Many health enthusiasts start their days with buttered toast, cornflakes in milk, fruits and fruit juices, considering them healthy options for breakfast. However, do you know that when it comes to diabetes patients, these choices can be detrimental? Dieticians say that food items with high glycemic index will release high levels of sugar in the body and therefore, they should not be eaten by diabetes patients on an empty stomach. Here are a few of the popular breakfast choices that should be avoided by people with diabetes.
Cornflakes, muesli, cereal bars
They sit pretty on the supermarket shelves posing as healthy foods rich in protein and loaded with millet. However, many of them have excess sugar content and their levels depend on the brand. Yes, plain, unsweetened cornflakes have minimal sugar content but commercial brands add sweeteners to enhance taste and these ingredients aren't good for diabetes patients.
Bread
White and whole bread, made of refined wheat flour, has a high GI index. It can cause a blood spike in diabetes patients, even if they consume it in moderation. Therefore, it is better to avoid bread.
Fruit juice
Yes, juices have vitamins, minerals and fibres, but diabetes patients shouldn’t start their day with fruit juice. Fruits lose their fibre content when they are processed to extract juice. The sugar levels in the blood increase suddenly when there isn’t enough fibre, which slows down the release of sugar into the blood, in the diet. It is better to have fruit as a snack before lunch.
Pastries
Baked food items like pastries, croissants and muffins for breakfast have refined carbohydrates and high sugar. They can cause insulin resistance, which can make it difficult to control blood sugar levels.
What can they eat?
Instead of having foods that spike sugar levels in the body, nuts, seeds and lentils should be part of the breakfast menu of diabetes patients. People who want to eat something heavy in the morning can opt for vegetable-rich options. The sugar levels can be controlled effectively by including lean protein, healthy fats, fibre-rich carbohydrates, lots of vegetables and whole grains in your breakfast.