Diabetes ‘n Me Blog

Life sometimes doesn’t seem fair – you love sweets and are known for your sweet tooth but now that you have been diagnosed with diabetes you are afraid you can’t have them anymore.  This isn’t entirely true.  Yes, if you previously indulged in many sweets you can no longer do that (and it may be a contributing factor to way you have type 2 diabetes).  But there are ways that you can satisfy your sweet tooth and stick to your diabetic diet.

Even though sugar isn’t the only reason blood sugars raise the combination of a high-sugar item and carbohydrates are.  There are many sugar substitutes and artificial sweeteners that are available to purchase on their own or in sweets such as chocolate and hard candies.

Another way to add sweets into your diet is to substitute them for other carbohydrates in a meal.  If you were planning on having a tuna salad sandwich for lunch instead of having the bread try eating the tuna on its own and use the saved carbohydrates on a cookie or two (depending on size and serving information).  This can be done with many different variations, but should be done in moderation – your body really will function better on those two pieces of whole wheat bread than it will on two chocolate chip cookies.

Speak with your dietician too.  A dietician is full of ideas and suggestion on how to improve your diabetic diet.  He or she may have suggestions on snacks or meals that you would not have considered to be sweet but can certainly satisfy your sweet tooth.  Such as eating a banana to satisfy a chocolate craving.  As time goes on you will begin to appreciate the natural sweet things in life too – such as a juicy apple or a fresh orange.

Birthday parties, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more are holidays and special occasions that are centered on food. For most people these are times to anticipate the celebration and the eating. For a diabetic it can be a stressful time, you want to partake in all of the good food too but most times it is not made with a diabetic in mind. If the frequency of these events is not too often, you can adjust your diet for special occasions so you too can have some of the treats available.

The hardest part about preparing for a special occasion is if you do not know what is going to be served. If this is the case, a quick call to your host or hostess can be made. Most people will not mind you asking especially if you have dietary needs that need to be taken into consideration. Once you do know what is being served, plan your meals for that day accordingly. You may want to have fewer carbohydrates with your breakfast and snack to make up for the extra ones you will have at a birthday party where pizza is being served.

Another option for special occasions is to offer to bring a dish for everyone to share. Make it something that you enjoy as a treat but still follows the guidelines for your diabetic diet.

For family favorites and traditions, be creative and look for ways to make the same dishes with less fat or sugar. You can do this by substituting regular sugar for sugar substitutes or choose whole wheat flour instead of white for the extra fiber content.

During the holidays and other occasions, closely monitor your blood sugars. Even with extra care, the change in your diet can still result in a blood sugar that is too high or low.