Many people choose to have bento boxes for meals. A family medicine doctor shared a case: There is a 50-year-old man who, although he doesn’t eat sweet foods, always has two bento boxes for lunch. Previously, after losing 10 kilograms in weight, he went to see a doctor and was finally diagnosed with severe diabetes. The cause of his illness is likely related to the bento boxes he ate. The doctor also pointed out that, apart from bento boxes, other takeout foods such as fried rice and fried noodles also pose a “risk of blood sugar spikes”.
The doctor posted a video on the YouTube channel of the clinic where he works, stating that in Taiwan, approximately one out of every three people has high blood sugar, and diet accounts for more than 70% of the contributing factors. Especially nowadays, as many people dine out, it is easy for them to consume excessive refined starches. Coupled with insufficient intake of vegetables and fruits, this will increase the risk of developing diabetes.
According to the doctor, the above-mentioned 50-year-old man was a manual laborer and got hungry easily, so his lunch consisted of two bento boxes, either braised pork rice or chicken leg rice. However, without deliberate dieting，he suddenly lost 10 kilograms in just three months. This worried his wife greatly, so she accompanied him to the hospital.
The doctor said that after arranging blood tests and other examinations, it was found that the man’s glycated hemoglobin level was as high as 11%, far exceeding the upper limit of the normal value of 5.6%, and his fasting blood glucose level was 260 mg/Dl (the normal value should be less than 100 mg/dl). He was diagnosed with severe diabetes. Upon learning of his illness, the man was very surprised. He thought that since he didn’t consume sweet foods or artisanal beverages, how could he still get diabetes?
The doctor pointed out that, in fact, in addition to sweet foods, long-term excessive consumption of refined starches such as rice and noodles can also cause blood sugar levels to rise and increase the risk of diabetes. Especially takeout foods like bento boxes, fried rice, and fried noodles, which are mostly cooked with high salt and high oil, contain a large amount of starch and very few vegetables. These are all “blood sugar traps”.
The doctor also mentioned that some people may think that a bento box with rice, meat, and side dishes is nutritionally balanced, but this is not the case. In fact, many side dishes in bento boxes, such as corn, are also starchy foods. Even if some green vegetables are added, the quantity is minimal. Coupled with the excessive amount of white rice, the nutrition is unbalanced.
The National Health Promotion Administration stated that diabetes is a complex chronic disease. Excessive eating, excessive drinking, frequent urination, and weight loss are typical symptoms of high blood sugar. If you experience any of the above conditions, it is recommended that you seek medical attention for examination.
