Free Glycemic Index Chart
Patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes have to live with the fact that they have to live with the illness all of their lives. This could be really tragic but life must go on and there are now many methods of managing the illness. Aside from proper medication and diet management, it is important for patients to be educated of the probable complications that the illness could bring. This knowledge is indispensable since it would eventually spell the difference between life and death much later on.
The most common condition that is associated with diabetes is hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is a syndrome that results from having low blood sugar levels. Diabetics are highly likely to have hypoglycemic episodes especially when they have a need to fast for tests. This condition could also occur among diabetics which means that patients should not only observe high glucose levels but also the dropping of those levels. It is, therefore, important to have meal planning and for those who already know how to use it—to have a Glycemic Index.
The Glycemic Index (GI) will help diabetic patients in controlling their blood glucose levels, appetite, cholesterol levels; it could also help in lowering the risks of type 2 diabetes. By definition, GI is a scale that has rankings for foods that are rich in carbohydrates and compare them against white bread or glucose in raising blood glucose levels. During carbohydrate intake, the food is broken down and sugars are digested to, eventually, produce energy. After eating, the blood glucose level often rises (glycemic response).
Meal planning can definitely work with the Glycemic Index. The GI ranks foods that have carbohydrates according to these foods’ glycemic response. Those that raise the blood glucose levels immediately get a higher ranking, meaning, those that have low GI ranking are best taken by a diabetic.
It is very important to carefully choose food and to maintain a balanced diet when you are a diabetic. The overall nutritive value of the food should be constantly considered before a meal is planned. Foods that are rich in carbs should not be totally taken off the patient’s diet only because of a high GI ranking. It is important to ask for the guidance of a physician to effectively maximize the use of the GI.
Glycemic Index Chart
| Low Glycemic Index Foods |
| Here are some of the foods that are good for diabetics because of their low GI ranking: skimmed milk, soy beverages, plain yogurt, apples, plum, oranges, sweet potato, parboiled rice, oat bran bread, pasta (al dente is recommended), lentils, baked beans, chick peas, and Pumpernickel bread. |
| Moderate Glycemic Index Foods |
| The foods that have moderate ranking on the Glycemic Index are: bananas, pineapples, new potatoes, raisins, oatmeal, popcorn, green pea soup, split pea, brown rice, couscous, shredded wheat cereal, Basmati rice, rye bread, and whole wheat bread. |
| High Glycemic Index Foods |
| The foods that should be taken in moderate amounts because of their high GI rankings are: watermelon, instant mashed potatoes, dried dates, parsnips, Rutabaga, instant rice, corn flakes, rice crispies, Cheerios, bagels, soda crackers, jellybeans, and French fries. |
Being a diabetic is all about eating in moderation, careful meal planning, proper exercise (one that was prescribed by a doctor), and administration of medicines. Conditions such as having high blood glucose level and hypoglycemia could be avoided if these factors are to be religiously followed.