Diabetes comes in two main forms: type 1 and type 2. Both result in high blood sugar levels if left untreated.
Insulin, a hormone that helps our cells absorb glucose, is either nonexistent or in short supply. A person with diabetes is unable to use insulin properly. This causes sugars to build up in the blood. It can be dangerous if it is not properly managed.
Different drinks and can affect blood sugar levels in different ways, when a person has diabetes.
Contents of this article:
Things to look out for when choosing what to drink
To make it easier to control blood sugar, it is important to:
- Eat a balanced diet and manage the amount of carbohydrate consumed
- Keep carbohydrate levels consistent from day to day
- Consume managed amounts of carbohydrate, because the brain and body need some carbohydrate to function.
Paying attention to food labels and nutritional facts can provide important information. Labels should state the serving size and carbohydrate content of any drink.
The best drinks for people with diabetes
The following drinks are good choices for people with diabetes.
Water
The best drink for anyone is water. Proper hydration influences physical and mental health, and every system in the body needs water.
Signs of thirst can also be mistaken for hunger or cravings for sweets. This leads some people to reach for soft drinks and juices. If this craving occurs, it is best to drink a glass of water first and then see how the body reacts.
Flavored water
Some people choose juices or sugar-sweetened beverages because they find the flavor of water boring or bland. This does not have to be the case.
Water can be flavored with the juice from citrus fruits like lime and lemon or a splash of cranberry juice. Adding aloe vera pulp to water may be beneficial for diabetes. Infused waters are flavorful and healthy. A pitcher can help to make and keep infused water on hand.
Herbal tea
Herbal tea is another way to flavor water. By boiling leaves of certain plants in water, both flavor and health benefits can be added.
Licorice root, for example, provides a subtly sweet flavor without raising blood sugar levels.
Some studies even suggest that licorice extract may help reduce blood sugar in people with diabetes.
Milks
Sometimes the body wants more than just water. Milk may be a good option. Fat-free cow or soy milk, rice milk, or unsweetened nut milks can provide calories, vitamins, and minerals. It is important to choose the unsweetened varieties.
Milks will add carbohydrate to the diet, and it must be accounted for in any meal plan.
Pure fruit juice, in moderation
Pure fruit juices are appropriate, but since fruit juice delivers the sugar from the fruit, but not necessarily the fiber, these should be consumed in small amounts.
Juices will need to be counted in a meal plan.
Portion control is key to managing carbohydrate intake when drinking juice with a meal. Drinking juice alone can lead to a blood sugar spike, but consuming it with other foods can help to prevent this.
Coffee and tea, in moderation
There is a debate about coffee intake for people with diabetes. Coffee consumption may have undesired short-term effects, yet long-term coffee drinking shows some benefits.
In moderation, caffeinated coffee and tea can provide an energy boost without the blood sugar spikes of other beverages.
Sugar-sweetened coffees and teas are best avoided. Flavored creamers may also contain high levels of sugar.
MedicalNewsToday.com, posted on SouthFloridaReporter.com, Nov. 22, 2016[/vc_message]
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In July of 2016， it was discovered that I got type 2 diabetes, By the end of the July month. I was given a prescription for the Metformin, I stated with the ADA diet and followed it completely for several weeks but was unable to get my blood sugar below 140, Without results whatever I did, I really panicked and called my doctor. His response?? Deal with it yourself, I started to feel that something wasn’t right and do my own research, Then I found Lisa’s great blog (google ” HOW NOW I HELPED MYSELF FROM THE DIABETES ” ) ，. I read it from cover to cover and I started with the diet and by the next morning. my blood sugar was 100, Since then. I get a fasting reading between the mid 70s and 80s, My doctor was very surprised at the results that. the next week. he took me off the Metformin drug, I lost 35 pounds in my two month and lost more than 8 inches off my own waist as well as I can exercise twice per day and still having a lot of energy.The truth is that we can get off the drugs and help myself by trying natural methods。
Hi and thanks for a exellent article. One small question, though; Latest research on the subject soy milk says it has a couple of bad issues. How about coconut milk or almund milk (i´m not sure how this is for diabetics, though). I read this article on the subject yesterday, and I can relate to many of the points https://goo.gl/691aqg . Keep up the good work!