Short Answer: Grits are not good for diabetes. Because they have high amounts of carbohydrates and a high glycemic index and they can raise your blood sugar levels quickly and significantly.
Diabetes is a condition that affects your blood sugar levels and how your body uses glucose for energy.
It can cause serious damage to the nerves, blood vessels and organs if not treated or prevented.
In diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin it makes.
Insulin is a hormone that moves sugar from the blood into your cells to be stored or used for energy.
Without enough insulin, sugar builds up in the blood and can lead to various health problems, such as heart disease, kidney disease, eye damage, nerve damage and stroke.
One of the key factors in managing diabetes is diet.
What you consume can affect your blood sugar levels, which can impact your diabetes symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage diabetes, you should consume fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes and avoid refined carbohydrates and added sugars like white bread, pastries, soda and candy.
Now, grits are a type of porridge made from coarsely ground dried maize or hominy.
People usually eat them for breakfast or as a side dish with cheese, butter, bacon or shrimp.
Grits are not good for diabetes because they contain high amounts of carbohydrates and have a high glycemic index.
This means they can raise your blood sugar levels quickly and significantly.
If you have type 1 diabetes, you need to take more insulin to cover the carbs in grits.
If you have type 2 diabetes, you may have trouble lowering your blood sugar levels after eating grits.
One cup of cooked grits can give you about 38 grams of carbohydrates, which is 13% of your daily needs.
It also has 2 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, 1 gram of fat and 182 calories.
Carbohydrates can increase your blood sugar levels, especially if they are simple or refined.
Fiber can help slow down the absorption of sugar and improve your blood sugar control.
Protein and fat can also help balance your blood sugar levels by providing satiety and energy.
Furthermore, grits are a grain and grains are not good for diabetes.
Because, they can spike your blood sugar levels and cause inflammation in your body.
That’s why I suggest you limit your grits intake to avoid high blood sugar levels and complications.
Stick to half a cup or less of grits per day and pair it with some protein and healthy fat to minimize the impact on your blood sugar levels.
For example, you can have some eggs and avocado with your grits.
Also, you shouldn’t eat grits if you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance to prevent digestive problems and inflammation.
Because grits may contain gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.
You can buy fresh or dried grits in your local market or can order them online.
Always choose stone-ground or whole-grain grits over quick or instant grits.
Because they have more fiber and nutrients and a lower glycemic index.
You can store them in a cool, dry and dark place for up to a year.
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Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing diabetes effectively.
I always recommend my diabetes patients to follow a diabetes-friendly diet to improve their blood sugar control, prevent complications and enjoy a longer and healthier life.
