September 18th, 2018 | Updated on March 5th, 2020
When you are diabetic, everything you put into your body can make a difference in your health. This includes foods, supplements and beverages too.
Making the wrong choices can increase your blood sugar levels and cause your general health to suffer.
When it comes to deciding on beverage choices, some people become confused and take the wrong path.
This article will specifically address what you should drink when you are diabetic in order to assist you in making healthier choices.
1. A large number of foods have an assigned “glycemic index,” which is a number that tells you how much the food affects your blood sugar after eating it. For diabetics, the GI numbers should be as low as possible.
The number one beverage recommendation for every person, including the diabetic individual, is water. Water helps to flush toxins from your body, and it is essential for proper maintenance of all your internal organs.
Drinking at least 80 ounces of water a day is recommended if you are diabetic. This will help to quench your thirst in a natural way, making you feel healthier and satisfied too.
2. Reduce your risk of diabetes by switching to a high fiber diet. Whole grains are low-GI foods, which reduces your risk of diabetes, while white foods are generally high-GI, which increases your risk.
While water is certainly the beverage of choice, there is no doubting that some people depend on their morning cup of coffee. While coffee should not be consumed in large quantities due to the caffeine content and negative effects on health, a cup or two a day will not hurt.
When choosing coffee, consider drinking it black, rather than loaded with calorie filled and sugar filled sweeteners and milk. Try to make caffeine free choices and limit your consumption whenever possible.
3. If you are hypoglycemic, you should always have gum or some other type of sugary food handy. Hypoglycemic attacks can happen at any time, and it is vital that you be prepared in the case of one.
Another healthy option for diabetics that can replace that morning cup of Joe is herbal tea. Herbal tea is almost as healthy as water, as it typically contains zero or very few calories.
Some herbal teas also have beneficial qualities, such as Chamomile Tea which can calm the body and curb restless nerves. When choosing a tea, try to opt for caffeine free varieties in order to optimize the positive health effects.
4. Switching from a local pharmacy in your area to one that is online ends up saving you money on your medications. You even have the option of getting your meds sent to your door each month on time.
When facing diabetes, another thing to consider is consumption of high quality proteins. One way to get these proteins is by drinking milk, the skim variety is best.
While milk does contain some natural sugars and should be consumed with some level of moderation, it also offers healthy protein, as well as bone building Calcium and Vitamin D.
All can improve a diabetic’s overall health, and that is why this is one beverage option that is okay with most nutritionists.
5. It is important to know the glycemic index of foods which can rapidly increase your blood sugar. Foods like desserts, pasta and breads can all raise your blood sugar levels.
As a final note, let us discuss some beverages that diabetics should always try to avoid. Among these, sodas and alcoholic beverages. Sodas lack any nutritional value, and they contain a high quantity of sugar that can raise blood glucose levels quickly.
In addition, the sugar is often a less than ideal type, such as high fructose corn syrup, raising further concerns about the negative and harmful elements of this beverage choice. Avoid it when you can, or drink it in only very small quantities.
6. People who snack a lot, including diabetics, have a hard time saying “No” when vending machines beckon. You need to avoid these and eat complex carbs like fruits and veggies.
Alcohol should also be consumed only in very moderate amounts. Most alcoholic beverages are high in carbohydrates and sugars, meaning that they negatively impact blood glucose levels and the overall health of a diabetic.
While a glass or two of beer or wine might be okay on special occasions, limit consumption of alcohol as much as possibly to optimize health.
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