Can a diabetic eat Rice?
A diabetic can eat rice as part of normal diabetic meals. However, a diabetic must eat rice in moderate portions occasionally. Rice contains starches and has high glycaemic index (GI) that can cause spikes in blood sugar levels. However, this does not mean a diabetic cannot eat rice at all. A diabetic can still eat rice sometimes. To avoid long term diabetes complications, a diabetic must keep portion size moderate when eating rice.
Is rice high in sugar?
Rice contains high levels of starch. Starch is a type of carbohydrate. As a complex carbohydrate, starch in rice is made up of many molecules of glucose. Glucose is of course a type of sugar. So, while rice does not contain sugar in direct sense, its complex structure is made up of glucose.
Does rice raise blood sugar levels?
Yes. Rice does raise blood sugar levels. Though rice does not contain sugar, it can raise blood sugar levels. After you eat rice, your body breaks down the complex starch in rice into glucose. Upon digestion, these glucose components enter your blood stream. Thus, eating rice raises glucose levels or sugar levels in your blood.
How much rice can a diabetic eat?
Experts recommend that a diabetic can eat about 6 ounces of grains daily. The best grains for diabetics are whole grains as whole grains are high in fibre. As rice is one of the grains for diabetics, you can include rice in these 6 ounces of grains. Experts say a diabetic include about 2 servings of rice per week for good health benefits. Experts say eating 2 servings of brown rice per week can reduce risk of type 2 diabetes.
What happens if you eat too much rice?
Too much rice in your meals can lead to obesity. Obesity sometimes can eventually lead to type 2 diabetes too. If you are already a diabetic, eating too much rice can cause serious spikes in blood sugar levels and further diabetes complications.
