Resist the Crunch of Sodium-Laden Chips and Crackers You may love their lip-smackin' saltiness, but potato chips, tortilla chips, or corn chips (including those in restaurant nachos), crackers, and pretzels are not the best food choices for people living with diabetes.
However, not all chips are healthy for diabetic people. For example, tortilla and potato meet the nutritional value for diabetic people to eat without influencing their blood sugar level. According to studies, the best chips for diabetic people are those without salt.
Can people with diabetes eat potatoes? According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), starchy vegetables such as potatoes can be included in the diet of a person with diabetes.
Even if you choose baked chips or crackers that are lower in fat, they still pack a fair amount of calories and carbohydrates, so it's essential to monitor your portion size and avoid pairing them with high-fat dips. Ferguson recommends substituting classic potato chips for baked whole-grain crackers dipped in salsa.
Fried Chicken Restaurants
In general, poultry is a smart choice while following a diabetes-friendly diet—except when it's breaded or dipped in flour and fried. This version adds not just carbs but saturated fat and calories as well to menu items at restaurants like KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) and Popeyes.
Bottom line: Yes, you can eat at McDonald's, but be aware of serving sizes and limits based on your overall daily nutritional needs. Talk to a nutritionist or your doctor about counting carbs, proteins, and fats.
How Much Bread Can You Eat with Diabetes? "People with diabetes can eat bread as long as it fits either their meal plan or within their carbohydrate counting allowance," says Kitty Broihier, M.S., RD, LD. "In general, that means choosing a slice that has 15 grams of carbohydrates for sandwiches."
Veggie-based chips like kale chips can be a great alternative for when you're craving a “crunch” that is still blood sugar friendly!
Keep it simple: Look for chips featuring short ingredient lists, and without artificial preservatives and flavors. Keep an eye out for added sugars and excess sodium, which are commonly added to barbecue-flavored chips, or any other chips with a sweet or salty taste.
If you have diabetes, you can eat saltine crackers as a snack. Despite the fact that crackers are high in carbs, the fat in the cheese and fiber may prevent your blood sugar from rising too high. Some studies have found that eating dairy products, such as cheese, is associated with a lower risk of diabetes.
Yes, they contain carbohydrate, but with portion control, they can fit into a diabetes eating plan.
Baked sweet potato
Baked sweet potato fries or chips can also be enjoyed by diabetics as sweet potato is considered to be a low glycemic index food and keeps the blood sugar level in control.
French fries, potato chips, and doughnuts are particularly bad choices for diabetics because they're made with carb-heavy, starchy ingredients, which can cause blood glucose levels to shoot up.
High in fiber and protein, beans are digested slowly in your body, making them great for managing blood glucose levels in a type 2 diabetes diet. Just ¼ cup of any type of beans will provide as much protein as 1 ounce (oz) of a meat protein equivalent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
If you have type 2 diabetes breakfast cereals made with wholegrains can help to manage blood glucose levels, they release glucose more slowly as they are low GI. Weetabix, Oatibix and Shredded Wheat can make for good choices.
While there are some extra things to consider, ice cream can be included in a healthy meal pattern even if you have diabetes. It's best to eat ice cream in moderation and to choose an option with lower saturated fat, lower carbs and no or low added sugar.
Switching to lower-fat milk, such as semi-skimmed milk (green top) from whole milk (blue top), which contains the most fat, is a good start. To make even more of a difference, try 1 per cent fat milk (orange top) or even better skimmed milk (red top).
While there are myths that state those with diabetes should not consume dairy, these products, including cheese, can actually be beneficial when consumed in moderate amounts. Cheese, in particular, can actually be great at helping to manage blood sugar levels because of its low glycemic index.