Diabetes: The ‘key’ to managing blood sugar levels to prevent health complications – diet

You might be at risk of hypos – low blood sugar levels – thus you must check your blood sugar levels often and speak to your healthcare team before starting a low-carbohydrate diet.

Counting carbohydrates

There are different types of carbohydrates; the three main carbohydrate groups being:

• Fast-acting carbohydrates
• Medium-acting carbohydrates
• Slow-acting carbohydrates.

Slow-acting carbohydrates are useful as they are absorbed very slowly, meaning your blood sugar levels are less likely to spike.

Examples of slow-acting carbohydrates include: peas, lentils, beans, squash, sweetcorn, nuts, tofu, and parsnips.