KEY POINTS

  • Type 2 diabetes can be controlled through the proper diet
  • There are foods that could lower blood sugar levels
  • A certain kind of bread can help you do this

In type 2 diabetes, the body’s ability to control the amount of sugar in the blood goes haywire, resulting in blood sugar levels to go very high. If sugar or glucose level in the blood is not properly controlled and remains high, it can lead to a host of health problems. These include nerve damage, stroke, kidney failure, and heart disease.

Consuming a poor diet can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. This is why it is vital to make some changes to the diet.

Diet Is a Huge Factor

Diet affects the blood’s sugar levels in a major way. For instance, the amount and type of carbohydrates you eat, which is broken down into sugar, makes a huge difference in your blood sugar levels and diabetes management.

This means you need to carefully choose the type and amount of carbohydrates, such as bread, you intend to consume. There are types of bread that can spike your blood sugar levels, and there are also bread types that can help you manage your condition.

The Two Types of Carbohydrates

According to Diabetes UK, there are two forms of carbohydrates, and these are sugars and starchy carbohydrates. Bread belongs to the starchy carbohydrate group. You must note that all types of carbohydrates affect the levels of blood sugar in the body. Carbohydrate requirements differ between individuals and may depend on their gender, age, physical activity, and weight.

For men, their Reference Intake or RI of carbohydrate is 300g while for women, it is 230g. You must note, however, that these figures only serve as a guide and often based on the requirements of an average man and woman. It is possible to require less, which would depend on your nutritional goals. Many local markets and supermarkets sell different bread types, and Diabetes UK made some recommendations on what type of bread to choose.

bread type 2 diabetes
bread type 2 diabetes Shutterbug75 -Pixabay

A slice of white bread contains 79 Kcal, 16.6 grams of carbs, and 0.6 grams of fat. The same amount of granary bread has 85Kcal, 17 grams of carbs, and 0.8 grams of fat. A slice of tiger bread has 97Kcal, 17g of carbs, and 0.83g of fat while pumpernickel bread has 76Kcal, 14.5g carbs, and 0.5g fat. The same amount of bagel has 230Kcal, 44g carbs, and 1.2g fat, while seeded bread has 174Kcal, 29.6g of carbs, and 4.8g of fats. On the other hand, pitta bread contains 244Kcal, 18.5 grams of carbs - 1.2g fat.

These bread types may be consumed with beef, lean chicken, turkey, or ham, and grated carrots, cucumber as well as chopped tomatoes. You can have low-fat cheddar with sultanas and grated carrots.

Rye, soda, and sourdough bread may be consumed with chicken, Swiss cheese with shredded lettuce, turkey, low-fat mayo, and tomatoes. Brioche, on the other hand, may be served warm and consumed with pure fruit spread or jam.

A slice of rye bread has 55Kcal, 11.5g carbs, and 0.4g fat content while soda bread has 104Kcal, 21.9g carbs, and 0.96g fat content. A piece of sourdough contains 79Kcal, 15.7 grams of carbs, and 0.2 grams of fat while brioche has 167Kcal, 23.3g carbs, and 6.3g fat.

You can also consume garlic and ciabatta bread, which are often sold already sliced, allowing you to control the portion sizes you consume. Garlic bread contains 71Kcal, 9.4g carbs, and 3g fat while its low-fat kind has 54Kcal, 8.98g carbs, and 1.2g fat. Ciabatta, meanwhile, contains 75Kcal, 12.4g carbs, and 1.4g fat.

Naan is an Indian flatbread that has baked in a clay oven while chapatti is a thin slice of unleavened whole-grain bread that has been cooked on a griddle. Naan contains 474Kcal, 79 grams of carbs, and 10 grams of fat. A low-fat chapatti contains 111Kcal, 24 grams of carbs, and 0.55 grams of fat while the traditional version has 197Kcal, 13.9 grams of carbs, and 7.7 grams of fat. Diabetes UK stated that you should avoid adding more butter, ghee, or margarine to the bread you consume, whatever type it may be.