My aunt, who is 42 years old, has diabetes. As a result, her sugar levels…
My aunt, who is 42 years old, has diabetes. As a result, her sugar levels are always higher than the normal range. She also has high blood pressure and takes medications for the same. What Indian foods are good for her, and which foods should she avoid?
For patients with diabetes, a perfect diet is essential. Too many carbohydrates can be risky; too few can be dangerous. When doctors recommend a diet, we consider something called the Glycemic Index. This is nothing but a scale of calories from zero to a hundred. A diet of a diabetic with high blood pressure should mainly include food items of the low glycemic index.
It is best to have a diet with many meals of short calories. There are a lot of Indian foods that can be avoided to maintain daily calorie intake like caffeine, refined sugar, highly processed food, high glucose fruits and vegetables, high sodium snacks.
Some Indian foods that can be avoided:
- Potatoes
- White rice or puffed rice
- Corn
- Chocolates, Cake and icecream
- Black-eyed beans
- Watermelon, pineapple, mango, jackfruit, coconut water
You can opt for healthier, protein and fibre-rich Indian food options with a low glycemic index like:
- Green leafy vegetables
- Legumes, sprouts
- Semolina, oats, muesli
- Brown bread
- Dates
- Brown rice
Read more about glycemic index.