Foods Low in Sugar for Diabetics

Diabetes is a disease that affects people whose bodies are not able to make insulin, a hormone needed to break down sugar, and whose bodies have high levels of glucose, or sugar. In order to keep their glucose levels low, it is important that people with the disease to eat a low-sugar diet. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Sugar

People with diabetes can eat foods with sugar, but they need to limit the amount of sugar that they have because their bodies cannot break it down. It is important to remember that different foods have sugar, including ones that are high in fiber, and it is necessary to not just look at the amount of sugar a food has but the time it takes to digest it as well.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates can make blood sugar levels go up because they are high in starch and sugar, so it is important for diabetics to cut down on the amount of carbohydrates that they have. Some of these are beans and legumes, grains and starchy vegetables, certain fruits, dairy products and snack foods such as chips.

Fats

In a similar manner to others, it is important for people with diabetes to try to eat foods with unsaturated instead of saturated fats. Saturated fats in cheese, chocolate, milk, sausage and butter can raise cholesterol levels, which can them at risk for heart disease. Unsaturated fats can be found in fish and nuts, which include salmon and almonds.

Low-sugar Vegetables

Some of the best foods for people with diabetes, which are low in carbohydrates and calories, are leafy vegetables such as kale, collards and spinach. Sweet potatoes can also be a healthy food for them because it is low in sugar and contains high levels of vitamin A.

Low-sugar Fruits

Some of the fruits that provide nutrients and are low in sugar are citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons, which provide vitamin C, and berries, which have high levels of antioxidants. Tomatoes are also healthy because they contain vitamin C and E and iron.

Desserts

People with diabetes do not have to stay away from desserts entirely. There are desserts that are made for people with diabetes, which are low in sugar, such as sherbet. When baking, diabetics can substitute certain sweeteners for sugar, such as honey, brown sugar, Splenda and cane sugar.