Should You Eat Corn If You Have Diabetes?

If you have diabetes, eating maize could make your blood sugar rise. However, this does not imply that you should completely cut it out of your diet. Establish a daily carbohydrate limit and monitor your intake.

If you have diabetes, is corn safe to eat?

Yes, if you have diabetes, you can eat corn. In addition to vitamins, minerals, and fiber, corn provides energy. It has less fat and sodium as well. Nevertheless, heed the guidance provided by the American Diabetes Association.

Corn

A single medium-sized ear of cooked sweet yellow corn yields:

• calories: 77
  
• carbohydrates: 17.1 grams
  
• dietary fiber: 2.4 grams
  
• sugars: 2.9 grams
  
• fiber: 2.5 grams
  
• protein: 2.9 grams
  
• fat: 1.1 grams

Corn furthermore offers

• vitamin A
  
• vitamin B
  
• vitamin C
  
• potassium
  
• magnesium
  
• iron
  
• zinc

Corn’s glycemic index

The glycemic index (GI) shows how a food item influences blood glucose, or blood sugar. Foods classified as medium glycemic range (GI) range from 56 to 69. Low-glycemic foods have a score of under 55. Foods that rank 70 or above on the glycemic index have the potential to raise blood sugar levels.

Corn has a glycemic index of 52. Additional linked GIs consist of:

• 46 corn tortillas

• cornflakes: 81

• popcorn (65)

Low-GI meals will be your main emphasis if you have diabetes. You’ll probably have too much blood glucose if your body is unable to create enough insulin, a hormone that aids in the processing of blood sugar.

High-GI foods release glucose rapidly. Foods with a low glycemic index typically release glucose gradually, which helps to regulate blood sugar levels.

A scale of 0 to 100 is used to calculate the GI, with 100 representing pure glucose.

Read Also: The Advantages and Dangers of Peanuts for Diabetes Patients

Corn’s glycemic load

Glycemic load (GL) includes both portion size and digestible carbohydrates in addition to glycemic index. A medium corn ear has a GL of 15.

High-carb, low-fat versus low-carb and high-fat diets

52-week research A high-carb, low-fat diet was contrasted with a low-carb, high-fat diet in a Trusted Source of type 2 diabetes patients. While average blood sugar levels, weight, and fasting glucose were all improved by both diets, overall glucose control was significantly better with the low-carb diet.

Are there advantages to consuming corn?

A new study indicated that consuming substantial amounts of flavonoids, which are the main group of phenolic compounds found in corn, lowers the chance of developing chronic illnesses, including diabetes. Additionally, the study revealed:

• Resistant starch from corn, if consumed in moderation (approximately 10 grams daily), can lessen insulin and glucose reactions.

• Frequent eating of whole grain corn can help prevent the development of chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes and obesity and enhance digestive health.

The study concluded that more research on the health effects of corn’s bioactive components is necessary.

Fructose-rich corn syrup

Corn is used to make high-fructose corn syrup, a sweetener. It frequently appears in processed meals. High-fructose corn syrup does not cause the release of insulin, thus persons with diabetes still require insulin to control their blood sugar levels even if it may not raise blood sugar levels as much as ordinary sugar does.

Additionally, high-fructose corn syrup might cause leptin resistance. The hormone leptin causes satiety, informing your brain that your body doesn’t require food and may burn calories at a normal pace, according to the Journal of Endocrinology.

Conclusion

While there are some advantages to eating maize, it’s crucial to realize that its high carb content can increase blood sugar and affect how you manage your diabetes.

While not everyone with diabetes responds to meals in the same way, keeping a food diary and adhering to recommended standards might be beneficial.