Watching your carbohydrate
portions is just one aspect
of managing your blood glucose
levels (BGLs). The quality of
carbohydrate you choose is
just as important!
A crucial component of this
carbohydrate quality is the
glycaemic index (GI) – that is,
the value given to carbohydrate-
containing foods according to
how quickly the body will break
them down and release glucose
into the blood.A high GI food (GI value
greater than 70) will break down
quickly, causing a spike in BGLs
and energy levels that drop off
quickly, often leaving you feeling
low on energy and also hungry.
Low GI foods (GI value less
than 55) are preferable as the
body takes longer to break these
foods down and therefore
releases glucose into your blood
over a longer period of time. This
helps manage your BGLs by
avoiding spikes and provides ➤Been watching your
carb portions but
still having difficulty
managing your blood
glucose levels? You
may be choosing
poor-quality carbs.
DL dietitian Shannon
Lavery explains...
GET TO KNOW
carbs
YO U R
diabetic living JULY/AUGUST 2018 105need to know