Does eating potatoes increase the risk of diabetes?

Don't you love eating potatoes, in whatever form they may come? But are they good for diabetics. Scroll down to know more!
raw potatoes
Does eating potatoes increase the risk of diabetes? Image Courtesy: Adobe Stock
Arushi Bidhuri Updated: 23 Oct 2023, 11:10 am IST
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Whether you like it boiled or mashed or baked, a hearty meal feels incomplete without potatoes. Potatoes not only taste amazing but are considered great for your health. They are an indispensable part of Indian cooking and we couldn’t agree more! They are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, manganese, potassium, and more. The best thing about potatoes is that it adds that extra flavour in your dish, which is why it is a favourite in kitchens in Indian households. Moreover, it offers a plethora of health benefits that make it special. While it is a healthy vegetable, a new study has found that potatoes might not be the best for people with diabetes.

Scroll down to know how potatoes can affect people with diabetes and whether they should be including this vegetable in their diets.

All vegetables except potatoes are good for diabetics, says a study

A study published in the journal Diabetes Care found that including vegetables in your diet can help lower diabetes risk, except potatoes. As per the researchers, potatoes neither reduce diabetes risk nor increase the risk of diabetes.

potatoes for diabetes
Are diabetics good for people with diabetes? Image Courtesy: Shutterstock

The researchers of the study analysed the data of 54,793 participants and assessed the effects of vegetables and potatoes separately. They found that green leafy vegetables and cruciferous vegetables helped reduce diabetes risk, whereas potatoes did not have a positive or negative effect on people with diabetes.

The researchers believe that potatoes are not as beneficial as vegetables for people suffering from diabetes. They also concluded that there is no need to eliminate potatoes from your diet as it is not that bad.

Are potatoes harmful for people with diabetes?

Dr Aishwarya Krishnamurthy, Consultant Endocrinology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali, Uttar Pradesh says, “It’s a widespread myth that individuals with diabetes should stay away from starchy foods like potatoes because of their tendency to have a high glycemic index (GI).”

If you think potatoes are bad for diabetics, think again as the expert that potatoes are safe for people with diabetes mellitus (PWD). “They are rich in potassium and B vitamins, and the skin is a great source of fibre,” she adds.

How you prepare potatoes matters

Another extremely important is the way the food is prepared. The way you prepare potatoes matters a lot when it comes to managing diabetes.

“For example, cooking potatoes with high-fibre vegetables like greens (methi) or ladyfingers (bhindi) or leaving the skin on can lower the overall glycemic index. Boiling potatoes instead of frying them also reduces the number of carbohydrates they contain. Therefore, a person with diabetes can enjoy this delicious vegetable while being careful about portion size and considering some changes to the way they consume it,” concludes Dr Krishnamurthy.

potato recipe
How you prepare potatoes if you are a diabetic matters! Image Courtesy: Shutterstock

Eating a balanced diet is key to reducing type-2 diabetes risk

Including vegetables in your diet is beneficial for people with diabetes, but it is not the only thing that benefits diabetics or prediabetics. Medical research suggests that the key to balancing diabetes is eating a balanced diet, rich in all essential nutrients. A healthy diet along with regular exercise and no stress can reduce the risk of diabetes.

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Caution: Talk to your doctor before making any dietary changes in your regimen.

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About the Author

Arushi Bidhuri is a journalist with 7 years of experience in writing, editing, and conceptualizing story ideas in different genres, including health and wellness, lifestyle, politics, beauty, fashion, etc. Arushi has a strong connection in the industry that helps her write concise and original stories as she believes in working towards writing pieces that can enlighten people. ...Read More

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