Sweet Corn For Diabetes: Is Sweet Corn Good For Diabetes?

Sweet corn is rich in fiber and proteins and also low in fat and sodium content. Sweet Corn For Diabetes is a limiting food. What will be the consequences If a diabetic eat sweet corn? In this article, we’ll discuss the consumption of sweet corn concerning diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease that commonly causes due to high blood sugar. Diabetes is one of the most common conditions suffered among the entire population worldwide.

This chronic disease is caused when the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body cannot use the produced insulin efficiently. 

The increase in the statistics of the population suffering from the disease also increases the question about food habits and issues about eating certain foods. 

Sweet Corn And Diabetes:

Sweet corn is one variety of maize with high sugar content. This is usually a product of the mutation of genes that controls the conversion of sugar to starch inside the endosperm of a corn kernel.

Sweet corn is generally picked when they are immature and usually eaten as snacks and prepared into some kind of eatables.

We can either eat sweet corn in its raw state or we can cook it. The fueliric acid of sweet corn increases when we cook it and the acid has anti-cancer properties.

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Corn is not only rich in dietary fibre but also has a good ratio of insoluble to soluble fibre. It has been seen over the years during research that corn allows bacteria to grow in our intestine, which helps us by lowering the risk of colon cancer.

Can diabetics eat sweet corn? – Yes, a diabetic patient can eat sweet corn but in a limited amount. You have to restrict the amount of consumption and keep track of the carbohydrate consumption per day.

Sweet Corn for diabetes is really controversial as sweet corn serves as both, have beneficial nutrients and at the same time, it also can spike the sugar level to a specific limit. But It’ll provide you with energy, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, etc.

As long as you keep track of your carbs it should not affect you. Sweet corn or corn has a glycemic index near the edge of the low glycemic food category.

How Corn/Sweetcorn Affects Diabetics?

Generally, low carb and high fiber foods are preferred for diabetic patients. Carbs food get digested easily and spikes the sugar level in the blood.

But, fibrous food doesn’t get digested so fast. The body consumes fibrous food slowly, eventually it takes time to dissolve carbs in blood and doesn’t spike blood sugar levels.

Sweet corn contains a little to moderate amount of carb, that’s why the glycemic load is in the medium category.

Besides, fibrous food gives the feeling of fullness and prevents frequent eating which helps in weight loss management for a diabetic patient.

Glycemic Index Of Sweet Corn

The glycemic index is a relative ranking of carbohydrates in foods according to how they affect blood glucose levels. Food that contains a high glycemic index (greater than 70) releases glucose quickly. 

Food with a low glycemic index (less than 55) tends to releases glucose slowly, which helps to keep the blood sugar level under control.

The Glycemic index of sweet corn/corn is 52, near to the edge of low GI and starting of Medium GI.

GI of sweet corn indicates that a diabetic patient can eat sweet corn in a limited amount. But also keep in mind the glucose spike in blood. So, keep track of blood glucose levels.

Studies On Sweet Corn For Diabetes Patient

According to recent studies, eating corn daily will help to maintain better blood sugar levels in the body.

It is said that sweet corn and corn oil increases the blood flow in the body, lowers cholesterol, and regulates the insulin level, making it a choice-able food for diabetic and cholesterol patients.

Sweet corn contains starch, which results in slow digestion and hence produces energy. Corn is said to contain phytochemicals, which reduce the absorption of insulin in the body, regulating the sudden hike and drop in the sugar level.

Also Read: 7 Best High Fiber Fruits For Type 2 Diabetes

Sweet Corn For Type 2 Diabetes:

Sweet Corn is said to contain one of the highest amounts of polyphenols. This is an antioxidant in fruits and vegetables that are usually considered protective against type 2 diabetes. Having a moderate amount of corn can help in reducing glucose and insulin response. 

If we consume corn on a regular basis, it can help to improve digestive health and can respond to lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Nutritional Value Of Sweet Corn

Corn is one of the most popular grains which is loved by millions all around the world. It is enriched in nutrients and other useful essential needs for a person. 

Sweet corn contains a fair amount of fibres, the predominant ones being insoluble fibres (cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose).

It also has a decent amount of protein. It has comparatively low-fat content (i.e. 1.2g per 100gms).

Sweet corn has a fair amount of vitamins, including Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B6, niacin (vitamin B3), vitamin B12, and also potassium. 

Sweet corn is also said to have a variety of antioxidants (zeaxanthin, ferulic acid, lutein).

Also Read: Eat 10 Quality Foods To Lower Cholesterol Level

The primary constituents of corn are starch. Sweet corn is a type of corn with low starch content and high sugar content (mostly sucrose).

Corn is usually high in starch-which is a type of carbohydrate that immediately increases the blood sugar level.

Corn should thus be consumed in a limited amount for a person with diabetes. It is advised to consume corn with other food, which is categorized under protein or fat. Sweet corn is one of the adequate sources of dietary fibers. 

Recommended Amount of Sweet Corn

For diabetic people, a little amount of corn is allowed, for people having low blood sugar.

This little amount can vary from person to person as it depends on the current blood glucose level.

As corn has natural sugars and has various minerals and nutrients, it’s usually a preferred food.

You can consult your physician about the consumable amount of corn. The amount can vary from person to person as it regulates the blood glucose level.

Corn contains anthocyanins, which can reduce the risk of kidney damage, which is a common problem caused in the kidney in diabetic people.

Dietitian And Consultants on Sweet Corn

According to a dietitian and wellness consultant from Bangalore, Dr. Sheela Krishnaswamy, “it is rich in carbs and a great source of energy. Corn is high in nutrients, extremely rich in vitamin B1, vitamin B6, and vitamin C, thus helping in fighting diseases and generating new cells. As corn is rich in fiber, corn helps lower the cholesterol levels in the body by reducing the blood sugar levels in diabetics”.

The Bottom Line:

We can conclude by saying that for a person with diabetes, a moderate amount of corn is allowed as it regulates the insulin level and has health benefits. It is one of the most popular snacks among the population.

But for a diabetic patient, it’s very critical to know what amount of sweet corn is good for a diabetic patient? We always recommend you consult your diabetologist before adding any food to your diet plan.

Also, it serves as an ingredient in many main course meals. But make sure you don’t overeat because it is primarily composed of starch and has a reasonably good amount of sugar content.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness program or making any changes to your diet.