Can people with diabetes consume millet porridge?
May 09, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Pan Yongyuan
Introduction
People with diabetes are advised not to consume millet porridge. Although millet porridge is made from whole grains, patients should consume whole grains in their solid form rather than cooking them into porridge. Porridge contains a high water content and is more easily digested and absorbed than rice or steamed buns. Moreover, the longer millet is cooked—and the thicker and smoother the resulting porridge—the more rapidly it raises postprandial blood glucose levels. This occurs because prolonged cooking time and higher cooking temperatures increase the food’s glycemic index.
Can people with diabetes drink millet porridge? Diabetes is a common disease. With the rapid development of modern society, diabetes has increasingly affected younger populations, posing serious threats to human health. So, can individuals with diabetes consume millet porridge?
Can people with diabetes drink millet porridge?
People with diabetes are generally advised against drinking millet porridge. Although millet porridge is made from whole grains, patients are encouraged to consume whole grains in their intact or minimally processed forms—not as porridge. Porridge contains a high water content and is more easily digested and absorbed than steamed rice or buns. Moreover, the longer the porridge is cooked—and the thicker and smoother it becomes—the more rapidly it raises postprandial (after-meal) blood glucose levels. This occurs because prolonged cooking time and higher temperatures increase the food’s glycemic index (GI). Extended cooking breaks down some of the starch in millet into shorter-chain carbohydrates, such as dextrin. Dextrin is more readily digested and absorbed than starch and is rapidly converted into glucose in the body, leading to a swift rise in blood glucose concentration—i.e., elevated postprandial blood glucose.
For patients who habitually consume porridge over the long term—or those with impaired chewing function requiring soft or liquid foods—to better manage blood glucose, it is important to avoid excessive intake of overly soft or overcooked porridge. Instead, porridge should ideally be paired with milk, leafy green vegetables, soy milk, or other foods known to help stabilize blood glucose levels.
Patients should routinely avoid foods high in sugar and fat, and instead consume ample fresh vegetables. Smoking and alcohol consumption are strictly prohibited. Binge eating and overeating must also be avoided. Furthermore, daily caloric intake should be carefully controlled, and regular blood glucose monitoring is essential. We hope this information proves helpful. Wishing you good health and a joyful life!
