6 Best Foods for Diabetics That They Can Include Snacks

Diabetes, especially Type 2 diabetes is one of the most commonly occurring diseases in the present day. Therefore, it is important for you to develop a lifestyle and food habits that can help you to stay healthy if you have diabetic conditions. Diabetes is a health condition in which the glucose content in the blood increases and due to impaired synthesis and functioning of the insulin hormone, the carbohydrates and glucose levels becomes excess in the body. So, it is very important for you to be conscious about the snacks that you are consuming, the amounts of carbohydrates and sugar entering into your body, and how they are affecting your diabetic conditions. So, it is always advisable to choose healthy snack options if you have diabetes so that you can control your sugar or carbohydrate intake.

This article will help you to get a detailed account of all the details to know about healthy snacking options while having diabetic conditions and will also provide you with a list of healthy snack alternatives that you can consume if you have diabetes. Read the article till the end and know which types of foods can be used as snacks for diabetic patients.

Healthy snacking if you have diabetes: Here is what you must know

Snacks are foods that are usually rich in carbohydrates, carbohydrates, fats, and added sugar, all of which are often harmful if consumed in greater quantities if you have diabetes. If you already have type 2 diabetes or diabetes mellitus, then healthcare professionals and dieticians usually advise you to consume healthy snacks that consist of less amounts of carbohydrates and carbohydrates and are rich in healthy substances such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and so on, that will help you to keep the sugar levels within control. Dieticians usually prescribe you to consume foods that will help you to manage your blood sugar levels. Many might think that having healthy foods as snacks in your diet may be boring, but there are certain interesting food substances and combinations that can be included in your snack diet to take care about your diabetic conditions. Choose foods that are rich in nutrients in your snacks (this is advisable even if you do not have diabetes) and make sure that your carbohydrate intake is within the optimum levels. If necessary, before choosing the foods for a healthy diabetic snack diet, you may consult with your concerned healthcare professional.

List of all the food components that you must consume in your snacks:

If you have diabetes, you are more likely to choose healthy foods and lower the carbohydrate intake. But most people find it difficult to choose which foods are the best for you. Being a patient of type 2 diabetes, your doctors and healthcare experts will advise you to consume such foods in your snacks that are not only rich in nutrients, but will also help you to have a sense of fullness, so that you would not have the urge to consume foods that are rich in carbohydrates. This will reduce the risks of glucose excess in the body, so you must have foods like nuts, beans and oats, avocado, chickpeas, and similar foods as snack options. Here is a detailed list of all the foods to have as snacks in your diabetic diet.

1. Various types of nuts:

Nuts are always healthy choices for your snacks, especially if you have diabetes. Doctors advise you to consume various types of nuts in your diet, or in your snacks if you are a type 2 diabetes patient. Try to add nuts like almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashew nuts, peanuts, macadamia nuts, and so on. Experts advise you to consume nuts as snacks because nuts are rich in healthy fats, vitamins, proteins, and so on. Moreover, nuts are low in carbohydrate content, and according to studies (1 Trusted Source), are known to make you full form long hours and are therefore healthy choices for diabetic patients.

2. Chickpeas:

If you are diabetic, consume roasted chickpeas or garbanzo beans. These are considered as healthy forms of legumes that can be used as a healthy snack idea for diabetes. As per studies and research works, almost half cup or 82 grams of roasted chickpeas consist of around 7grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber in a (2 Trusted Source) and this can be an effective snack for those who already have type 2 diabetes. Chickpeas are also essential for your health as they help you to reduce the carbohydrate intake in your body and therefore helps to balance the blood sugar levels. Many research studies (3 Trusted Source) have revealed that if you consume chickpeas in your snacks, particularly while having diabetes, you will notice that your blood sugar levels are maintained within control, than those who consume a wheat-based meal.

3. Apples and peanut butter:

If you are hungry for snacks, being a diabetic patient, you must add apples in your snack diet. Slice apples into small pieces and add peanut butter to them. This is a healthy snack option for people who have diabetes. Such a snack, according (4 Trusted Source) is rich in healthy and beneficial nutrients that are essential for your good health and a proper functioning of the body, for instance, vitamin B, C, E, and minerals like potassium and magnesium. All these nutrients are highly effective for you to control diabetic conditions (5 Trusted Source). Moreover, experts often advise to consume both apples and peanut butter, as it is found in studies (6 Trusted Source, 7 Trusted Source) that almost a medium-sized apple (that may consist around 7 grams of fiber) with two spoons (almost 32 grams) of peanut butter can be effective enough to consume blood sugar levels.

4. Hard-boiled eggs:

Though boiled eggs are healthy options for your breakfast, you can also have them as a snack if you have diabetes. Eggs are considered to be one of the most vital sources of high-quality animal proteins that can be a healthy snack option for a diabetic person. According to sources and studies (7 Trusted Source), it can be found that around 6.3 grams of protein, which is crucial for the diet of a person who has diabetes. This is because a hard-boiled egg helps to control the blood sugar levels from rising up, and thus it must be added in your low-sugar diabetic diet. You can easily pair hard-boiled eggs with a toast or a bowl of olives for a diabetic-friendly snack diet.

5. Avocado toast:

Avocado toast is another healthy snack option for people who have diabetic conditions. Avocado toast is low in carbohydrate content and it is therefore a healthy food that can be consumed as a snack for those who have already developed type 2 diabetes. Moreover, avocado is rich in healthy fats and fiber and thus they help to take good care of your heart health as well. Avocados are also low in carbohydrates and this refers that consuming avocado as a snack (combined with a toast) can reduce the risk of rising the levels of blood sugar.

6. Low-fat Greek yogurt:

If you are having a snack and if you are a diabetic patient, have a bowlful of plain Greek yogurt. If you want, you can top the yogurt with berries and fruits of your choice. It is also preferable, that the Greek yogurt that you are consuming is made from low-fat milk. Apart from taking care of your diabetic health, Greek yogurt is a healthy snack option because it is rich in good-quality dairy protein and important minerals like calcium (14 Trusted Source). But there is one thing that one needs to be aware of, while having yogurt as a snack, mostly for diabetic patient, that is, the yogurt must be unsweetened, that is, it must be free from added sugar and flavours.

Other than Greek yogurt, you can also try plain yogurt in your daily snacks if you have diabetes. Yogurt with berries also aid in reducing the risk of inflammation and they also help in improving the functions of pancreas which works to release the hormones like insulin that allows in lowering of the blood sugar levels. Moreover, berries are rich in fiber content and thus controls the movement of foods through the gastrointestinal diet. This helps in aiding in digestion and thus keeps the blood sugar levels at an optimum level after eating. Yogurt also contains probiotics that is beneficial for your gut health and it is a healthy snack option for not just diabetic, but anyone to maintain a good health.