Is Pancit Good for Diabetes? (Expert Answer)

Short Answer: Pancit is not very good for diabetes. Because it has a lot of carbohydrates and sodium and they can raise your blood sugar and blood pressure levels.

Diabetes is a condition that affects your blood sugar levels and how your body uses insulin.

Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells take in glucose from the blood and use it for energy.

In diabetes, your body either does not make enough insulin or cannot use it properly.

This causes high blood sugar levels, which can lead to various health problems, such as heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, eye damage, and foot problems.

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 sodium-rich foods like processed meats, canned soups, salty snacks, and fast foods.

Now, pancit is a traditional Filipino dish made of rice noodles, meat, vegetables, and soy sauce. People usually eat it as a main course or a snack.

Pancit is not very good for diabetes because it contains a lot of carbohydrates and sodium, which can raise your blood sugar and blood pressure levels.

Carbohydrates are the main source of glucose in your diet, and too much glucose can overwhelm your insulin production or action.

Sodium can increase your fluid retention and make your heart work harder, which can worsen your cardiovascular health.

One serving of pancit (about 2 cups) can give you 54 grams of carbohydrates (18% of your daily needs), 1474 milligrams of sodium (64% of your daily needs), and 28 grams of protein (56% of your daily needs).

Carbohydrates can spike your blood sugar levels after eating, especially if you do not balance them with enough insulin or physical activity.

Sodium can raise your blood pressure and increase your risk of stroke, heart attack, and kidney damage.

Protein can help you feel full and maintain your muscle mass, but too much protein can also strain your kidneys and liver.

Furthermore, pancit is a high-glycemic food, and high-glycemic foods are bad for diabetes.

Because they digest quickly and release glucose rapidly into the bloodstream, causing blood sugar spikes and crashes.

That’s why I suggest you limit your pancit intake to avoid possible complications.

Stick to half a cup or less per day to minimize the impact on your blood sugar and blood pressure levels.

Also, you shouldn’t eat pancit if you have high blood pressure or kidney disease to prevent further damage.

Because it has too much sodium and protein for your condition.

You can buy fresh pancit noodles in your local market or order them online.

Always choose whole grain or brown rice noodles if possible, because they have more fiber and lower glycemic index than white rice noodles.

You can store them in a cool and dry place for up to a year.

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 overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.

Get a Customized Diet Plan

About the Author

Abdur Rahman Choudhury

Abdur Rahman Choudhury is a nutritionist in West Bengal, India, with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Biochemistry.

He has done his diploma in nutrition from Fabulous Body Inc (US), and completed various certification courses from several universities. He also has considerable research experience in PCOS.

Abdur currently lives in India and keeps fit by weight training and eating mainly home-cooked meals.

Leave a Comment