Sweet Treats for Diabetics

     With so much diet information out there for diabetics it can be hard to decide what to eat when it comes to dessert time or when a sweets craving hits.

     Fortunately you can enjoy the occasional treat while also keeping your health a priority. It is all about moderation and making the right choices.

     Choosing no-sugar-added or reduced-sugar items is a better choice over the regular versions, but keep in mind these still contain some sugar, so follow the serving size on the nutrition label.

     Also keep in mind that even “sugar-free” items may still have some carbohydrates, so it’s important to follow serving sizes for these as well.
Here are some suggestions for some diabetic-friendly sweet treats:

•  Fruits are an excellent choice for diabetics because they also have health boosting components such as fiber and antioxidants. The American Diabetic Association recommends two to three servings of fruit per day. One serving is one small whole piece or ½ cup canned.
•  Angel food cake - Top with fruit and sugar-free dairy topping and you have a delicious treat.
•  Sugar-free yogurt and frozen yogurt - Choose the single-serving containers of yogurt and there's a sweet ending to your lunch.
•  Sugar-free Jello
•  Sugar-free hot chocolate (but skip the marshmallows)
•  Fruit Slush - Combine berries, ice, vanilla extract, and skim milk into a blender and pour into 8 ounce glasses.

Picking up a diabetic-friendly cookbook is another way to keep your food choices interesting and help prevent boredom. The more variety in your diet, the better, so have some fun with it!


By Brandy Baxter, RD, LDN