Young adults embrace low-sugar living

When Zhang Huchuan's friend spotted a small device on her arm during a trip to Shanxi province, he assumed she had diabetes. But what she revealed next suggests a trend among young adults adopting a low-sugar lifestyle.

Zhang, a 30-year-old freelancer from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, said her journey began about eight years ago when she was working as a medical science editor. It was during this time that she first encountered the concept of sugar control.

"I was curious about why people needed to cut sugar. As I delved deeper, I discovered many negative effects of excessive sugar, which prompted me to start a low-sugar lifestyle.

"I wore a continuous glucose monitor a couple of times to understand my blood sugar fluctuations. As a former medical science editor, I understand that reducing sugar is a small investment with significant returns, so it didn't require a major decision to start.

"For those without diabetes, there's no need to wear such a monitor all the time. It just adds unnecessary anxiety," she said.

A continuous glucose monitor is a device that continuously tracks blood sugar levels. Unlike traditional glucose meters that measure capillary blood sugar at a single point in time, this meter reads blood sugar levels every three or five minutes.

"During the Shanxi trip, I discovered that while the noodles are delicious, they cause a significant spike in blood sugar. After a meal of handmade noodles and millet cakes, I felt sleepy. I strongly recommend restaurants add more vegetables to meals in regions that rely heavily on noodles," Zhang added.

Her typical daily menu is pretty much the same as ordinary meals. For breakfast, she has small wontons with a poached egg and milk. Lunch and dinner usually consist of two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and rice.

"The main difference is that I now eat my rice after the vegetables and meat to better control blood sugar fluctuations. I've also cut back on sugary drinks and replaced them with light tea," she said.

Despite her efforts to reduce sugar, she does not deny herself the occasional treat. "If I really want to eat something delicious, I do. The goal of controlling sugar is to live a better life, so there's no need to be so strict that I eliminate sugar entirely," she said.

The results of her low-sugar lifestyle have been rewarding.

"After years of living healthily, my annual physical exams are always satisfactory. At 30, my physical condition is comparable to when I was in my twenties," she proudly shared.