Can a diabetic eat French fries?
A diabetic can eat just a few French fries. The last time I spoke to my doctor, she advised me not to eat more than six French fries in one go. Being a diabetic, I decided to follow her advice. And I never had any problems with my blood sugar levels after eating French fries.
French fries are not something a diabetic should be eating much of. Firstly, potatoes are high in carbs and deep frying French fries makes them oily. This makes French fries a cause for double trouble for diabetics. High carb in potatoes can lead to spikes in blood sugar levels. Deep frying in oil makes French fries creasy and can lead to weight gain and high cholesterol. Moreover, French fries generally have salt sprinkled on them.
Finally, one often uses generous amounts of tomato ketchup to go with French fries. To sum up, carbs from potatoes, oil from deep frying, added salt and vinegar, ketchup, mayonnaise or other condiments for diabetics are all factors that make French fries a difficult food for diabetics. If you use unhealthful oils to fry French fries, it can cause inflammation and increase risk of cardiovascular disease. As a result, a diabetic must be very careful when eating French fries. Please note that hash browns also have similar nutritional profile as French fries.
Can French fries raise your blood sugar?
Yes, French fries can raise your blood sugar levels. French fries are made from potatoes which are high in carbohydrates. They have a high glycaemic index (GI) of 70. High glycaemic index means French fries can cause quick spikes in blood sugar levels. Hence, experts generally list French fries under foods diabetics should avoid. However, you can eat high GI foods like French fries alongside high fibre food to counter the effect of high GI. Eating food rich in fibre with high GI food can help prevent blood sugar spikes. Some people prefer to eat French fries alongside some fries made from yam or sweet potato. This helps to make the meal less starchy and higher in fibre and nutrients.
Do French fries have a lot of sodium?
Research suggests, many brands of French fries (frozen) have about 15% of daily recommended sodium per serving. The amount of sodium increases when you sprinkle salt on French fries. Hence it is a good idea to make French fries at home from scratch and freeze them for later. This will make French fries more healthful.
Can diabetics eat air fried French fries?
Yes, a diabetic can eat air fried French fries. However, you must still keep the portion size in control. Air fryers like this one do not use oil. So, air fried French fries are more healthful in terms of oil. So, when you eat air fried French fries, your risk of cardiovascular disease may be lesser than deep fried French fries. However, the effect of French fries will still be the same on your blood sugar levels.
