Low Social Awareness And Hungry Diabetics!

[Shekhar]

Many diabetics find it useful to change over from their staple food containing simple carbohydrates to foods with complex carbohydrates. Say from rice to whole wheat chapatis. Or from white rice to red rice.

I understand that complex carbohydrate containing staples have a lower glycemic index i.e. they are digested more slowly than simple carbohydrates thus releasing sugars gradually which are therefore absorbed gradually. This reduces sudden glucose spikes and dips in the blood leading to smoother sugar control.

However, I've found that social awareness about diabetes is low.

How else would you explain that many restaurants and social functions such as wedding buffets now boast of 'diet menus' especially for weight watchers, but I've not seen any menus in restaurants for diabetics nor any wedding buffets that boast a 'diabetic counter'?

The result is that very often as a diabetic I have had to remain hungry in the past! But no more.....

Psst....my little secret is to carry a couple of sachets of toasted oat bran and garnish the suspect items in my plate with it.

For example, I sprinkle about one teaspoon of the oat bran to one helping of the delicious white rice pulao that's being served. It slightly changes the taste. But then, I'm able to enjoy the delicious piping hot white basmati rice pulao being served, don't I? A small price to pay, I'm sure.

Try it, I believe this trick decreases the glycemic index by slowing down digestion and absorption of the suspect item.

In India Baggry's Oat Bran is available at retailers. It is pre-toasted and ready-to-eat. No, I'm not an agent for the company or anything. I'm just trying to be helpful.

[Dude_SR]

Nice workaround.

[shankartalwar]

Yes, tricking your body helps in slowing down sugar absorption.

[jaimatadi]

how thia baggry oat bran we can take & with which we can take ???

for example you mentioned with rice ,bt dont get that fully.so plz help me out

[Shekhar in reply to jaimatadi]

Oat bran is like a coarse granular powder. It does not require cooking. It does not have any taste or flavour of it's own.

It can be sprinkled upon and mixed into anything that you eat. When eaten, it releases both soluble and insoluble fiber into the digestive process.

Basically, it lends the goodness of oats to any food that it is sprinkled upon.

I sprinkle it on cooked rice, cut fruits, sweets, cooked dal, cooked soup, salads etc. before I eat them. I use roughly 1 to 2 teaspoons per helping.

Good luck!

[Shekhar]

Well said - 'eat to your meter'!

Fat does add calories to your diet. Oat bran is negligible in calories as the oat germ containing complex starches has been removed from the grain (this is sold as 'white oats' of famous brands).

Vinegar sours and changes the taste and flavor of foods. It's good if you can tolerate it. Oat bran does not have any flavor or taste of its own.