Glycemic Index Updates

When someone has Type I diabetes, which used to be referred to as Juvenile Diabetes, insulin is the natural treatment.  In this case, a person does not produce any insulin and insulin must be injected in order for the patient to survive.  Just as there are many different types of oral medications to treat Type II diabetes, there are also many different options when it comes to insulin to treat diabetes.

Years ago, insulin was derived from animals and injected by a needle.  Patients often needed multiple insulin injections throughout the day.  There were problems with the insulin derived from beef and pork and many patients developed a resistance to the insulin after a period of time.  In 1977, modern technology in the treatment of diabetes took a giant leap as human insulin was cloned.  Today, insulin to treat diabetes is human insulin and is much more effective than insulin used in the past.

There are many different types of insulin on the market today and, as is the case with oral medications, it may take several different insulin types in order to find the correct balance that will insure good glucose levels.  Some insulin, such as Humalog, is very short acting and peaks within an hour after injection.  Other insulin, such as Ultra Lente, is very long acting and peaks in 18 hours. 

There are three characteristics to insulin.  Onset is the time it takes for the drug to reach the bloodstream and begin lowering the glucose.  The peaktime is the time when the drug is at the maximum strength and the duration is how long the drug continues to work in reducing the blood glucose level. 

Each patient has different needs when it comes to insulin and for this reason, there are many different types of the drug.  Cost is also a consideration in many cases as the insulin must be injected every day and, in certain instances, many people have to inject the insulin several times a day.

Another benefit of modern technology in managing people with diabetes through the use of insulin is the insulin pump.  This is much more effective than injections as it is a catheter that remains under the skin and separates the insulin into three different types of insulin.  Basal insulin is injected continuously.  Bolus doses are given to cover any carbohydrates consumed in a meal.  You can also have correction doses or supplemental doses.  This is especially effective if your blood sugars are high prior to eating. 

The use of the insulin pump is much more effective than using injections as it controls your insulin and blood glucose levels on a continuous basis.  It is relatively easy to use and most people with Type I diabetes are using insulin pumps. 

Not only people with Type I diabetes use insulin.  Those with Type II diabetes who have been unable to control their blood sugars through diet and medication are often prescribed insulin.  Because the insulin pump is so effective at retaining control of the blood glucose level, many people with Type II diabetes have also opted to use the insulin pump.

Medical science is continuing to search for a cure for diabetes which has reached epidemic proportions in some areas.  Until a cure is found, however, there are many ways to treat this disease.  When someone gets a diagnoses of diabetes, they often panic and are overwhelmed at all of the information.  If you or a loved one is diagnosed with diabetes, become empowered by learning all you can about treating the illness, learning about different medications and making sure that you comply with orders given by your physician.  Patients with diabetes who are compliant and learn about their disease stand the best chance of living a long and productive live, despite having diabetes.

In 1981, Dr. David Jenkins of the University of Toronto came up with a ranking system for carbohydrates based upon how long it takes them to break down into the system.  Some carbohydrates break down very slowly and those release glucose gradually into the bloodstream and have a low glycemic index.  For people who are diabetes, particularly those who are insulin dependent, a low glycemic index is preferable.  These foods allow the insulin or medication to respond better to the blood glucose and allows for the sugars to break down more naturally.

Other foods are rated high on the Glycemic Index.  These foods currently have high ratings and raise the blood glucose level quickly.  High glycemic foods can be beneficial for people who are recovering from high exertion or those suffering from hypoglycemia.  People with Type I or Type II Diabetes should avoid high glycemic foods as they can play havoc with the insulin or medication they are taking.

Some examples of foods that considered high glycemic foods include corn flakes, white rices such as jasmine rice, white breads and baked potatoes.  People who have diabetes, either Type I or Type II, should avoid these foods as much as possible. 

Other foods that are high glycemic foods include those with large amounts of white refined sugar or white flour.  One thing a doctor will tell a patient on how to avoid high glycemic foods is to avoid anything white.  This includes white bread, pasta made with white flour and even cakes or sweets made with refined white sugar or white flour. 

High glycemic foods tend to take a long time to digest in the system of a diabetic.  The glucose, or sugar, stays in the blood because the system of a diabetic is unable to process the refine sugars and flours.  The glucose stays in the blood and in the urine causing the diabetic to frequently urinate, experience thirst and hunger more than the average person and sweat profusely. 

After a while, this takes its toll on the system of a diabetic.  The kidneys begin to hurt because they are not functioning properly.  This is one symptom that diabetics often present with when seeking a physician.  They also get blood in their urine and, in the worst case scenario, they faint or enter into an episode of semi-consciousness, confusion which can even lead to a diabetic coma.  In some instances, a diabetic coma can prove fatal.

People who have Type I and Type II diabetes should be very mindful of which foods have a high glycemic index and avoid these foods in their diet.  With proper diet, medication or insulin and monitoring of blood sugars, diabetics can lead a normal lifespan.

Diabetes is not a death sentence at all.  It is simply a condition that many people possess that does not allow their body to break down sugars and starches through their system so that they digest normally.  Diabetes is harmful to an individual who does not follow the advice of their physician, does not consume a proper diet and does not monitor their blood glucose levels.  People who adhere to the medical guidelines concerning diabetes have just as much of a chance of living a normal life as anyone else.

The Glycemic Index was discovered in 1981 and is the basis for many recently popular diets, including the South Beach Diet as well as others.  The Glycemic Index determines how long certain carbohydrates take to break down and digest in the system.  Those with a high rating, take the longest time to break down and do the most damage to the system of someone with diabetes.  The good glycemic foods; that is, those with the lower rates, are more desirable not only for diabetics, but for those who are watching their carbohydrate intake through such diets as the South Beach Diet, they should also be aware of what the good glycemic foods are.

Good glycemic foods tend to absorb slowly into the system, allowing the body to break down the refined sugars and starches so that the body can digest them properly.  People with Type I and Type II diabetes have a difficult time digesting carbohydrates, particularly those that are high on the glycemic index, and this lack of proper digestion makes it difficult for the diabetic to expel glucose from their blood,.  While most diabetics are wise to avoid most, if not all carbohydrates, as these are what are the most difficult to digest and break down, certain carbohydrates are better than others for diabetics to consume.

Good glycemic foods tend to have a low score on the Glycemic Index that was developed in 1981 at the University of Toronto.  Good glycemic foods are still carbohydrates, but make it easier for the diabetic to digest and are much healthier and preferable than those glycemic foods with high ratings on the Glycemic Index. Substitutions are available for foods that rate high on the Glycemic Index and are widely available in supermarkets and other food stores.

Some of the foods that rate low on the Glycemic Index include most fruits and vegetables,  Although fruits and vegetables contain sugar, the sugars contained in these good glyceic foods digest into the system at a lower rate and also provide valuable nutrients to the diabetic, or just about everyone.  The only vegetable that a diabetic should avoid is a potato, as it has a high glycemic index.  Other fruits and vegetables, however, are more preferable than white rice, white bread, corn flakes and anything made with white refined sugar or flour.

Other good glycemic foods include wholegrain breads and pastas.  If you or a loved one has Type I or Type II diabetes, you should switch to whole grain breads and pastas made from wheat flour.  This can be tremendously helpful to anyone who wants to manage their glycemia as well as anyone who wants to follow such low carb diets.  Basmati rice is also considered one of the good glycemic foods.

Often, it is not a matter of eliminating carbohydrates when one is using diet to control their diabetes, but understanding which carbohydrates rate high on the glycemic index.  Diabetes is a disease that can be controlled by proper diet, monitoring one’s blood sugar and following doctor’s orders as far as medication. 

The Glycemic Index is a concept developed in the University of Toronto in 1981.  The purpose of the Glycemic Index is to measure the effect carbohydrates have on blood glucose levels.  The Glycemic Index is imperative for anyone who needs to monitor their glucose level due to diabetes or hyperglycemia.  With diabetes reaching epidemic levels in the United States, the development of the Glycemic Index could not have come at a better time.  Each year, more people are diagnosed with this potentially life threatening disease that can cause many serious complications.  It is important for anyone with this condition to familiarize themselves with the Glycemic Index so they can empower themselves and learn which foods should be avoided.

Carbohydrates are a diverse group of foods and all have different ways of breaking down in the system.  People with diabetes have a difficult time breaking down certain foods, particularly those high in carbohydrates, in their system.  Digestion is slow and sugars and starches are absorbed into the blood stream, causing an excess in blood glucose.  Diabetics are often warned to limit their carbohydrate intake because it takes such a long time for most carbohydrates to digest.  However, this is easier said than done and it is difficult, if not impossible, for many diabetics to eliminate carbohydrates from their diet.  This is one of the reasons many diabetics are non-compliant in their treatment.  Because diabetes does not often cause serious complications at onset, many patients refuse to take their medicine and continue eating foods that are high in sugar and starch. 

The Glycemic Index is very helpful because it rates different carbohydrates based upon their effect on the different levels of blood glucose.  Those foods that digest rapidly cause the less harm to the system and have a low glycemic index.  The carbohydrates that take a longer time to digest have a higher rate as they cause more harm to the blood glucose level.

The Glycemic Index ranges from one to one hundred.  A low food in the glycemic index has a rating of below 55.  These include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and some pastas.    Foods that fall between the 56 to 69 range are considered “medium” in the Glycemic Index.  They include candy bars, croissants and some rices. 

Surprisingly, although a candy bar scores in the medium classification of the glycemic index, it is not as harmful as those carbohydrates that score in the high glycemic index range.  These include corn flakes, white rice, white bread and  baked potato.  In other words, it is easier for a diabetic to digest a candy bar than a baked potato.

Knowledge of the glycemic index is imperative for anyone who has diabetes or who has been diagnosed as borderline diabetic.  To be able to understand which foods have the most impact on blood glucose levels is crucial for anyone fighting this potentially life-threatening condition.

If you or a loved one suffers from diabetes, become familiar with the Glycemic Index so that you learn about the different categories of carbohydrates and which groups should be avoided.  There are many substitutes for carbohydrates that rate high in the Glycemic Index and are available at most grocery stores.  While diabetes is currently without a cure, there are many different ways that people with this disease can life long, productive lives.

Get more information about the glycemic index with our free ebook, Glycemic 101.  Request your copy now by clicking the link on the top of the right sidebar. 

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