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Diabetic Foods
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Diabetic Friendly Foods
Nothing is more confusing to new diabetics or those with insulin
resistance than the question of what to eat. This is because the
food you eat is at the heart of any treatment plan. Here are characteristics of diabetic friendly foods:
| How to Spot Good Diabetic Foods |
|---|
| Look for ...
| Why? |
| Low Glycemic | Low glycemic foods do
not spike your blood sugar. They also make you feel full so you'll eat less. Low glycemic foods tend to be
those that either contain few carbs or the carbs in them are complex vs. simple.
Examples: whole grains over processed, whole fruits vs. fruit juices, raw vs cooked vegetables
See: Glycemic Index Chart of Common Foods |
Low Sugar
and Net Carbs | Since most food labels in the US don't list the Glycemic Index, a great first step is looking for foods that are low in sugar
and net carbs. Net carbs are the simple carbs that digest rapidly (normally within one to two hours). Both
spike blood sugar which raises insulin levels. Insulin causes your body to store fat which causes weight
gain and insulin resistance. In addition, simple carbs are quickly burned leaving you hungry and more likely to overeat. |
| High Soluble Fiber | Fiber rich foods generally
contain a mixture of soluble and insoluble fiber. While both types help you feel full and won't spike your
blood sugar, soluble fiber is best because it has been shown to improve blood sugar control.
Examples: legumes, oat bran, whole grain foods, fruits and vegetables.
Check the Label: High fiber foods will contain at least 5g of fiber/serving. |
| Low Saturated Fat, Trans Fat | Diabetes and heart problems
go hand in hand. Saturated fats and trans fats raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol. The challenge
is that many of the processed foods that are sugar-free or low carb are also high in fat.
|
| Good Fats | Mono-unsaturated fats, poly-unsaturated fats, and Omega 3 fats can lower your LDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides (blood fats).
Examples: avocados, olive oil, soy, salmon, canola oil |
| Lean Protein (especially from plant sources) | Protein doesn't spike your blood sugar and helps you feel full. It's also important to help you maintain or build muscle mass to perform even common daily tasks more easily. Plant sources of protein are preferable over animal sources, since they are not a significant source of saturated fats.
Examples: black beans, fish, egg whites, soy.
Check the Label: High protein foods have 10g protein per serving. |
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What makes Extend Snacks stand out
among diabetes foods?
 Extend Snacks were developed by Dr. Francine Kaufman, recent president of the
American Diabetes Association. Extend Snacks are Dr. Kaufman's answer to a diabetes food that
not only fits a healthy diabetes diet, but also provides long-lasting blood sugar control.
Finally, snacks that not
only meet
your nutritional needs, but also helps control blood sugar for 7 to 9 hours.
Extend Snacks are clinically proven to help:
- Prevent Blood Sugar Swings
- Control Your Hunger and Eat Less
- Get Better Sleep by avoiding nighttime blood sugar swings
- Maintain more energy
Extend Delight bars and Crisps, in particular, have an outstanding nutritional profile that meets the criteria for ideal
diabetic foods. Unlike most other snacks, they are not only low glycemic, but have low/reduced fat as well.
- Low glycemic index
- High/good source of soluble fiber
- Little to no sugar
- Reduced Net Carbs
- Trans-fat free and low/reduced saturated fat
- High/good source of soy protein
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