Is your blood sugar up and down? Certain foods and drinks could be to blame.
By Sonya Collins
WebMD Medical Reference
Just when you think you're making all the right food choices, your blood sugar takes a leap or dive. Foods and drinks can have an impact you might not expect, and these surprise blood-sugar changes can be harmful (potentially causing low or high levels). Here are some things you should consider:
Don't let bagels betray you. Counting carbs is a way of life when you have diabetes. Bread can really rack up those carbs, but not all bread is created equal.
3 Diabetes Tests You Must Have
Even before you notice symptoms, high blood sugar can damage parts of your body. That's why certain diabetes tests to check blood sugar control and to catch problems early are so crucial. But many patients aren't getting key diabetes tests at least annually, such as the hemoglobin A1c test, a dilated eye exam, and a foot exam. "If you look at the nationwide data, it's sobering," says Enrico Cagliero, MD, a diabetes researcher and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School...
Think there's no difference between a bagel and an English muffin? One plain English muffin has 140 calories and 27 grams of carbohydrates. A bagel that's 4½ inches in diameter serves up 294 calories and 58 grams of carbs. That's about as many calories and even more carbs than a glazed donut.
"It's about portion size. Some bagels are the size of a plate," says Pamela Allweiss, MD, MPH. She's a medical officer in the division of diabetes translation at the CDC.
A fruit in any other form may be twice as sweet. All fruits have sugar, but did you know that different forms of the same fruit have vastly different amounts?
Dried fruit packs a sugary punch compared with its fresh counterpart. Ten grapes, which weigh about 1.75 ounces, have 34 calories and 8 grams of sugar. They're also full of water, which helps fill you up. A 1.5-ounce, single-serving box of raisins packs 129 calories and 15 grams of sugar, but none of the water.
"Without the water, the sugar is more concentrated in dried fruit. And with the smaller size, you're likely to eat many more of them," Allweiss says.
Fruit juices are similarly deceptive. A 5-ounce Florida orange has 65 calories, 13 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of fiber. An 8-ounce glass of juice, though, has 112 calories, 24 grams of sugar, and no fiber.
Sports drinks may not be so sporty. They may have a healthy image and do help restore the fluids and electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, that you can lose during intense exercise. But they have 13 to 19 grams of carbohydrates per 8-ounce serving. This kind of energy replacement is necessary only for workouts lasting more than an hour.
"There are special formulations for people with diabetes who are running marathons or cycling long distances," Allweiss says, "but for most people [who are not doing those activities], water is best."
Have a happier happy hour. Alcohol is known for its calories and carbs. "Many people with diabetes think, 'I'm not going to eat since I'm drinking my calories tonight,'" says Linda M. Siminerio, RN, PhD, CDE. She's the director of the University of Pittsburgh Diabetes Institute.
But alcohol can lower blood sugar, and an empty stomach can be dangerous. A single drink can increase the release of insulin in the body, bringing blood sugar down. When blood sugar drops, the body should release glucose to bring it back up. Alcohol can block the release of glucose and keep blood sugar too low, Siminerio says.
"People with diabetes, if they are drinking, need to drink healthy. There is a risk of low blood sugar. Make sure you eat something to counteract that alcohol," she says. "Use calorie-free mixers and drink in moderation."
Aim for balance. Speaking of moderation, having diabetes doesn't mean you can never have a beer at a ball game or a bagel at breakfast. "Most things can be on the health plan in moderation," Allweiss says.
Download the iPad app for the current issue of "WebMD Magazine."
source : Foods and Drinks That Can Cause Blood Sugar Swings
