Glycemic Index, or the GI Diet, is regularly discussed in the
media, but did you know that for diabetics it can be a useful
way of gaining control of blood sugar levels, and also helping
you achieve a healthy weight? What is Glycemic Index? The
Glycemic Index is a measure of the rise in our blood sugar
levels, in the two to three hour period, after eating a specific
food. In order to ‘score’ foods scientists use pure glucose as a
reference point, giving it a GI score of 100. Foods that cause
blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise quickly are given a higher
GI score. Foods that cause a slow increase in blood glucose
levels are considered to be low GI foods. The image below
demonstrated this. Why is Glycemic Index useful? Most of us have
experienced a drop in blood sugar levels at one time or another,
when we start to feel tired, irritable, and increasingly hungry.
Our bodies perform best when blood sugar levels are kept
relatively constant, the Glycemic Index can help us to maintain
these levels. What are the li