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Pumpkin pie vs apple pie: Which one is healthier for blood sugar levels?
Lifestyle

Pumpkin pie vs apple pie: Which one is healthier for blood sugar levels?

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Pumpkin pie vs apple pie. The ultimate and age-old Thanksgiving dessert debate is unending. While individuals choose their side dishes based on taste and preferences, nutrition experts also have their own say in this. A recent article published by Health claimed that a person “watching their blood sugar should choose pumpkin pie over apple.”

Pumpkin pie is lower in carbohydrates.(Representative image/Unsplash)

Apple pie vs Pumpkin pie: Sugar levels

The article further noted that a typical slice of apple pie contains around 30 grams of natural and added sugar, and pumpkin pie is placed slightly lower at around 25 grams. Pumpkin pie is also lower in carbohydrates, which a person’s body breaks down into glucose.

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Apple pie vs Pumpkin pie: The glycemic load

Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist from California, told Health that the glycemic load – a measurement of how quickly and how much a food raises blood sugar- of both pies is considered to be medium. This means that even a slice of apple pie will have a moderate effect on blood sugar.

Also read: Lemon water: From weight loss to immunity boost, the truth behind promised benefits

What about calories?

Apple pie typically contains more calories than pumpkin pie (397 versus 323 per slice). Also, pumpkin pie “provides more vitamins and minerals like vitamin A and potassium,” Jackie Topol, MS, RD, a registered dietitian specializing in prediabetes, told Health.

According to American Institute for Cancer Research, apple pie may contain from 300 to a little over 400 calories per slice, depending on the amount of fat and sugar added. A slice of pumpkin pie traditionally contains about 320 calories, but recipe adaptations like using evaporated skim milk can reduce fat from the usual 14 or 15 grams per slice, thus reducing calories, too.

As the holiday season is underway, families can maintain their health by choosing the option that is better for their bodies. Making your own dessert can also serve as a way to control calories and sugar intake.

Topol explained to Health that using spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg can boost flavour naturally, reducing the need for artificial ingredients.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

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Endocrinologist shares 3 'healthy' foods that spike blood sugar levels faster than a chocolate cake
Lifestyle

Endocrinologist shares 3 ‘healthy’ foods that spike blood sugar levels faster than a chocolate cake

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Sugar spike is often viewed to come from ‘visually unhealthy’ foods. Based on sight, it usually includes chocolate, cake, pastries, or anything that appears too ‘sugary.’ Because of this appearance’s sake, one may be cautious of foods like these, which appear overly sweet, limiting the intake.

Many healthy foods too spike blood sugar, sometimes even more than chocolate cake. (Picture credit: Freepik)

But here’s the oversight, conventionally healthy-looking foods escape the scrutiny, even when they raise blood sugar just as rapidly.

ALSO READ: Endocrinologist shares best and worst fruits for blood sugar spikes: Know where berries, grapes, bananas, apples stand

Addressing this, New Jersey-based endocrinologist, Dr Alessia Roehnelt, shared 3 healthy foods that raise blood sugar faster than chocolate cake and how one can modify them to make them better. She revealed that a chocolate raises blood sugar in the range of 38–45, which is low to moderate. But the other ‘healthy foods’ which she highlighted spike the blood sugar much higher, in the range of 60s to as high as 90s.

1. Instant oatmeal packets

The first one she warned about is the instant oatmeal. Oats are often the first pick for a healthy breakfast, but which one makes all the difference? As per the endocrinologist, the ones which are instant oats are highly processed, and they cause a very rapid blood sugar spike.

How do you make it better then? Here’s Dr Roehnelt’s suggestion,”If you combine the instant oatmeal with maybe some milk, instead of water, you are gonna add some fat and protein that is gonna slow the blood sugar rise.” Instant oatmilk’s spike level is one of the highest among the foods she mentioned: 79–83.

2. Oatmilk latte

Oatmilk is chosen over dairy products widely, but how risk-free is it, especially when used for a latte?

“Oat milk is made from enzymatically broken down oats, which actually gives them a very high glycemic index,” Dr Roehnelt said. “When you combine that type of milk with some possible sweeteners in your latte, that’s gonna lead to a very high blood sugar afterwards.”

For the uninformed, glycemic index is a scale which evaluates how quickly a food raises blood sugar after eating it. Turns out a latte made with oatmilk is high on this scale. Dr Roehnelt shared the score of 65–75 spike, which is moderate to high. The endocrinologist’s recommendation to make this drink healthy was to replace oatmilk with almond milk to lower the glycemic index.

3. Acai bowl

Acai bowl is a thick smoothie bowl with a lot of fruits on top. Visually, it appears very healthy, but shockingly, the blood sugar spike after eating it is one of the highest. The endocrinologist revealed it to be in teh range of 70–90, which is labelled as high.

“These have a very high fruit-to-protein ratio, and then when you add on any type of juices or granola in there, it’s gonna raise blood sugar even more,” Dr Roehnelt explained why it is high on the glycemic index.

To make acai bowl more nourishing and less prone to spike blood sugar levels, Dr Roehnelt recommended adding a scoop of yoghurt or having some nuts.

So what happens if you continue with these supposedly healthy breakfast picks regularly? Starting your day with them can trigger a rapid blood sugar spike, followed by a crash, as per the endocrinologist. One feels tired throughout the day then.

Note to readers: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them. This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice.

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AIIMS Raipur orthopaedic surgeon shares real reason for middle-aged man's frozen shoulder: 'Sugar levels were sky high'
Lifestyle

AIIMS Raipur orthopaedic surgeon shares real reason for middle-aged man’s frozen shoulder: ‘Sugar levels were sky high’

by jummy84
written by jummy84

What does diabetes have to do with frozen shoulder – a debilitating but normally temporary condition that is characterised by an extended period of pain and stiffness in your shoulder? In an October 14 Instagram video, Dr Dushyant Chouhan, an orthopaedic surgeon from All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, (AIIMS) Raipur, discussed the connection between frozen shoulder and diabetes. Also read | Shoulder pain: Causes and treatment

Frozen shoulder can be an early indicator of diabetes, and a simple blood sugar test can reveal underlying issues.(Shutterstock)

He shared a case study to illustrate the importance of body awareness and symptom observation in detecting major illnesses – and explained how a seemingly ordinary case of shoulder stiffness turned out to be an early warning sign for diabetes.

In the video he posted, Dr Chouhan shared that the patient initially sought treatment for severe frozen shoulder symptoms, including pain that disrupted sleep and difficulty with basic tasks like combing hair. However, the doctor realised the patient also exhibited other signs, such as frequent urination, excessive thirst, blurred vision, and tingling in the extremities, which are classic symptoms of diabetes.

What were the man’s symptoms?

Upon testing, Dr Chouhan revealed the patient was found to have severely elevated blood sugar levels, confirming a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, suggesting the shoulder problem was a secondary issue. In the video he posted, Dr Chouhan said in Hindi, “I am sharing with you a very interesting and useful piece of knowledge about how you can become aware of your body and detect serious illnesses in your body. A patient had come in with shoulder pain. The pain was so severe that it would wake them up at night. They could not lift their hands up. They had difficulty combing and buttoning. All these problems were present. Seeing this, we understood that they have the problem of frozen shoulder. Frozen shoulder means that the capsule of your shoulder gets jammed.”

He further said, “But along with this, the patient had other issues too. Such as frequent urination, frequent desire to drink water, slightly blurry vision, and tingling (numbness) in the hands and feet. So, all these symptoms are of diabetes. Meaning, people who have the disease of sugar (diabetes). When I got them tested for HbA1c and a sugar test, the levels were quite high. They had come to me for a shoulder ailment, but their main problem was diabetes mellitus, meaning the disease of sugar. The point is that retrospectively — by catching hold of a small symptom — we discovered a major illness. So, if you also have a shoulder problem, you can consider whether you might have diabetes.”

A seemingly ordinary case of shoulder stiffness can turn out to be an early warning sign for diabetes. (Freepik)
A seemingly ordinary case of shoulder stiffness can turn out to be an early warning sign for diabetes. (Freepik)

‘Body’s early whisper that diabetes had arrived’

Dr Chouhan added that 30 to 40 percent of frozen shoulder cases are associated with diabetes mellitus and advised people, especially those with pre-existing diabetes, to be proactive with shoulder exercises and diabetes management to prevent frozen shoulder.

“Furthermore, in 30 to 40 percent of cases of frozen shoulder, diabetes mellitus is certainly found. That means those who have diabetes mellitus may have the problem of a frozen shoulder, or those who have frozen shoulder may have the problem of diabetes. So, if you are already a sugar (diabetic) patient and taking medicine, you need to be extra careful that you do not develop frozen shoulder in your shoulder later. For this, you should do shoulder movements beforehand, take medicines, and control your diabetes (sugar) so that you can avoid a major problem in the coming time, which is frozen shoulder,” Dr Chouhan said.

He wrote in his caption: “A middle-aged patient walked into my clinic, complaining of shoulder stiffness and pain for months. He thought it was just ‘age catching up’. But something didn’t add up — the pain was out of proportion, and the shoulder had almost frozen. When I dug a little deeper and advised a simple blood sugar test, the results surprised him… and even him more than the pain — his sugar levels were sky high. That’s when it clicked: the frozen shoulder wasn’t just a shoulder problem — it was his body’s early whisper that diabetes had quietly arrived. Sometimes, our joints tell the story before the sugar does. If your shoulder suddenly becomes stiff and painful without injury — don’t ignore it. It might be your body’s way of warning you.”

Note to readers: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.

This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice.

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Physiologist shares 3 strategies to naturally lower blood sugar levels quickly: ‘Drinking at least 2 glasses helps…'
Lifestyle

Physiologist shares 3 strategies to naturally lower blood sugar levels quickly: ‘Drinking at least 2 glasses helps…’

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Sudden spikes in blood sugar can be concerning, but the good news is there are natural ways to bring those levels down quickly. Small, everyday habits – whether it’s how you move, hydrate, or eat – can make a powerful difference in stabilising glucose and supporting better overall health.

According to Jose, eating veggies before meals can prevent blood sugar spikes.(Unsplash)

Also Read | AIIMS gastroenterologist warns poor protein intake can cause weight gain: 6 signs you’re not getting enough protein

Jose Tejero, a ‘dietitian and exercise physiologist’ specialising in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, is sharing three effective strategies to help naturally bring down blood sugar levels quickly. In an Instagram video posted on September 17, the physiologist breaks down his blood sugar lowering strategies, explaining the science behind them and emphasising how simple daily actions can create a big impact.

Walks + squats

Jose recommends going for a 20 minute walk followed by 20 body squats. He explains, “The reason why this works is because muscle contractions increase the rate at which glucose is transported from the bloodstream and into the cell to be used as energy.” The physiologist further elaborates, “When muscles contract, they trigger contraction-stimulated glucose uptake – meaning your cells pull glucose from your blood even without insulin. This makes your muscles act like “glucose vacuums,” lowering blood sugar fast.”

Drink water

While drinking water, in itself, does not lower blood sugar levels, dehydration leads to higher blood sugar concentration, according to Jose. He explains, “While water doesn’t directly lower glucose, dehydration concentrates the sugar already in your bloodstream, making values higher. Drinking at least 2 glasses helps your kidneys filter excess glucose and reduces overall blood sugar concentration.”

Also Read | Fitness coach says doing 7 simple things means you are already fit: How many do you practise in daily life?

Eat non-starchy veggies before meals

Jose recommends eating at least two cups of non-starchy vegetables, like broccoli, spinach, or zucchini, before your meals – it adds more fibre in your diet and slows down gastric emptying. He explains, “This means glucose from carbs enters your blood more gradually, reducing spikes and improving insulin response. Studies show sequencing meals this way can significantly blunt post-meal glucose elevations.”

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. It is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.

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