Abstraining from excessive carbohydrates, drinking juice instead of whole fruit, skipping meals or eating too many foods with a low glycemic index (GI) can all make blood sugar control more difficult.
Diet is one of the most important factors for people with high blood sugar.
| ❌ Common misunderstandings | 3.0; More appropriate recommendation |
|---|---|
| Absolutely abstain from carbohydrates | It is not necessary to completely eliminate them. Priority should be given to fiber-rich sources, less processed, and strictly controlled portion sizes. |
| Drink juice instead of whole fruit | |
| Skipping meals to lower blood sugar | Do not skip meals alone, especially at high risk when injecting insulin or taking hypoglycemic medication. |
| Eat foods with low GI comfortably | Low GI does not mean unlimited eating. Total carbohydrate consumption is one of the decisive factors. |
1. It is not necessary to completely eliminate carbohydrates
Carbohydrates (starch) are a group of nutrients that directly affect blood sugar after meals. However, people with high blood sugar or diabetes do not necessarily have to completely eliminate rice, cereal, potatoes or fruits from their daily diet.
Fiber acts as a "filter" to slow down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, thereby preventing blood sugar levels from spiking after eating. However, even the healthiest foods need to be consumed in moderation.
2. Prioritize whole fruits instead of juice
Fruit juice, even juices that are labeled 100% pure without sugar on the packaging, still contain a much lower amount of fiber than whole fruits. Juice can cause blood sugar spikes.
To effectively control blood sugar, patients should eat whole pieces of fruit with carefully calculated portions, instead of abusing juice as a daily substitute drink.
3. Do not skip meals on your own to lower blood sugar
Skipping meals is not a scientific measure to treat high blood sugar.
Especially, for patients who are using insulin or diabetes medication, arbitrarily skipping meals can lead to an increased risk of sudden hypoglycemia. The time and amount of each meal should strictly follow the treatment regimen of a specialist doctor.
4. Food with a low glycemic index (GI) does not mean unlimited eating
Blood sugar index (GI) reflects the rate at which a carbohydrate-containing food increases blood sugar. However, the GI is only a relative number and does not fully reflect the amount of food you actually consume.
Q&A corner: How do refined foods affect blood sugar levels?
How do pastries, instant noodles and foods made from refined grains affect blood sugar?
Refined grains (such as white flour, finely ground rice) have had most of their bran shell removed, leading to poor fiber compared to whole grains. In addition, industrial cakes often contain large amounts of added sugar and saturated fat. When consumed, these foods can cause post-eating blood sugar to spike.
