Snacks For Diabetics
Best Snacks For Diabetics Type 1 and Type 2
Snacks are important for anyone who wants to start eating healthy, more so, for diabetics. It's important for a diabetic person to monitor their blood glucose levels or they'll run the risk of falling into insulin shock and other very serious complications. The most popular method for monitoring blood sugar levels is through the use of blood sugar meters.
Snacks help keep your blood sugar levels stable or quickly boost your blood sugar when it's low. A good snack will range from about 100 to 200 calories and consist of 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrates. This is of course depending on your medication and meal plan. It's important however that a snack be just that and not another meal. There are many of us who say they are having a snack but when you look at the so-called snack, it's a burger and chips, which in itself is another meal. Everything we do in life has consequences. And this includes what we put in our mouths and the quantity.
When we eat a lot of fast food and drink a lot of soda pops, we are guaranteed to be heading towards obesity. And sadly for our children, they will suffer from childhood obesity and the dangers associated with it. And they will struggle with this until adulthood and for the rest of their lives. People who are obese are most likely to develop diabetes, type 2 to be specific. Most kids who are obese in their childhood will develop type 2 diabetes when they become adults. There have however been cases of obese children as young as 8 years developing type 2 diabetes.
Snacks should be consumed in between your meals. The best snacks for diabetics should ideally be picked up from the low glycemic food list. You can once in a while also snack on high glycemic index foods if your blood sugar level goes down too low. Typical, easy snacks you can have include:
Fruits and vegetables. They are simple and easy. Not much preparation is required, you can either have them raw or cooked. Because most fruits are naturally high in sugar choose carefully when you are adding them to your diet. - Oranges are a great fruit to snack on. The fiber content in them helps to control blood sugar.
- Whole grains such as whole wheat, quinoa, cracked wheat and rye,
- Low-salt-crackers,
- Frozen juice bars,
- Popcorn,
- Non-fat fruit flavored yogurt,
- Whole-grain English muffin with peanut butter and jelly,
- Soy bean milk with no added sugar,
- Wafers,
- Mini crackers with vegetables,
- Spring rolls,
- Chocolate covered strawberries. Yes, chocolate. You may indulge yourself once in a while. Strawberries are rich in Vitamin C.
Dip them in dark chocolate which has the least added sugar to create a thin coating.
Two medium to large strawberries is all you need for a snack so don't overdo it! - Thin wheat crackers with tomato and hummus,
- Skim milk,
- Baked chips and salsa
- Sugar-free hot cocoa
- Tangerines
- Oyster crackers
- Half a cup chow mein noodles
- Dried fruit like apricots, dates, figs and raisins
- Strawberries and cottage cheese, this is loaded with protein, calcium and vitamin C
Choose fruits lower in natural sugars such as apples, berries and melon. You may have fruit together with cheese to help stabilize blood sugar.
Try and avoid or limit foods that are high in sugar. Sugar makes your blood sugar level spike rapidly. Examples of such foods include pastries and cakes. Unless if there are healthier versions. In fact, there are plenty of healthy cake recipes which even diabetics can eat.
Best Low-carb Snacks For Diabetics Type 1 and Type 2
It's important for people with type 1 diabetes to snack often. This is because the cells of the pancreas produce little or no insulin. And without insulin, instead of glucose going into the cells, it is absorbed into the bloodstream. The body will in turn not be able to use this glucose for energy.
This is despite the fact that there are high levels in the bloodstream. This is why when you have type 1 diabetes you have serious hunger pangs and not forgetting the thirst also due to frequent urination. It is however important that they have low-car snacks to prevent their blood sugar level from spiking rapidly.
Some low-carb snacks for diabetics, Type 1 to be specific, that you can have include:
- Nuts,
- String cheese,
- Beef jerky,
- Tomato and mozzarella salad
- Crunchy veggies with a dip
- Low-carb salad with mushrooms, bell peppers, low-fat deli meat, cheese and low fat salad dressing,
- Graham crackers with peanut butter,
- High protein foods
- Cottage cheese which adds protein to stabilize blood sugar, provide calcium for strong bones as well as curb those hunger pangs.
- Popcorn
- Bean salad Baked corn chips with fresh salsa
- Trail mix made with dried fruit, nuts and seeds
- Broccoli with melted cheese
- Celery with peanut butter
- Fresh blueberries and strawberries with low-fat plain yogurt
- Carrot sticks
- Hard boiled eggs
Best Bedtime Snacks For Diabetics Type 1 and Type 2
A study in the Journal of Diabetes Care recommends having a snack if your blood sugar is less than 126 mg/dl, but to avoid snacking if your blood sugar is higher than 180 mg/dl. Generally speaking, it's crucial, in fact it's recommended that when you have type 1 diabetes you have a bedtime snack. This will ensure that your blood sugar level will not drop during the night. A general rule of thumb is about 7 grams of protein and 15-30 grams of carbs for a bedtime snack. One such example includes 3 graham crackers and a glass of skim milk. As mentioned earlier, foods in the low glycemic food list are great for meals as well as snacks.
Best Snacks For Diabetics Type 1 and Type 2 Recipes
When you have the time to prepare, there are plenty of snacks for diabetics recipes. As we mentioned earlier, snacks help bring stability to your blood sugar level. Below are, simple, easy and delicious snacks for diabetics recipes.
Whole-grain Crackers with cottage cheese
Ingredients
- one quarter cup non-fat cottage cheese
- 2 whole-grain crackers
- one quarter cup grapes
Directions
- Simply spread the cottage cheese onto the crackers.
- And have the grapes on the side and eat them separately.
Health Bar
This recipe has a five minute preparation time and one minute cooking time. The protein from the nuts help to keep your blood sugar stable.
Ingredients
- 3 cups uncooked oatmeal,
- one quarter cup cocoa powder,
- 2 cups peanut better,
- 2 and a quarter cups protein powder,
- 2 tablespoons malt powder,
- one a three quarter cups honey or maple syrup
Directions
- Mix the peanut butter with honey and place it in the microwave for about one minute.
- Mix in the powders, followed by oatmeal.
- Press into a pan and refrigerate and then cut into bars.
- Wrap in plastic or waxed paper and store in the refrigerator.
Bean Salad
Beans are great to be included in your diabetic nutrition plan. This is because beans are a great source of protein and fiber and this helps to in the stabilizing of blood sugar and hunger pangs.
Ingredients
- 15oz can of lowest sodium black beans
- half a cup cucumber or celery,
- chopped quarter cup avocado, peeled and cubed
- quarter cup fresh tomatoes, chopped
- 1 clove fresh garlic, minced or a quarter teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- one eight of a teaspoon salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- one quarter cup rinsed and drained canned corn
Directions
- Rinse the beans under running water and drain well.
- Put the beans in a bowl and mix them with the rest of the ingredients.
- Recommended serving size is half a cup.
Whole-wheat cracker stacker
This is an easy delicious snack to prepare. You of course get fiber from the apple and the crackers which will help keep your blood sugar stable. The cheese also provides your body with protein and calcium.
Ingredients
- 4 whole wheat crackers
- 1oz low-fat cheese
- one small apple, diced
Directions
- Place the ingredients in this order- cracker, apple, cheese, apple and put in the microwave ovenfor a few seconds, just until the cheese is mouth-watering ooey and gooey. Don't let it over-melt.
- Alternatively you could still use an oven. You may enjoy this with a glass of skim milk.
You can get more in the articles recipes for diabetics and diabetic vegetarian recipes. Bon Appetite! You are most guaranteed to enjoy these. And who said snacks for diabetics are tasteless, dull and boring? :)
