The Skinny Scoop on Diabetes

Hi Gina,

I was just wondering if all of your recipes are diabetic friendly?

Thanks a bunch!

Inquisitive Diabetic

Hi Inquisitive Diabetic,

I’m so glad you asked this question. Gina hears from diabetics often, and I’ve got some good Skinnytaste news for you!  But first let’s cover the diabetic basics…

If you are a diabetic, your main goal is to regulate your blood glucose (sugar) levels because you can’t rely on your body to do it naturally. That’s because when you have diabetes, your body cannot make or properly use insulin, the hormone that helps move glucose from your bloodstream into your cells.

Diabetes can negatively affect your heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys; and controlling your blood sugar levels throughout the day can help prevent these serious complications.

The good news? A healthy eating plan that keeps your blood sugar in check is generally the same as a healthy diet for anyone. Yup, it’s true! 

A diabetic diet simply means eating a variety of nutritious foods in moderate amounts and sticking to regular mealtimes. You need to balance your calorie intake with calorie needs and eat a diet low in saturated and trans fat, moderate in salt and added sugar (just like everyone else). And you need to eat meals based on nutrient-dense whole foods (just like everyone else).

More good news: Since Skinnytaste recipes are not only mouth-watering, but also packed with nutrient-rich whole foods needed for diabetics and non-diabetics alike, most of the Skinnytaste recipe will work for you. Just be sure to choose, more often than not, recipes with low-sugar, nutrient-rich carbohydrates like whole grains (brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, whole-grain bread, quinoa, barley and other whole grains), as well as legumes (bean, peas, and lentils), and whole fruit and vegetables. 

But hold on, there’s even more!

While many people assume those with diabetes can’t eat sweets, this is just not true. In fact, the American Diabetes Association says, “If eaten as part of a healthy meal plan, or combined with exercise, sweets and desserts can be eaten by people with diabetes. They are no more "off limits" to people with diabetes than there are to people without diabetes. The key to sweets is to have a very small portion and save them for special occasions so you focus your meal on more healthful foods.”

So, if you are following a healthy eating plan and working out, go ahead and indulge in a Skinnnytaste PumpkinCheesecake Shooter or a slice of Skinny Peanut Butter Pie once in a while.

I've partnered with Registered Dietitian, Heather K. Jones to answer all your nutritional questions. Have a question? Email me and I will get your question answered here on Skinny Bits.

Need more help building a healthy lifestyle that works for you? Take my free 3-minute

Diet Type test and find out how your personality affects your health and food choices.

Happy healthy eating!

Heather K. Jones, RD The Diet P.I.