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Facts and Myths About Type 2 Diabetes
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1. You can't eat carbohydrates in type 2 diabetes
Carbohydrates are among the most important macronutrients in the body. They have a primary energy function, affecting blood glucose levels. Many people with type 2 diabetes may be concerned about their consumption because of the risk of hyperglycaemia. However, it should be emphasized that carbohydrate is a broad term that encompasses a large group of compounds with different properties. It is defined by, among other things, the glycemic index, which is an indicator of the effect of individual products (mainly glucose-added sugars) on the blood sugar level.2. The ketogenic diet is the best diet model for diabetics
Concern about carbohydrate intake often leads to the choice of low-carb and low-sugar diets. One of these is the ketogenic diet, which involves significantly limiting the intake of to about 50 g per day. In practice, this means giving up cereal products, most vegetables and fruits (low-carbohydrates and low sugar products are acceptable) and other sources of this macronutrient. For several years now, the keto diet has been gaining popularity, and there is also a debate about the principles of its use in the type 2 diabetes diet.3. Cooking increases the glycemic index of products FAKT
Thermal processing is one of the factors influencing the glycemic index of food. When cooking cereal and starch products (e.g. potatoes, cassava, pasta) a process called starch geling takes place. It increases the ability of starch molecules to absorb water under rising temperatures, which ultimately leads to their decay. As a result, starch is more susceptible to the action of digestive enzymes, which leads to faster absorption of glucose and its concentration in the blood.4. People with type 2 diabetes should choose a protein-fat breakfast MIT
In the context of type 2 diabetes, protein-fatty breakfasts are often mentioned in particular. As the name suggests, they involve eating primarily protein and fat-containing products (e.g. eggs, meat, fish, nuts, avocados), with a reduction in carbohydrate sources (fruits or vegetables). However, the potential benefits of a lighter diet and therefore lighters glycemic changes after a high-protein and high-fat meal are suggested. Data on the effectiveness of such a diet are limited.5. In type 2 diabetes, you can't eat bacon
For example, the glycemic index of fresh berries is 24. However, 10 g of berries have a lower water content, and therefore a higher percentage of pure berries per 100 g of product. Dried berries also have a higher glycaemic index than fresh fruit.6. You can't eat fruit with type 2 diabetes
This is due to the content of fructose, i.e. simple sugar characteristic of the fruit, and the value of the glycemic index of these products, which is 62 and 45 respectively. Simple sugars, including fructos, should be limited in the diet. The Polish Diabetes Association recommends that the amount of fruit not exceed 50 g per day (L. Zupriniac and 2023). However, this does not mean the need to eliminate the fruit altogether, since in addition to sugar or fructone, these fruits are also less prone to sugar, fat, composition, etc. In the case of frozen fruit, the amount is lower (e.g. if the fruit contains more minerals or minerals, such as syrup, in the form of a smoothie).7. Studying potatoes lowers their glycemic index FACT
As mentioned earlier, temperature is one of the factors that affects the glycemic index of the product. Increasing temperature causes the starch to gel and is more easily digested in the food chain. However, at low temperatures there is a reverse process. The starch molecules go through an orderly and crystalline process characteristic of the so-called resistant starch. It is not sensitive to the action of digestive enzymes, so consuming it in this form to a lesser extent increases glycaemia (note that not all of the blood contained in a starch product is converted).8. In type 2 diabetes, intermittent fasting (IF) is recommended
Intermittent fasting (IF) is a relatively new dietary model that assumes the restriction of meal intake within certain time frames. Many variations are known, including 24-hour fasting once or twice a week or daily eating only within certain hours (e.g. 6 hours of eating, 18 hours of fasting). As its popularity increases, there is debate about the validity of its use in patients, e.g., those with type 2 diabetes. Scientific evidence suggests a possible beneficial period of time for IF to affect metabolic parameters, such as whether lowering insulin intake may increase the risk of hypertension.9. People with type 2 diabetes should eat two meals a day MIT
It is therefore necessary to carry out further long-term observations in larger groups of patients. At present, intermittent fasting is not the recommended dietary model for type 2 diabetes (A. Zubrzycki et al. 2018; I. Vasim, C. N. Majeed, M. D. DeBoer 2022).
