Dietary changes help manage type 2 diabetes in China

Medical professionals in China are highlighting the benefits of replacing refined carbohydrates with whole grains and complex carbohydrates to help manage type 2 diabetes.

In Shanghai, a 60-year-old woman maintained safe HbA1c and fasting blood sugar levels over six months by substituting white rice with sweet corn in the mornings. Doctors noted that sweet corn has a medium glycemic index (GI) of approximately 52–55, which is significantly lower than white rice (GI ~83). The corn provides dietary fiber and resistant starch, which slows the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream.

Similarly, in Beijing, a 55-year-old man successfully lowered his fasting blood sugar from 8.9 mmol/L to 6.7 mmol/L by replacing white rice with steamed sweet potatoes. Experts from Peking University Health Science Center explained that the fiber in sweet potatoes acts as a buffer, slowing sugar absorption. This is supported by research from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, which indicates that high-fiber diets can reduce post-meal blood sugar spikes by approximately 12% in diabetic patients.