Key Takeaways
- Healthy snacks for diabetes maintain blood sugar levels, prevent spikes and crashes, and support overall health.
- They include Greek yogurt with berries, hard-boiled eggs, cottage cheese with cucumbers and tomatoes, celery sticks with peanut butter, and apple slices with almond butter.
- Also, hummus and vegetable sticks, whole-grain crackers with low-sodium cheese, roasted chickpeas, dark chocolate with nuts, and edamame.
Are you concerned if your diet is diabetes-friendly enough? It should not stop you from indulging in your favorite snacks. You can fit more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats into your diet.
What you need to know:
- The importance of healthy snacks for people with diabetes
- 10 Delicious and diabetes-friendly snacks
- Additional tips for snacking with diabetes
The importance of healthy snacks for people with diabetes
Here is the importance of choosing healthy snacks for diabetes:
Maintaining blood sugar levels
If you have diabetes, you may need to eat carbohydrate snacks during the day to help balance your blood sugar, which is particularly important if you have type 1 diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes and take insulin or other medicines that can cause low blood sugar, you may also benefit from eating snacks during the day.
Preventing blood sugar spikes and crashes
Healthy snacks throughout the day can help people with diabetes prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes by stabilizing blood glucose levels. Choose snacks that are easy to digest and contain 15 to 45 grams of carbohydrates. Eating smaller, more frequent meals can improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels.
Supporting overall health and well-being
Healthy snacks are crucial in maintaining balanced blood sugar levels and supporting overall health for people with diabetes. It can contribute to better blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and heart health, reducing the likelihood of these complications.
10 Delicious and diabetes-friendly snacks
Planning out your daily snacks can help control blood sugar. Here are some examples of delicious snacks for diabetes.
1. Greek yogurt with berries and nuts
Berries are a powerhouse of antioxidants and fiber, low in sugar and high in nutrients. Pairing it with yogurt that provides protein and probiotics makes it a perfect snack.
2. Hard-boiled eggs
One large hard-boiled egg provides 6.3 grams of protein and around half a gram of carbs, making it a great choice for controlling hunger and blood sugar levels. Eggs also promote fullness, which may help lower calorie intake and lead to weight loss.
3. Cottage cheese with cucumbers and tomatoes
A half-cup serving of small-curd cottage cheese provides almost 13 grams of protein and 4 grams of carbs, which can help manage your blood sugar levels. Also, tomatoes have a low glycemic index, having little effect on blood sugar levels.
4. Celery sticks with peanut butter
Celery sticks are very low in calories. Adding a tablespoon or two of peanut butter to celery sticks adds extra protein and fiber. 100 grams of celery and two tablespoons of peanut butter contain around 10 grams of carbs.
5. Apple slices with almond butter
Apples and almonds are high in fiber. As a result, you will likely feel satiated long after your snack because the fiber helps fill your stomach and slows digestion to keep you going.
6. Hummus and vegetable sticks
Hummus has a small amount of protein and fat. This may benefit blood sugar management in people with diabetes. One study found that those who consumed hummus as an afternoon snack reduced blood glucose and increased satiety. Two tablespoons of hummus and 100 grams of baby carrots contain 15 grams of carbs.
7. Whole-grain crackers with low-sodium cheese
While crackers can be high in carbs, the protein in the cheese and fiber in the crackers may prevent them from spiking your blood sugar. Make sure you choose your crackers made with 100% whole grains, as many brands are high in refined flour and added sugar, which may negatively affect blood sugar levels.
8. Roasted chickpeas
In a 1/2 cup serving of chickpeas, there are about 7 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, and 22.45 grams of carbs. Roasting chickpeas with olive oil and seasoning of your choice makes them a crunchy and convenient snack.
9. Dark chocolate with nuts
Dark chocolate and nuts can give nutrition by combining good fats and antioxidants. Opt for a dark chocolate bar packed with healthy nuts, where the added protein will help the sugar in the chocolate be absorbed more slowly, thus making it diabetes-friendly.
10. Edamame
There are 14 grams of protein, 8 grams of carbs, and 8 grams of fiber in a cup of edamame. Compounds found in soy, called isoflavones, may improve cardiovascular risk factors in people with diabetes.
Additional tips for snacking with diabetes
Some additional tips for choosing snacks for diabetes are:
- Combining low-sugar, low-salt, carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats can help you feel full longer and stabilize your blood sugar.
- Include monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, as they are healthy fat sources. These can be found in avocados, nuts, fish, and vegetable oils.
- Avoid deep frying. Instead, bake or grill your snacks.
- Consider the type of protein. Lean proteins like turkey, roasted chicken, and hard-boiled eggs can help prevent blood sugar from rising too high.
When it comes to diabetes-friendly snacks, balance flavors with nutritional benefits to stabilize blood sugar levels. Monitor blood sugar levels and consult a healthcare provider to help fine-tune snack choices to fit individual needs.
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You may also be interested in the following blogs:
- Healthy Evening Snacks By Vaishnavi Boora
- Healthy Fats, Fiber And Protein For Diabetes Management: All You Need To Know
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