Does yogurt lower blood sugar? The short answer: No. However, because most yogurts are relatively high in protein and low in sugar, adding yogurt to your meal may help you avoid insulin spikes from other foods and therefore assist in keeping your blood glucose levels steady.
If you have diabetes, look for Greek yogurt or Icelandic yogurt (also called skyr). During preparation of these, some of the whey is removed, leaving behind a thick, protein-rich product with fewer carbs than other types of yogurt. They also have lower levels of lactose (around 5%) than other yogurts.
“Yogurt naturally contains both high-quality carbohydrates and protein, making it an excellent food for slowing or preventing an unhealthy rise in blood sugar,” Ficek says.
Yogurt can be a great nutrient-dense breakfast option or an easy snack. If unsweetened and Greek-style, it's low in carbohydrates and high in protein. This means it won't cause blood sugar spikes in people with diabetes, like other sources of carbohydrates.
Studies show that drinking plenty of water helps glucose flush out of the blood. The average person should aim for eight glasses per day. Drinking plenty of water while you are indulging your sweet tooth — and throughout the day after — will help your body get back to normal.
Take Insulin
The preferred—and quickest—method of treating hyperglycemia is to take rapid-acting insulin such as Humalog, Novolog, or Apidra. 5 If you have type 1 diabetes, you may be able to get a correction dose through your insulin pump, as well.
And starting your day with Greek yogurt may even help you manage your blood sugar throughout the day. Eating low-GI foods for breakfast helps prevent blood-sugar spikes later on, one recent study found.
A person with diabetes should include a variety of fresh, whole foods in their diet, such as nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables. Bananas are a safe and nutritious fruit for people with diabetes to eat in moderation as part of a balanced, individualized eating plan.
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.
A. Cucumbers are not known to spike blood sugar levels due to the minimal amounts of sugar and low-calorie count. In addition, they are not energy dense and have a low glycemic index and a high percentage of water. These properties make cucumber a good option for minimising their sugar intake.
Carrot. Diabetics can opt for carrots in their daily diet despite its sweet flavour as it can help manage blood glucose levels. Carrot juice may still contain sugar and carbohydrates, it won't spike the blood sugar levels.
Diabetics can likely eat unsweetened dark chocolate. Dark chocolate offers all the benefits of the chocolate diet without the possible negative health effects of lots of sugar. While dark chocolate still has some carbohydrates and fats, the lower glycemic index means it is less likely to cause insulin spikes.
Yogurt is a healthful food that contains a good amount of protein, calcium, potassium, and vitamin D. Research suggests that probiotic yogurt may be particularly beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes. Probiotics may help to reduce inflammation in the body.
Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the body's preferred source of energy; in fact, our brains only use glucose, a carbohydrate, for energy. 100% of carbohydrate sources consumed turn into glucose in the bloodstream, making carbohydrates the food group that impacts your blood sugar the most.
For many people with diabetes, consuming oatmeal doesn't have a lot of cons. Eating oatmeal can spike blood sugar levels if you choose instant oatmeal, laden with added sugar, or consume too much at one time. Oatmeal can have negative effects for those who also have gastroparesis, which is delayed gastric emptying.
Skipping breakfast—going without that morning meal can increase blood sugar after both lunch and dinner. Time of day—blood sugar can be harder to control the later it gets.
The American Diabetes Association recommends choosing whole grain bread or 100 percent whole wheat bread instead of white bread. White bread is made from highly processed white flour and added sugar. Here are some delicious and healthy breads to try: Joseph's Flax, Oat Bran and Wheat Pita Bread.
Milk, cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products may not immediately spike your blood sugar, but they could make you more insulin resistant over time.
Generally, there's no advantage to substituting honey for sugar in a diabetes eating plan. Both honey and sugar will affect your blood sugar level. Honey is sweeter than granulated sugar, so you might use a smaller amount of honey for sugar in some recipes.
Drinking water regularly may rehydrate the blood, lower blood sugar levels, and reduce diabetes risk ( 20 , 21 ). Keep in mind that water and other zero-calorie drinks are best. Avoid sugar-sweetened options, as these can raise blood glucose, drive weight gain, and increase diabetes risk ( 22 , 23 ).
Lemon juice significantly lowered the mean blood glucose concentration peak by 30% (p < 0.01) and delayed it more than 35 min (78 vs. 41 min with water, p < 0.0001).
HbA1c levels reflect a person's blood glucose levels over many weeks or months. On a short-term basis, groups taking apple cider vinegar saw significant improvement in blood glucose levels 30 minutes after consuming the vinegar.