Do All Carbohydrate Rich Foods Increase Blood Sugar Levels? By Aariana Shah

Do All Carbohydrate Rich Foods Increase Blood Sugar Levels?

Abstract

Diabetes is a condition characterized by high blood glucose levels and related physiological complications. Most people feel that eating foods rich in carbohydrates is main reason for this .By way of this literature survey I have made an attempt to understand the relation between carbohydrate consumption and spike in sugar levels .I have researched on this topic and found that carbohydrates differ significantly in their chemical structure and digestibility ,thus affecting glucose absorption and consequent sugar spike that follows. The way in which food is processed, additions that are made in a meal, method of cooking, can greatly alter the availability of carbohydrates and consequently have an impact on blood glucose levels. Hormones are also involved in affecting sugar levels in the blood. So blood sugar levels are dependent on how fast sugars are absorbed and transported and regulated .I am hopeful that this study will help people to make healthy choices for food selection and food processing.

Keywords : Carbohydrates , glycemic index, glycemic load, food processing methods ,spices, hormones

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and represents a major public health challenge. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has increased significantly over recent decades, largely due to lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity, unhealthy dietary habits, and rising rates of obesity. Among these factors, the consumption of carbohydrate-rich foods plays a crucial role in regulating postprandial (after-meal) blood glucose levels.

For most of us what we consume is mostly dictated by our taste buds rather than our logical health consious brain. Consequently, many individuals regularly consume foods that contain large amounts of rapidly digestible carbohydrates, which can cause substantial increases in blood glucose concentrations following a meal. Such glucose excursions may be particularly pronounced in individuals with sedentary lifestyles and relatively low skeletal muscle mass, as skeletal muscle is a major site for glucose uptake and utilization.

While small spikes can be handled by the body , if the intensity and frequency of the spikes increase ,our body is unable to take control of excess glucose processing and this results in spikes in blood glucose levels , leading to further changes in the way glucose is processed by our body.

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