Eating right when you have diabetes doesn’t have to be complex – it is about knowing what is best for you and your diabetes management plan. Knowing which foods are low-GI can be a helpful way of keeping track of your diet. Read on for a breakdown of what ‘low-GI carbohydrate’ means and how this might be helpful.
GI stands for glycaemic index. This is a number from 1 to 100 that ranks carbohydrates based on how fast they are broken down into glucose and absorbed into the bloodstream.1
Different foods will have a different response between people, and therefore GI numbers should be used as a guide:1,2
Food with a GI greater than 70. They are quickly digested and absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in big fluctuations in blood glucose levels.
Food with a GI less than 55. They are slowly digested and absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in small fluctuations in blood glucose levels.
It’s recommended that people living with diabetes consume low-GI carbohydrates, to help reduce their average blood glucose levels. This is because low-GI carbohydrates are broken down more slowly, and therefore can help to keep blood glucose levels stable.2
Next time you are doing a grocery shop, keep an eye out for these low-GI foods that can help with your diabetes management:2
Traditional rolled oats
Dense wholegrain breads
Lentils and legumes
Sweet corn
Milk
Yogurt
Pasta cooked until al dente
Most types of fresh fruit
Not all people will have the same glycaemic response to different foods, so GI numbers should be used as a guide only.
Even if a food is low-GI, if you eat large quantities this will still affect your blood glucose, so keep portion size in mind.
Just because a food is low-GI, this does not necessarily mean it is healthy.
Glucerna is a health shake that is specially formulated to support people living with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, as part of a diabetes management plan including diet and exercise.3
Glucerna is low-GI:3
Glucerna has been clinically shown to provide a steady release of glucose, helping you minimise your blood glucose spikes.*3,7–9
Pre-diabetes is when blood glucose levels are higher than usual, but not high enough to be diabetes.11 If you’ve been told you have pre-diabetes, or are worried you might, this page might help you get a better understanding of what that means. Read on to find out more.
While there is no cure for diabetes, many treatments are available to help manage blood glucose levels. A healthy lifestyle plays a big role in managing blood glucose levels and reducing the risk of complications.10 This article will explain briefly how type 2 diabetes is managed.
When you have diabetes, you may wonder what ‘eating right’ means for you.
Here we’re busting some of the myths around food and diabetes. Keep reading to learn more.
Glucerna is Food for Special Medical Purposes. Use under medical supervision.
*When used as a breakfast replacement as part of a structured lifestyle intervention.7–9
References: 1. University of Sydney Glycemic Index Research and GI News. About GI. https://glycemicindex.com/about-gi/. Accessed May 2023. 2. Diabetes Australia. Carbohydrates, protein and fats. https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/living-with-diabetes/carbs-protein-fats/ Accessed May 2023. 3. Glucerna® Powder Product Label. 4. Glucerna® Y495 GI test result. 5. Glucerna® Y523 GI test result. 6. Glucerna® Y578 GI test result. 7. Devitt A, et al. Journal of Diabetes Research and Clinical Metabolism. 2012;1(1):20, 8. Mottalib A, et al. Nutrients. 2016;8(7):443, 9. Dávila LA, et al. Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1477. 10. Better Health Channel. Diabetes. Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/diabetes. Accessed May 2023. 11. Better Health Channel. Pre-diabetes. Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/diabetes-pre-diabetes. Accessed May 2023.
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