Fit to Post HealthHow to sail through Chinese New Year when you have diabetes
Visiting friends and relatives and partaking in communal feasting are part of the tradition and excitement of Chinese New Year celebrations. But those with diabetes need to be mindful of how much sugar they eat - as over feasting may worsen their diabetic condition.
Diabetes is characterised by excess sugar (glucose) in the blood due to the body either not producing enough insulin or being unable to use insulin properly. Without sufficient insulin or the ability to use it, the cells cannot absorb glucose as fuel, resulting in spikes in blood glucose levels.
“Uncontrolled diabetes may cause serious complications and affect your heart, kidney, nerves and eyes. If you are diabetic, watch your blood sugar levels closely during Chinese New Year, especially when you are out visiting,” says Dr Goh Su-Yen, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Endocrinology at Singapore General Hospital (SGH).
Related article: Globe-trotting with diabetes: A woman’s story
Chinese New Year goodies: How easy the sugar adds up
Chinese New Year goodies such as pineapple tarts, kueh bangkit, love letters, and peanut cookies are must-haves in almost every household that celebrates the festival. Other perennial favourites are bak kwa and nian gao.
These Chinese New Year delicacies are also highly refined carbohydrates loaded with sugar.
Sample CNY delicacies | Carbohydrates (g) | Sugar content (g) | Energy (kcal) |
Packet drink (average) | 24 | 23 | 96 |
Bak kwa, 1 slice | 22 | 22 | 229 |
Pineapple tart, 2 pieces | 22 | 12 | 163 |
Love letters, 2 pieces | 18 | 10 | 112 |
Kueh bangkit, 2 pieces | 8 | 2 | 46 |
Assuming you eat an average of one slice of bak kwa, six love letters, four pineapple tarts, and consume only one canned drink during a house visit, that is equivalent to a total of 144g of carbohydrates and 99g of sugar. Multiply these figures by three house visits, you would have unwittingly consumed 432g of additional carbohydrates and 297g sugar for the day!
This is about 5 to 7 times higher than the Singapore Health Promotion Board’s recommended daily sugar intake limit even in healthy individuals, which is a maximum of 10 per cent of calories, or 40 to 55g of added sugar.
Related article: Artificial sweeteners: How safe are they?
Do note however that all carbohydrates, regardless of source (starch or sugars) will affect blood sugar levels. Therefore, you should be looking at the total carbohydrates eaten during the day. The more refined the carbohydrates (such as sugars), the faster the glucose is released into your blood stream. This will cause a surge in your blood sugar levels.
“We should also be mindful of total calorie intake. Excessive calorie intake regardless of source (carbohydrate, protein or fat) will result in unwanted weight gain. It is advisable to limit your intake of these festive goodies,” says Ms Kala Adaikan, Principal Dietitian, Department of Dietetics, Singapore General Hospital.
Related article: 7 tips to keep diabetes under control during Chinese New Year
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This article was written by Teresa Cheong for Health Xchange, with expert input from the Department of Endocrinology and the Department of Dietetics, Singapore General Hospital (SGH).
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