Despite the widespread belief that individuals with diabetes can only consume unripe plantains, endocrinologists have counseled patients fighting this degenerative illness to include carbohydrates in their diets. Examples of these include traditional foods like Garri, unpolished rice, and yam flour.
Nonetheless, the medical professionals advised diabetics to watch how much they eat because cutting out carbohydrates could have unfavorable effects.
The doctors clarified that in addition to being a significant source of energy, carbs also aid in blood sugar regulation.
Diabetes, according to the World Health Organization, is a chronic metabolic condition marked by high blood glucose, often known as blood sugar, which over time can cause major harm to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
The WHO estimates that 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, the bulk of whom reside in low- and middle-income nations, and that the disease is directly responsible for 1.5 million deaths annually. Over the past few decades, there has been a steady rise in both the number of cases and the incidence of diabetes.
The endocrinologists emphasized that rather to consuming simple carbs like sugar and processed grains, persons with diabetes should concentrate on eating complex carbohydrates like whole grains, legumes, and vegetables.
They clarified that because complex carbs are taken by the body more gradually, blood sugar levels are kept more steady.
On the other hand, because refined carbs can cause a rapid jump in blood sugar, the doctors urged patients with diabetes to stay away from foods like white bread, spaghetti, and rice.
The medical professionals dispelled the fallacies surrounding diabetes patients’ need to consume more unripe plantains and said that eating carbs will assist improve blood sugar control, lower the risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, and enhance overall nutrition.
Olufemi Fasanmade, a professor of medicine and endocrinology at the University of Lagos College of Medicine, emphasized that eating unripe plantains has minimal health benefits and that eating carbs is necessary for a well-balanced diet.
The belief that all carbohydrates are harmful for diabetes is something that Fasanmade, a consultant endocrinologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Idi-Araba, bemoaned.
He claims that it is untrue for people to believe that anything bitter can lower blood sugar and anything sweet can boost blood sugar levels.
“Those with diabetes should consume 50–60% of their daily calories from carbohydrates. They ought to consume foods like oats, Garri, beans, unpolished local rice, and yam flour, among others.”
“Those who have diabetes shouldn’t consume sugar. They should consume more complex carbohydrates, which are a staple of traditional African diets.”
He stated, “Eating unripe plantains has very few benefits, as there are several other meals that can be taken.”
Similarly, eating unripe plantains is one of the food misconceptions associated with diabetes, according to Dr. Tajudin Adetunji, a Consultant Physician & Endocrinologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Adetunji emphasized that although unripe plantains can be consumed by diabetics, this is not advised as a therapy for the condition or as a food option.
According to the doctor, people with diabetes can eat a wide variety of foods other than refined sugar or carbohydrates, such as cake and soft drinks.
“Apart from medication, food and eating habits are an important way to control diabetes,” he clarified.”
We advise consuming complex carbs, which can be found in a variety of foods and are preferable to unripe plantains.
Actually, we now place more attention on the amount of food than the kind. Diabetes can be controlled with medical nutrition, or diet, but there are other options as well.
“What kind of food can they eat? In our environment, we recommend that they eat all kinds of food apart from refined sugar or carbohydrates like soft drinks, cake, among others. You see that in confessionary products and also drinks should be avoided.
“Most of our food items in this part of the world are starch; they are complex sugar. And that recommendation includes, of course, eba, garri, among others.”
The endocrinologist lamented despite the inability of plantains to reverse diabetes, many patients have turned to consuming unripe plantains.
He further said, “Many patients avoid other kinds of food, and they eat only unripe plantain. If you like to eat all the unripe plantains of this world, you will still need to take drugs for diabetes. So, it’s not going to cure it.”
“Many patients avoid other kinds of food and eat only unripe plantain,” he continued. You will still need to take medication for diabetes even if you enjoy eating all the unripe plantains in the world. Thus, it won’t get better.”
“Instead of unripe plantains, we advise consuming any item that has complex sugars and carbohydrates.”
“In Nigeria and throughout Africa, the majority of food items are complex carbohydrates, which are beneficial if taken in the appropriate amount. People with diabetes still need to take carbohydrates up to about 55 percent to 60 percent of their diet, so complex sugar and complex carbohydrates are recommended. “
“We see a lot of people condemning themselves to unripe plantains. Life now becomes so monotonous, and so difficult to live, to cope with all in the name of diabetes.”