Sticky rice ain’t nice

Dr Ampika Mangkalapruek
Chang Mai University Hospital
researcher

By Pongphon Sarnsamak
DAILY XPRESS

Fancy some sticky rice and somtam for lunch? Think again if you have type-2 diabetes.

A recent study shows that sticky rice can cause severe symptoms for patients with this type of bloodsugar imbalance.

Chiang Mai University Hospital researcher Dr Ampika Mangkalapruek says she has closely studied type-2 diabetes sufferers who regularly consume sticky rice.

Dangerous change
her study showed that the level of blood sugar among type-2 diabetes patients often increased significantly after they had eaten sticky rice because it contains more starch and carbohydrates than other types of rice.

"Sticky rice absorbs less water than other types of rice, making it more starchy and thus increasing sugar levels among type-2 diabetes patients," she said.

Regular consumption of sticky rice could lead to chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular diaease, she warns.

According to the Public Health Ministry’s records, 52,800 people dieeach year from ailments caused by diabetes, and more and more children risk developing type-2 diabetes.

To reduce these risks, Ampika suggests that people change their eating habits. However, she does understand that sticky rice is part of the Thai diet, and hopes to educate people about its dangers.

"We hope type-2 patients can stop eating sticky rice, but changeing their habits may be initially difficult," she said.