Dear Dr. Fritz,
Good day! I have been diabetic for more than five years now. I was told to avoid white rice and eat brown rice or corn instead. But, I don’t like them. How bad can white rice be for diabetic like me? Is there anything I can do to help me control my blood sugar and still eat white rice?
Thanks, and I do hope to hear from you soon. God bless.
Ping G. of RS
Dear Ping G. of RS,
Well, I can’t blame you for loving white rice. Every one of us has their own taste. But, how bad can white rice be for diabetics? For a start, the glycemic index of white rice is about 82, which is relatively high. Moreover, multiple studies have shown that white rice can increase the risk of diabetes. How much more if you are already diabetic, just like you do?
As a matter of fact, there is a recent survey of about 300,000 people in the United States, China, and Japan, which showed that there is a relationship between white rice and diabetes.
Further related studies revealed that people who eat more white rice have a 55% higher risk of diabetes than those who eat less white rice.
The truth is, white rice is nutritious, but, sad to say, people with diabetes must control the amount of rice consumed at each meal, since its main component is carbohydrates, which are easily converted into sugars after entering the body, which leads to increased blood sugar.
But, if you want to control your blood sugar and still eat white rice, I recommend that you eat leafy vegetables and other low glycemic-index foods first to slow the rate at which your blood sugar levels rise. Then, you can move on to your favorite white rice later in the meal.
Please also try to eat less white rice. Cut your usual portion in half, if you can.
Good luck!
Dr. Fritz
(Dr. Fritz Legarde Espedilla is an aesthetic dermatologist, surgeon, and clinical sexologist. She is also trained in hypnotherapy and Medical Acupuncture. She has been in the broadcast media for more than a decade and has written a book based on her 15-year stint
with her radio program, “Healthy is Sexy Secrets ni Dr. Fritz.”. For your questions, you may
send them to Dear Dr. Fritz, c/o Sunstar-Davao Publishing Inc., Door 11, Ebro-Pelayo Building 1, Juan Luna St., Barangay 29-C, Davao City, or e-mail them to dokatlaw@gmail.com. If you don’t wish your letter to be published, we regret that we cannot
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