This Morning: Yorkshire nan talks about her TikTok cooking videos

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With every mouthful of food, carbohydrates are converted into glucose (i.e. sugar) that then floats in the bloodstream. Normally, insulin – a hormone secreted by the pancreas – enables the body’s cells to take in glucose from the blood. If, however, you have type 2 diabetes, simply not enough insulin is released, or the insulin that is released doesn’t work. The glycemic index (GI) “shows how quickly each food affects your blood sugar (glucose) level”, noted the NHS.

Foods that have a high GI are broken down quickly by the body, causing a rapid surge in blood glucose levels.

Low GI foods, on the other hand, are broken down more slowly, meaning there is a gradual rise in blood sugar.

When it comes to potatoes, some have a high GI while others have a low GI.

Sweet potato, for example, has a low GI score, Medical News Today pointed out.

As such, this type of potato is recommended “to eat”; plus, it’s “very nutritious”.

Diabetics, however, are better “to avoid” regular, white potatoes as they have a high GI.

Other “potatoes to avoid” include: French fries and mashed potatoes.

Meanwhile, potatoes “to eat” include: sweet potatoes and yams.

While the GI can be useful when considering what foods to eat, diabetics also have other considerations too.

The NHS elaborated: “Research has shown that the amount of carbohydrate you eat, rather than its GI rating, has the biggest influence on blood glucose levels after meals.”

This means portion control is key when it comes to good blood sugar control.

“It’s also important to eat a healthy, balanced diet that is low in fat, sugar and salt, and high in fruit and vegetables,” the NHS added.

Warning signs of high blood sugar

When you have high blood sugar, also known as hyperglycaemia, you may begin to pass more urine than normal.

The charity Diabetes UK added that hyperglycaemia can lead to increased thirst, tiredness and lethargy.

Other warning signs might include thrush or recurring bladder and skin infections.

High blood sugar may also lead to blurred vision, weight loss, and nausea.

Symptoms of hyperglycaemia build up slowly over time as blood sugar levels rise.

By the time symptoms become noticeable, it’s likely your blood sugar levels are “very high”.

You will need to “take action straight away to reduce your blood sugar levels”.

One of the best things you can do is to go for a walk, as exercise can help the body process more of the sugar.

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