Nutrition with diabetes does not mean the complete exclusion of sugary foods. With the right approach, you can easily add your favorite treats to your diet. To do this, you just need to reduce the amount of sugar and fat in your favorite recipes, or replace them with something more suitable.
For many years, people with diabetes have been warned to avoid eating sweets. However, modern researchers have somewhat changed the concept of diabetic nutrition.
Sugar and the amount of carbohydrates
In the diet of diabetics, the main aspect is the amount of carbohydrates consumed. Previously, it was assumed that honey, candy and other sweets can raise blood sugar levels faster and higher than fruits, vegetables, or "starchy" foods (potatoes, pasta or bread). In fact, this is not entirely true if sweets are consumed alongside other foods and balanced with other foods on your menu. While different types of carbohydrates can affect blood sugar levels in different ways, the total amount is of paramount importance.
The secret is that you can replace other carbohydrates from the diet with small portions of sweets - bread, tortillas, rice, crackers, oatmeal, fruit, juice, milk, yogurt or potatoes.
For example, your typical dinner is boiled chicken breast, medium potatoes, a slice of whole grain bread, vegetable salad, and fresh fruit. You can replace a piece of bread and fresh fruit with a piece of muffin. As a result, the total amount of carbohydrates will remain the same.
What can you replace sugar with?
The most suitable treats for diabetes mellitus are fruit jelly or ice cream without added sugar. Other pretty good desserts include milk pudding or low-fat yogurt with fresh berries and fruits.
Artificial sweeteners can also help you avoid sugar while reducing calories. They are especially useful when used instead of sugar in coffee and tea, or when baked goods are baked. The most famous of these are acesulfame potassium, aspartame and saccharin.
Another sugar substitute for diabetes is natural sweeteners. In particular, these include stevia and agave nectar. Keep in mind that the amount of sugar and sweeteners you need will be different for each product. Therefore, it is up to you to experiment until you find the flavor you like.
It should also be remembered that agave nectar is quite high in calories and should not be used for weight loss, while it has a lower glycemic index and has almost no effect on blood glucose levels.
