why are some foods more likely to case cause blood sugar spikes more than others? And what does that have to do specifically for type 2 diabetics?

Question

This is quite loaded. I have went all my life thinking that excessive sugar is direct cause for diabetes but I discovered that it’s really more about excessive calories in general. So if this is the case, do diabetics monitor glycemic index instead?

In: Biology

Answer 1

I think the simple sugars get the most blame (soda, refined sugars, etc) but more often than not it’s just heavy carbohydrate meals. Carbs are cheap and they fill you up but they also have the larger glycemic effect. Biggest thing I tell patients is a) be mindful of your carb portions and b) don’t double dip in carb sources (burgers and fries) etc.

Edit: sorry breezed over the ELI5 piece, carbs are basically complex sugar molecules (so pack a heavier glycemic lunch) and carb heavy foods include rice, breads/baked goods, potatoes, flour tortillas…