Having diabetes doesn't mean you can never have birthday cake or pumpkin pie again. With some simple swaps and diabetic-friendly desserts you can satisfy your sweet tooth without sending your blood sugar soaring.
Most Americans eat too much sugar, and it's especially important for people with diabetes to keep an eye on their intake. Of course, having a healthier and portion-controlled sweet treat once in a while can be part of a healthy diet, even for people with diabetes. The key is moderation and making tweaks to treats so they fit in your diet. And if you're having trouble keeping your blood sugar under control, be sure to speak with your health-care professional.
Desserts may seem off-limits since many are high in sugar, but remember that for people with diabetes the total number of carbohydrates of a meal or snack matters more than the total sugar. That means dessert can still fit into your diet— with a few adjustments. Here are a few dessert guidelines and some of our favorite sweets that fit into a diabetic diet.
Swap carbohydrates. If you opt for something sweet after dinner, you might want to skip the starch at your meal to keep your total carbs in check. But remember that, while exchanging your sweet potato for cheesecake can keep your carb intake steady, you'll lose the fiber, vitamins and other good-for-you nutrients that the sweet potato would provide. It's not a good idea to indulge in dessert every night; instead, enjoy desserts in moderation.
Slash serving size. The American Diabetes Association recommends that most people with diabetes aim for 45- 6 0 grams of carbohydrates per meal. Unfortunately, a bakery-sized cookie can contain 60 grams of carbs alone. Choose a smaller portion, and you can still enjoy something sweet without using up your allotted carbohydrates for the meal.
Go easy on artificial sweeteners they can help you cut down on calories and carbs, but try to reduce your total sweetener consumption (from both sugar and noncaloric sources).
Fruit is one of the best desserts for people with diabetes (same goes for people who don't have diabetes). Not only does it have good-for-you vitamins and minerals, it also contains fiber. Fiber helps stabilize blood sugar and can also lower cholesterol.
It’s best to save sweets and desserts for special occasions so you don’t miss out on the more nutritious foods your body needs – If you tend to overeat on sweets, don't buy them. Instead, plan to have dessert only when you are away from home. Split the dessert with a friend to keep yourself on track.