dit. Buket Ertaş Sefer said, “It means that fiber in foods plays a very important role in balancing blood sugar and the more fiber a food has, the more it plays a role in the regulation of blood sugar. However, consuming fruit juice, even if it is freshly squeezed, means both excessive fruit consumption and not being able to benefit from the pulp present in the fruit. Have you thought about how many oranges you squeeze for a glass of orange juice? Did you know that especially the calories you drink affect your blood sugar more easily? Fruit juice undoubtedly saves lives in sugar drops and hypoglycemia risks. However, the probability of triggering hyperglycemia in routine life is quite high. In addition, it should not be forgotten that foods that increase blood sugar suddenly are the cause of sudden hypoglycemia.
“I can only balance my blood sugar by doing sports”
Underlining that doing sports is very important in blood sugar balance, Dyt. Sefer said, “However, the belief that one can eat more food without paying attention to nutrition or even with the thought of doing sports is wrong, especially those who experience high blood sugar levels in postprandial, a short walk after a meal has a significant effect on blood sugar. But it is not possible to achieve success if the diet is not paid attention to. The cho and calories taken must be followed," he said.
“A snack is a must for every patient”
Stating that the order of 6 main meals and 6 snacks is an old discourse that brings disadvantages to most patients, Dyt. Sefer said, “If the clinical condition of the patient supports eating a lot, of course it should be planned in this way. However, many diabetics are already in this cycle because they snack too much and consume unnecessary calories. Therefore, if you do not have a risk of hypoglycemia, it is beneficial to reduce the number of meals under the control of a dietitian and physician. It is known that light fasting affects treatment positively, especially in patients with insulin resistance and thick waist circumference.
“It is permissible to eat sour fruits”
Dyt pointed out that if sour fruits, which are thought to have a low sugar content, are eaten more than necessary, it can cause very negative conditions for blood sugar. Buket Ertaş Sefer gave the following information on the subject:
“Even though the fruit itself has a calorie difference. In fact, the amount of carbohydrates they contain is considered equal to the average. That is, their effects on blood sugar are actually not different from each other. Therefore, in case of excessive consumption of sour and sour fruits, it will adversely affect blood sugar. This is where portion size comes into play. Best to be free by adjusting the amount. However, since dried fruits contain more sugar per volume, it should not be forgotten that they can increase blood sugar quickly and portion control should be done accordingly.
“Healthy foods such as honey and molasses do not raise blood sugar”
Stating that these products are beneficial for our health, they contain glucose and fructose, Dyt. Buket Ertaş Sefer said, “Unfortunately, honey contains glucose and fructose, even if you find the most natural one. Although natural foods provide health benefits, they raise your blood sugar. In other words, it is wrong to think that useful things do not harm my blood sugar.
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