"Even After Cutting Back on Rice, Blood Sugar Stays the Same"—Hidden Carbohydrates Are the Problem [Health Talk]

[Financial News] If blood sugar does not fall even after reducing rice intake, hidden carbohydrates in snacks and beverages should be suspected.
If blood sugar remains stubbornly high despite eating less rice and reducing overall meal portions, it is important to examine not only how much food is being consumed but also what types of carbohydrates are being eaten and in what quantities. Many people first reduce their food intake after being diagnosed with diabetes. However, eating bread, noodles, rice cakes, snacks, or beverages containing added sugars at the same time can result in consuming more carbohydrates than expected.
Cho Jong-dae, medical director of the Hypertension and Diabetes Center at Ulsan Elijah Hospital, said, "If blood sugar remains high or sudden episodes of hypoglycemia recur despite significantly reducing meal portions, patients should not further cut their food intake on their own. Instead, they need to review their current diet and medications with medical professionals."


Blood sugar is not determined solely by the amount of food consumed. Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose and other substances during digestion, affecting blood sugar levels. Therefore, even if rice intake is reduced, consuming refined carbohydrates such as bread, noodles, rice cakes, and snacks, or beverages with added sugars, can make blood sugar management more difficult. Foods that are generally beneficial to health, such as fruit and dairy products, also contain carbohydrates. For this reason, it is important to consider not only the type of food but also the amount and timing of consumption.

The key to dietary management for diabetes is not to eliminate carbohydrates altogether, but to consume appropriate amounts while managing food quality and nutritional balance. Whole grains or mixed grains can be used appropriately instead of white rice, and intake of snacks such as bread and crackers should be controlled. Water should be chosen as the primary beverage instead of carbonated drinks, coffee, or juice containing added sugars. Meals should also be balanced by pairing carbohydrate-based foods with vegetables and protein sources such as fish, tofu, eggs, and lean meat.
However, dietary principles for people with diabetes may vary depending on the medications they take, whether they use insulin, their weight, kidney function, and blood sugar control. It is therefore important to develop a meal plan suited to each person’s health status.

Diabetes often causes no noticeable symptoms in its early stages, so many people may not feel the need to manage it. However, if high blood sugar persists over a long period, it can affect blood vessels and nerves, increasing the risk of various complications, including retinal disease, kidney disease, and neuropathy.
Therefore, diabetes should be managed comprehensively rather than by checking a single blood sugar reading at a particular point in time. This includes fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure, blood lipids, weight, and lifestyle habits. HbA1c is used to assess average blood sugar levels over the previous 2–3 months. Depending on a medical professional’s assessment, regular tests related to complications, such as kidney function tests and eye examinations, may also be necessary.
Cho said, "Diabetes is a chronic disease that must be managed not by temporarily starving oneself to lower blood sugar, but by consistently maintaining eating and exercise habits suited to one’s health status and treatment plan." He added, "Even without noticeable symptoms, it is important to regularly undergo medical consultations and tests to check blood sugar control and the risk of complications, and to continue practicing management methods tailored to the individual." 

[email protected] Jeong Myeong-jin, medical specialist writer Reporter