Differences in GI with Diabetes

[rich hand]

In non diabetics the GI of table sugar and bread are similar. Is this comparison likely to be similar for Diabetics ie table sugar showing a similar response to bread? Not influenced by medication.

The reason I ask is that diabetics often focus on sugar when aiming to control their condition rather than carbs in general.

 

[grovesy]

Welcome.
I think you will find most of us treat all carbs as the enemy,so to speak.

 

[Mini-Vicki]

I think the media often focuses on sugar being the issue rather than carbs in general.
So someone who has no education regarding carbohydrates and how they affect blood glucose levels, will frown on a person with diabetes for eating a digestive biscuit, whilst thinking a sandwich would be a good lunch (as told to me by my GP diabetes nurse) even though the sandwich will have 3-4 times the carbs.
All carbohydrate converts to glucose once in the digestive system, but at slightly different rates depending on what the food is, and what a meal comprises of.
Welcome to the forum by the way Rich, do you have diabetes yourself?

 

[DaveB]

Hi. I think most of us know that all carbs are a problem. I'm afraid it's the ignorant media that talks about sugar together with the EU which legislates for sugar to be listed on the front of food packaging and not Carbs (stupid)

 

[Ljc]

Hi Rich Welcome. I find it's people who don't know much about diabetes who focus on sugar.
Many here follow a LCHF (low carb high good fat) diet some here follow different types of diet.

 

[rich hand]

I think the media often focuses on sugar being the issue rather than carbs in general.
So someone who has no education regarding carbohydrates and how they affect blood glucose levels, will frown on a person with diabetes for eating a digestive biscuit, whilst thinking a sandwich would be a good lunch (as told to me by my GP diabetes nurse) even though the sandwich will have 3-4 times the carbs.
All carbohydrate converts to glucose once in the digestive system, but at slightly different rates depending on what the food is, and what a meal comprises of.
Welcome to the forum by the way Rich, do you have diabetes yourself?

Thank you Mini Vicky. No I don't but a family member does.

 

[rich hand]

I feel that sugar is also blamed since it is eaten on top of other carbs and therefore increases the load eg. in a desert following a meal and then desert itself is usually sugar combined with some other carb.

 

[Dave W]

Is the sugars in the carbs that count more than carbs per se. Some highish carb foods can be relatively low in sugars while other high carb food can be almost all sugar. There's increasing attention now be paid to GL glycaemic load rather than just GI. If you google Diogenes you be able to find a vast list of foods with their GI and GL values. (It's in Excel format)
There's quite a good explanation of GI and GL as well as a list of some foods via the link below, though I'm quite sure there's plently of other sites on the www.

http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm