Select lean, low-salt deli meats, such as roast turkey. Use low-fat mayonnaise, or replace it with other spreads, such as mustard, pesto, hummus, yogurt, or avocado.
What meats are good for type 2 diabetes? Look for lean meats with little visible fat, skinless cuts and meats in their most natural form—whole cuts of meat as opposed to processed options. Find more about how type 2 diabetes affects your diet.
Lean Meat and Cheese Sandwich on Whole-Grain Bread
Sandwiches can be a quick, diabetes-friendly lunch option as long as you're smart about your choice of bread. Choose a bread that's flat. “Bagels and rolls have too many calories and carbs,” Arévalo explains.
Spread no-sugar-added peanut, almond, or other nut butter on whole-grain toast. Look for bread with at least 3 grams of fiber per slice. Top with fresh fruit, such as slices of strawberries or raspberries.
People with type 2 diabetes should limit or avoid high-fat cuts of meat, such as regular ground beef, bologna, hot dogs, sausage, bacon, and ribs, because like full-fat dairy, they're high in saturated fats, explains Kimberlain.
Can people with diabetes eat mayonnaise? Yes, a person with diabetes can eat mayonnaise. Mayonnaise has less than a single gram of carbohydrates per tablespoon. But with 10 grams of total fat (1.6 grams of that coming from saturated fat) it can be considered high fat.
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.
Foods to stay away from
Processed deli meats, such as ham and salami, and hot dogs may taste good but they're loaded with salt, nitrates and preservatives. They're also high in calories. White bread, white rice and pasta, plus many breakfast cereals contain refined white flour, which strips away the nutrients.
A 5-ounce can of tuna provides around 20 grams of protein and no carbs, which makes it a great snack option if you have diabetes. Additionally, tuna provides small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to help manage diabetes due to their potential to lower inflammation and improve blood sugar control.
The Best Subway Sandwich for Diabetics
The Rotisserie Chicken, Meatball or Tuna sandwich are good choices when it comes to meat. No-carb toppings you can choose from include spinach, tomatoes, red onions, green peppers and cucumbers.
Fortunately, lean meat comes in handy as a healthy substitute, as they have a relatively low fat and carb content with a rich supply of protein. Moreover, although eating more grains and beans is advisable for diabetics, ham can be incorporated into their diet as a lean protein source.
For people with diabetes, lean proteins provide energy without a lot of saturated fat, which is linked to heart disease. Animal-based breakfast proteins like eggs and turkey sausage are pretty standard. Good plant-based protein sources include chickpeas, tofu, nuts, and seeds.
Generally, ham and other pork products are fine for people with diabetes because they are low in carbs, but there could be other things in ham that aren't very good for your heart health.
Although they don't usually contain sugar, processed meats, which tend to be higher in fat and heavy on salt and preservatives, have been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), starchy vegetables such as potatoes can be included in the diet of a person with diabetes.
Regular Heinz Cream of Tomato soup is one which is best avoided with 6.8g carbs per 100g. We see many ladies try this soup and spike their blood sugar levels.
The most healthful way to cook potatoes is to boil, steam, or microwave them without adding other ingredients. Preparing potatoes in this way will ensure that they are very low in sugar, salt, and fat. Keeping the skins of the potatoes on can provide additional fiber.
Like ketchup, mayo gets a bad rap. But if you choose one made with healthy fat (such as olive oil), and make sure you stick to just one serving or less as described on the nutrition label, it can be a diabetes-friendly choice. To avoid overdoing this condiment, always measure it before you spread it.
Stay away from cereals high on the glycemic index, such as corn flakes, puffed rice, bran flakes, and instant oatmeal. Don't choose cereals that list refined grains and sugars as top ingredients.
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.
Sandwich is one of the most preferred breakfast dishes. Diabetics can also have their favourite sandwiches in the morning.