Diabetes and a keto or low-carb diet
The management of diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) essentially involves monitoring the quantity and quality of carbohydrates. Thai food is often excellent for diabetics, as it contains plenty of fresh vegetables and high-quality proteins, which keep blood sugar levels stable.
Living with diabetes is very familiar to us
Did you know that one of the entrepreneur couple behind Little Thai has had type 1 diabetes since 1992?
In the picture, you can see the Tandem t:slim X2 - a semi-automatic insulin pump that always hangs from Toni's waistband. Thanks to modern technology, maintaining blood sugar balance is easier than before, especially while sleeping or during long workdays filled with fasting. Still, a lot of mental capital is consumed throughout the day thinking about blood sugar levels. You just learn to live with it.
Tech-nerd Toni is always happy to chat about optimizing carbs and diet, or about diabetes or any kind of technology, if you are interested. 😊
The secret of rice: How we lower the glycemic index (G.I.)
White rice is often perceived as a fast carbohydrate that rapidly raises blood sugar. At the Little Thai restaurant, we have solved this problem with diabetics and health-conscious customers in mind:
We always rinse the rice very thoroughly before cooking. This removes the excess fine starch from the surface of the rice, which would otherwise be absorbed by the body as quickly as pure sugar. Thanks to the rinsing, the glycemic index (G.I.) of our rice drops significantly, causing your blood sugar to rise more steadily and slowly.
We don't actually recommend using a brush! 😂
Blood pressure and cholesterol
For diabetics, the reference values for blood pressure and cholesterol have been set significantly lower than for others, because statistics show that diabetes combined with even slightly elevated blood pressure or cholesterol increases the risk of serious cardiovascular diseases. Thai food can also be helpful in managing these, as it generally uses no added salt at all and relatively few hard fats.
For cholesterol and blood pressure management, tofu, chicken, and seafood are the best protein choices. Breaded products, such as fried chicken, should be avoided, also because they contain a surprisingly high amount of hidden carbohydrates.
Tips for ordering for a diabetic or someone avoiding carbohydrates:
Ask for less sugar: Thai cuisine often uses palm sugar to balance flavors. You can always ask our chef to prepare your dish with less sugar or without any added sugar at all.
Favor curries and stir-fry dishes: Coconut milk-based curries (such as green or red curry) contain healthy fats that slow down the absorption of carbohydrates. Vegetable-rich stir-fry dishes are also an excellent choice.
Swap rice for vegetables: If you want to minimize carbohydrates, we can replace the rice in your dish with extra stir-fried vegetables.
Remember to relax every now and then: Diet is an important part of maintaining physical health, but so is mental well-being. Every once in a while, you just need to let yourself go and enjoy life!