5 ways to help control blood sugar during the Lunar New Year holidays.

Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) is a time when we tend to eat more sweets and high-calorie foods. All of these things raise blood sugar levels. For diabetics, increased blood sugar can affect many bodily functions.

Elevated blood sugar levels can easily lead to vision problems, chronic kidney disease, heart disease, and diabetic neuropathy. Therefore, people with diabetes need to take appropriate measures to control their blood sugar levels during the Lunar New Year holiday, according to the health website Healthline (USA).

Brown rice and oats are whole grains that are very effective in controlling blood sugar.

These measures include:

Portion control

Dishes like banh tet, banh chung, sticky rice, various types of sweet soups, and jams all contain a lot of sugar and white starch. Eating these foods will raise blood sugar levels. People with diabetes need to limit their consumption of these foods.

However, this doesn't mean they have to abstain completely, but rather they should be selective and eat in moderation. For example, they can eat banh tet (Vietnamese sticky rice cake) but should eat the unsweetened mung bean filling and reduce the amount of sticky rice.

Prioritize eating whole grains.

People with diabetes should prioritize eating whole grains such as brown rice, oats, or quinoa. These are healthy foods that are very effective in helping to control blood sugar.

Eat plenty of fiber.

One very helpful thing for people with diabetes is to adopt a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and legumes. These foods are rich in fiber. When fiber enters the intestines, it slows down the digestion and absorption of sugar, thereby helping to prevent blood sugar spikes.

Maintain physical activity.

Maintaining physical activity is crucial for blood sugar control. When you exercise, your body burns more calories, your muscles consume more glucose, and your insulin sensitivity improves. All of this helps to better control blood sugar.

Exercise isn't just about going to the gym; doing housework, gardening, or walking your dog can also be considered exercise. Even a 15- to 20-minute walk after a meal can help stabilize blood sugar levels.

Drink enough water.

Drinking enough water is crucial for controlling blood sugar. Therefore, experts recommend that people with diabetes drink water regularly throughout the day. In particular, they should limit sugary drinks such as soda or fruit juice, according to Healthline.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/5-cach-giup-kiem-soat-duong-huyet-trong-nhung-ngay-tet-185250117125804864.htm