A common misconception people have about diabetes is that overindulging in sweets is the main cause; however, this notion is not entirely accurate. Although desserts have an effect on your blood sugar, other foods, like bread and fruit, also influence your glucose levels. For a diabetic, desserts don't have to be off limits as long as they're enjoyed in moderation.
Sugar is one of the main ingredients found in desserts. Similar to refined flour and starchy vegetables, sugar can cause your blood sugar to spike. Eating too many sweets may lead to dangerously high glucose levels and other complications associated with diabetes. For this reason, it is important to limit how many sweets you eat. Checking nutritional labels, portion control, and limiting your carbohydrate intake, gives you the freedom to indulge in a delicious dessert every once in awhile.
Sugar-free desserts for diabetics
Sugar-free desserts for diabetics are healthy alternatives because they have fewer calories; however, they still contain carbohydrates. Instead of focusing solely on sugar content, check the nutritional label to see how many total carbohydrates are in a serving. Sugar, starch, fiber, and sugar alcohols make up the total carbohydrates for a dessert. Although sugar-free desserts are made from sugar alcohols, which contain less sugar and calories, they slightly affect your blood sugar. Some desserts may also contain starch and fiber. Although these amounts are generally small, they can also have an effect your blood glucose levels. Paying close attention to nutritional labels in grocery stores and restaurants will help you make smart dessert selections.
Serving Sizes of Desserts for Diabetics
People are becoming increasingly aware of portion control. For a diabetic, desserts should be smaller than your palm. Having your palm as a reference point ensures that you won't overindulge by eating a large piece of cake or a bowl of ice cream. Watching your serving size allows you to enjoy your favorite dessert without being detrimental to you diabetes.
Limit Carbohydrates before Dessert
Whether you're craving a cookie or going out to a restaurant with friends later, planning ahead provides flexibility. If you know that you're going to eat something sweet later in the day then limit your carbohydrate intake before dessert time. Eating fewer carbohydrates during the day affords you more carbohydrates for dessert. If you're still worried about your blood sugar, splitting a sweet snack with a friend can cut down on the amount of carbohydrates your body has to process. Either way, balancing your diet is the healthiest way to control your glucose levels.
The Ideal Dessert for Diabetics
If you're craving something sweet, fruit is a great choice. Fresh fruits desserts are healthier alternatives because they possess more nutrients. Fruit salads are sweet and contain a slew of vitamins. Fruit flavored sugar-free gelatin is another tasty alternative. Sugar-free gelatin varieties have less calories and carbohydrates than regular gelatin and other desserts. Not only is gelatin easy to make, but it stays fresh for awhile, meaning you'll have a healthy dessert on hand.
Desserts for diabetics are not out of the question. Having diabetes requires you to be more careful about the foods you eat; however, you can still enjoy your favorite sweet by planning ahead and eating desserts in moderation. If you're afraid you've eaten too many carbohydrates already, testing your blood sugar is an easy way to ensure that having dessert won't severely impact your glucose levels. In the end, eating a balanced diet is instrumental in controlling your diabetes.