Can a diabetic eat Salt?
Yes, a diabetic can eat salt. Salt does not cause blood sugar spikes. However, it is important to limit the amount of salt you eat. Experts say an adult typically needs to eat about 1 gm to 2.3 gm salt per day. This means an adult can eat about a tea spoonful of salt or less per day. Salt is an essential nutrient for your body. Eating too much salt can lead to high blood pressure and cardiac complications. Eating too little salt can lead to problems with nerves, blood vessels and muscles etc. So, it is important that a diabetic eats right amount salt daily as part of balanced diabetic meals.
Why does a diabetic need to eat salt? What happens if you stop eating salt?
To begin with, your food does not taste good without salt in it. So, people eat salt for taste for the starters. Salt is also an essential nutrient that your body cannot survive without. Salt helps maintain blood pressure which is vital to ensure blood reaches various body parts. Your body uses salt to balance blood fluids and maintain proper functioning of nerves, muscles etc. Your body cannot transmit nerve impulses or contract and relax muscle fibres without salt. So, you cannot cut salt completely from your diet. Humans need salt to live.
What is Hyponatremia?
If a person does not eat sufficient amount of salt, sodium levels in blood drop dangerously low. This condition is called Hyponatremia. Hyponatremia is similar to dehydration but if severe, it can lead to headaches or seizures. In extreme cases, the person with low sodium can go into coma or even death.
What happens if you eat too much salt?
If a diabetic eats too much salt, blood sugar levels may not spike. However, the person may face other health complications. For example, when a person eats too much salt, sodium levels in blood rise and this leads to high blood pressure. High blood pressure can in urn lead to various serious health complications. As a result of high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack are common serious risks. Other complications of high blood pressure include kidney complications, fluid retention and osteoporosis etc.
French fries, Hash browns, Burgers, Mayonnaise, Pizza, Processed food etc. are generally high in salt. Hence, a diabetic needs to eat such high salt foods only in moderation.
