"Eat your vegetables" is something you probably hear in your sleep. Between your doctor, dietitian, endocrinologist, and bariatric surgeon you probably have heard that adage a hundred times. And it’s true, you should eat your vegetables. They are packed full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which are all great for diabetics. But, some vegetables could actually be causing spikes in your blood sugar.
Some vegetables are higher in carbohydrates than others, that’s just a fact. If a vegetable had a couple more grams of carbohydrates than you thought, it might not be that big of deal for your blood sugar, or even weight loss. But, if you eat a large portion of a high carbohydrate vegetable, you could be adding enough carbohydrates to affect your blood sugar numbers, possibly causing a spike. If you don’t treat high blood sugar with the appropriate medical care (usually medications) you could have a problem on your hands.
Eating a lot of carbohydrates can also make it difficult to lose weight. Weight loss often helps to reverse or limit type 2 diabetes in obese patients. For those who have had bariatric surgery, such as gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or gastric band surgery with Dr. Shillingford, MD, omitting high carbohydrate foods in the first year after their weight loss surgery will be crucial to their weight loss success and achieving their goal weight. This includes high carbohydrate vegetables.
It’s best to be aware of which vegetables are starchy, meaning they have a lot of carbohydrates. While this isn’t a complete list, these vegetables tend to be high in carbohydrates:
- Peas
- Lima beans
- Beets
- Corn
- Potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Parsnip
- Butternut squash
- Carrots
In moderation, these vegetables can be ok for someone with diabetes to eat. Just be mindful of the amount, how it’s cooked, what else you are eating it with, and how high your blood sugar is. If you have had bariatric surgery and haven’t yet achieved your goal weight, these vegetables should be avoided in favor of lower carbohydrate vegetable choices.
For more information about obesity, nutrition, and diabetes, check out Dr. Shillingford’s Obesity and Diabetes website. Dr. Shillingford, MD, PA is a Boca Raton based, board certified surgeon specializing in bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, lap band, and revisional surgery. As type 2 diabetes is often a comorbidity for obesity, many of Dr. Shillingford’s weight loss surgery patients also have type 2 diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes and are considering bariatric surgery to help get your blood sugar under control and help you lose weight, call Dr. Shillingford today at (561) 483-8840. From Miami to Jacksonville and everywhere in between, Dr. Shillingford serves patients from all over Florida.
