How Much Sugar To Get Diabetes

Diabetes Treatment

CC0 /stevepb/Pixabay

Diabetes mellitus (commonly referred to as diabetes) is a medical condition that is associated with high blood sugar. It results from a lack of, or insufficiency of, the hormone insulin which is produced by the pancreas. There are two types of diabetes, type one and type two. Type one is an autoimmune disease that comes on suddenly in childhood or young adulthood and requires regular injections of insulin. Type two develops more slowly and does not always require injections of insulin. In both types there is a requirement to carefully monitor the diet to maintain acceptable blood sugar levels. Here we look at some of the foods that may suit someone living with diabetes so they can enjoy a healthy breakfast, be able to grab a quick snack or enjoy a tasty dessert. In addition, we look at the types of drinks a diabetic can consume.

Breakfast Menus for Diabetics

Breakfast is an important meal for everyone. Those with diabetes will certainly want to start their day in a healthy way and not end up with a blood sugar spike. Oatmeal is considered a great breakfast and suitable for those with diabetes due to its low glycemic index which can help to maintain blood glucose levels.

Eggs are also a traditional breakfast item that diabetics can enjoy as they are packed full of protein and low in carbohydrates. A tasty egg muffin packed with vegetables can make a great healthy start to the day.

Healthy Snacks for Diabetics

For someone not suffering from diabetes grabbing a quick sugar or carbohydrate filled snack to boost energy levels is a great quick fix to keep you going until the next meal. However, for a diabetic this could have dire consequences. Maintaining blood glucose levels within acceptable levels is key, so when it comes to grabbing a snack care must be taken. Graham cracker squares topped with some light cream cheese and grapes can make a tasty snack. Fat free plain Greek yogurt can also make a great healthy snack; add some dried cranberries to give it a little extra flavor.

Enjoying Dessert As a Diabetic

Clearly dessert for a diabetic can be a tricky course. So many desserts are packed full of sugar and refined carbohydrates. Diabetics need to be extremely careful when eating dessert. Thankfully a quick search online of diabetic-friendly dessert recipes shows that there are loads of options when it comes to allowing a diabetic enjoy dessert. The key is to find sugar alternatives and flour substitutes to ensure that their nutritional content is not going to send blood sugar levels sky rocketing.

Drinks for a Diabetic

Let's face it, for everyone, diabetic or otherwise, water is the best drink to consume. Period. However, we all like to mix it up a bit with alternative beverages. For a diabetic it is clearly best to totally avoid sugar filled soda. While diet versions may be okay they are not great from a nutritional perspective. Low fat milk can be a great healthy drink and black tea is okay too.

Care should be taken with drinking juices, while a little may be fine they need to be factored into any carefully controlled carbohydrate intake. Alcohol too needs to be considered carefully before being consumed. Not only can many types of alcohol affect your blood sugar levels but alcohol can also interfere with any medication being taken.

In Summary

Diabetes is a condition that requires careful management of blood sugar levels. A healthy diet is key to this. Ensuring foods consumed do not cause a spike in blood sugar levels is vital. Oatmeal or traditional eggs can make a great breakfast while snacking on light cheese and fruits such as grapes and pears can keep you going until your next meal. Dessert doesn't have to be avoided provided it is made as a sugar-free option. Finally when quenching a thirst water is always the best option but milk or black tea can provide an alternative with care being taken if consuming juices or alcohol.