People With Diabetes Should Avoid Eating Instant Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a healthy breakfast option and a go food for diabetics. On the other hand, experts said that diabetics should avoid the instant oatmeal, which is high in sugar and artificial flavorings. This can spike your blood sugar level.

Oatmeal is made from oats. There are different types of oatmeal. These include the rolled oats, which is the old-fashioned, the steel-cut oats and the instant oats. The outer shell or hull of the oats is removed. This leaves the edible grain, which is the "groat" behind. The oat groat can be cooked for 50-60 minutes, according to Medical News Today.

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The rolled oats are cooked by steaming and rolling the groat into flakes. It will take 3 to 5 minutes to cook the rolled oats. The steel-cut oats are cooked quickly with 20 to 30 minutes cooking time. On the other hand, the instant oats or also referred to as quick oats can be cooked for 30 to 60 seconds.

Instant oats are not advisable for people with diabetes. This is because the instant oats have added sugar and flavorings. They are also high in sodium. In the level of processing, the quicker the speed of digestion and the higher the glycemic index, the more the blood sugar rises.

On the other hand, some types of oatmeal are healthy for diabetics. According to Healthline, oatmeal can help regulate the blood sugar because it contains fiber and has low glycemic index. It is also heart-healthy and can lower cholesterol. This may also lessen the need for insulin injections or a number of insulin injections needed. It also manages your weight and a good source of long-term energy. Oatmeal can also help in regulating digestion.