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5. The Mix

Finally, it is well known that consuming fat or protein with carbohydrates substantially slows down the digestion of the carbohydrates. The more fat or protein are consumed, the more slowly the carbohydrates are digested, delaying their effect on the blood sugar.

This, combined with gluconeogenesis and the glucagon stimulating effect of amino acids, can produce what is commonly termed "the pizza effect." This varies among people, but most commonly people see their blood glucose as quite normal two to three hours after a high-protein or high-fat meal (such as pizza parlor pizza or dinner at the House of Prime Rib), but see a precipitous spike in blood glucose five to seven hours after the meal.

Not everyone experiences this effect, and I haven't been able to find any real quantification of it in the medical literature. From what I've seen and heard from others the effect seems to be tied to smaller body size, greater insulin sensitivity, and unusually large protein or fat intake.


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