As we all already know, eating carbohydrates can raise a person’s blood sugar levels. This information is crucial especially for people living with diabetes or trying to lower their risk of developing the condition.
According to research conducted in 2019, results have shown that the prevalence of diabetes in Singapore is among the highest in Southeast Asia (13.7% versus regional prevalence of 8.5%). As such, it is important for diabetics to understand the relationship between their condition and carbohydrates to make good food choices for themselves.
As the keto diet continues to gain popularity in Singapore, we are seeing more diabetic-friendly desserts options available, allowing diabetics to have the option of occasionally indulging in sugar-free cakes. Ange Bakes is one of the fully ketogenic bakeries here in Singapore offering a wide range of freshly-baked sweet treats for people with dietary restrictions.
In this article, we’ll share more about the relationship between carbohydrates and diabetes.
Understanding Carbohydrates And Diabetes
When we consume food or drinks that contain carbs, our body breaks it down to a type of sugar known as glucose; our bodies use glucose for fuel to keep us going throughout the day. When it comes to managing diabetes, the carbs you consume play an important role - after your body breaks down the carbs into glucose, your pancreas releases a hormone known as insulin to help your cells absorb the sugar.
Hyperglycemia refers to a high level of blood sugar in your body. There are a few causes for “highs”, and some of them include not having enough insulin in your body to process the glucose in your blood, or your cells not reacting effectively to the insulin that is being released. On the other hand, hypoglycemia refers to low amounts of blood glucose in your body as a result of the underconsumption of carbohydrates or an imbalance in medications. Ultimately, the total grams of carbs you eat in a day can affect your blood sugar. Hence, it is very important for a diabetic patient to lower their carbs intake as much as possible.
Types Of Carbohydrates
There are three main types of carbohydrates found in food - starches, sugar, and fibre. When purchasing food, you can always check the back for the nutrition label. Most of the time “total carbohydrate” is used to group these three types.
There are a few ways to reduce carbohydrates intake by making simple adjustments in your food choices
1. Choose your vegetables
It is best to avoid starchy root vegetables such as carrots and potatoes. Instead, choose cruciferous ones such as broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, and even kale. These cruciferous vegetables are low in carbs but high in nutrients as they contain several carotenoids, vitamins C, E, K, folate, and even minerals that are beneficial for your body. Furthermore, these vegetables are also a good source of fibre.
2. Replace your staples
Our asian staples like rice, noodles and grains contain carbohydrates. Replacing them with substitutes made with konjac (also known as shirataki) will do a big part in reducing your carbohydrate intake. Shirataki noodles are made from a substance known as glucomannan, derived from the konjac root. This is a soluble fibre that absorbs a lot of water, as such, noodles made from this flour usually contain approximately 3% fibre and 97% water.
As it contains soluble fibre, shirataki noodles slow down the rate at which the body absorbs carbohydrates. This makes it very ideal for people with diabetes as shirataki noodles can help them avoid blood sugar spikes. However, it is best to talk to your doctor before implementing shirataki noodles into your diet if you’re a diabetic, as the noodles may affect your medication.
Besides shirataki noodles, diabetics can also consider keto staple options such as egg white noodles and egg noodles which are very suitable for diabetic patients. For instance, the keto-friendly Nim Nim Noodles offered by Ange Bakes Keto contain a high amount of protein as it is made using 50% fresh eggs and has a similar taste as normal noodles.
3. Opt for Sugar-free confectionery
As mentioned earlier, just because you are a diabetic doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to give up on the sweet treats in life. Instead of opting for a conventional cake, you can always choose to buy desserts from a keto or diabetic-friendly bakery in Singapore. Here at Ange Bakes Keto, we specialise in offering a wide variety of keto cakes. Our keto cakes are baked fresh daily using premium grain-free flour and natural sweeteners instead of refined sugar. Hence, our keto cakes can be classified as sugar-free and diabetic-friendly as well!
With a handcrafted range of Keto Birthday Cakes in classic flavours such as Strawberry Shortcake, Black Forest Cake, our bakers use only erythritol and/or allulose to ensure that is sugar-free and suitable for all with dietary restrictions. Here at Ange Bakes Keto, we are passionate about helping people transit comfortably to a ketogenic or low-carb lifestyle. Whether you’re looking for something gluten-free, sugar-free, or keto-friendly, we have something to meet your dietary needs. Visit our website today to find out more!
Disclaimer - The information provided on our website is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers before starting any new diet.