When boiled, sweet potatoes are a low glycemic index (GI) food, meaning they won't spike your blood sugar as much as regular potatoes, according to research published in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism.
Small red potatoes with the skin are an excellent choice of potatoes for diabetics. The skin of small potatoes provides fibre, which slows digestion and absorption. And small, whole potatoes are also easier to portion control.
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.
All-purpose potatoes
According to the diabetes association, starchy vegetables, like potatoes, are perfectly okay to include in a healthy diabetes diet. Being a complex carbohydrate, starch generally takes longer to break down in the body than simple sugars like sucrose.
The best way by which potatoes for diabetics can be prepared is to boil or steam them. Both boiled as well as steamed potatoes contain a rich number of vitamins, minerals, and fiber but quite low amounts of fat, sugar, and salt.
As a starting point, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) advises that breads made from whole grains like whole-wheat bread are fine in moderation for people with type 2 diabetes, although they should avoid white bread.
People living with diabetes should look to avoid vegetables with a high GI rating, as the body absorbs blood sugar from those foods much quicker compared with low-GI foods. This includes artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, celery, cauliflower, eggplant/aubergine, green beans, lettuce, peppers, snow peas and spinach.”
“Carrots are considered a nonstarchy vegetable, along with options such as broccoli and lettuce,” Ficek says. “These foods are safe for people with diabetes to eat at each meal without worry that glucose levels will spike.”
The variety of potato you eat can also affect how quickly its sugar goes into your blood. Some, like the Carisma variety, have a GI as low as 53. In general, waxy potatoes like fingerling or red potatoes have a lower GI. Starchy types like the Russet and Idaho are on the high end of the scale.
Broccoli, spinach, and cabbage are three diabetes-friendly veggies because they are low in starch. Filling up with vegetables is a great way to keep your blood sugar levels in check.
Still, carrots are high in fiber, so that helps slow down how quickly they release the sugar. They also have a lower glycemic index than other root vegetables like potatoes.
The best may be purple potatoes, not just purple-skinned potatoes but purple-fleshed. Here's why: They cause less of an insulin and blood sugar spike compared to even the yellow-fleshed potatoes.
Diabetics are often asked to include foods that are low in carbohydrates in their diet. Carbohydrates tend to metabolise fast, causing fluctuations in the blood sugar levels. 5. The glycaemic index of onion is also below 55, which makes it an ideal pick for diabetes.
Share on Pinterest Tomatoes can help reduce blood pressure for people with diabetes. Fresh, whole tomatoes have a low glycemic index (GI) score. Foods with a low GI score release their sugar slowly into the bloodstream and are unlikely to trigger a blood sugar spike. One reason for this is that they provide fiber.
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.
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."
Toast vs Bread: Which Is Good For Diabetes? According to a study, toasted bread has a lower GI than plain bread, making toasted bread healthier than untoasted for diabetics.
With a glycemic index between 50 and 58, basmati rice is a low to medium glycemic index food. If you have diabetes, small portions of basmati rice can be a part of your healthy diet.
Wholegrain Basmati rice has the lowest GI (glycaemic index) of all rice types, which means once digested it releases its energy slowly keeping blood sugar levels more stable, which is a crucial part of diabetes management.
Contrary to common belief, you can enjoy chips as a snack, even if you have diabetes. While you'll still need to keep an eye on sodium and be carb-conscious, you don't have to ban the foods you love from your diet.