Type 2 diabetes sweet tooth

Diabetes is a long-term disease in which a patient's blood glucose levels rise to dangerously high levels. Diabetes patients must typically keep a close eye on their nutrition. However, integrating sweet treats now and then within a balanced diet could be ok in case you follow simple rules. It is a common myth that you should avoid sweets and treats completely, instead you can follow a few simple steps and indulge from time to time guilt and risk-free.

What is type 2 diabetes and how does it affect me?

Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which the body's ability to control and utilize glucose or sugar as fuel is impaired. Too much glucose circulates in the bloodstream as a result of this chronic disease. Long-term high blood sugar levels are eventually causing problems with the circulatory, neurological, and immunological systems for people with diabetes.

There are two connected issues at work in type 2 diabetes. Your pancreas does not create enough insulin, a hormone that controls the transport of sugar into your cells, and your cells do not respond well to insulin, resulting in decreased sugar intake. Type 2 diabetes was previously referred to as adult-onset diabetes, however, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can start in infancy or youth. Discover more about the symptoms of type 2 diabetes here. Doctors and scientists are still trying to understand is there a way to reverse diabetes, but decreasing weight, eating healthily, and exercising can help you manage it. If diet and exercise aren't sufficient to control your blood sugar levels, diabetes medications or insulin therapy may be required.

Diet, diabetes, and sweets. How to satisfy my sweet tooth as a diabetic?

People with diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association, can still eat sweets, chocolate, and other sugary foods as long as they are consumed as part of a healthy diet plan or in combination with exercise. A healthy meal plan, according to them, should include:

Daily consumption of lean protein, non-starchy vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and healthy fats.

To have limited saturated fat, carbohydrates, calories and include moderate quantities of salt and sugar.

Sugary meals, on the other hand, should be saved for special occasions and consumed in limited amounts.

A person with diabetes must understand how every meal will affect their blood glucose levels before consuming it. This can be easily done if you keep track of your daily intake of calories and know how to read nutrition labels. With a doctor or dietitian's advice, clients can define personal goals and understand better the recommended diet plan that is appropriate for them. The quantity of carbohydrates and sugars a diabetic can consume is determined by several factors, including:

• whether they are attempting to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight;
• or if they are aiming to reduce their blood glucose levels, their activity levels.

A smart way to satisfy your sweet tooth

To incorporate delicious sweets into your healthy eating plan, follow these guidelines.

Give yourself a treat from time to time.

Deprivation is unlikely to be effective. Eliminating all desserts from your diet might backfire, making you crave those foods even more.

Keep an eye on what you are drinking.

You probably already know that beverages like soda, juice, and fruit punch are high in added sugar, sports drinks, energy drinks, and bottled tea can also spike blood sugar levels. Also, according to the ADA, a single serving of these sugary drinks can contain hundreds of calories.

Make preparations ahead of time.

Consider the total number of carbohydrates in your meal, not just in your dessert. That sum should be taken into account when deciding what to eat on days when you have dessert or sweet treat. Make sure that the dish is well-balanced. Leave the carbohydrates out of the main course and reserve them for dessert. If you're having dessert, for example, avoid the bread, spaghetti, or side of mashed potatoes at dinner.

Substitute ingredients.

To assist with blood sugar regulation we suggest using whole-grain flours like wheat or oat, or variants derived from nuts like almond flour. Healthy alternatives to sugar, flour, butter, eggs, potatoes, and other high-carbohydrate ingredients. To minimize or remove added sugar in desserts incorporate fruit or fruit puree. Sugar-free foods should be avoided. Choose products that do not include sugar and instead have sugar alternatives. Like dark chocolate.  However, keep in mind that many of these products still contain wheat and other carbohydrate-containing substances.

Always go for the fruit.

Fruit is not only tasty enough to satisfy your sweet tooth, but it also has the added benefit of being healthier than manufactured sweets because it has fewer carbohydrates and no added sugar. Fruits contain fiber, which is healthy for people with diabetes since it takes longer to digest and is less likely to trigger a quick blood sugar surge. However, when eating fruit, it's still crucial to keep track of portion sizes and your glucose level. If you're preparing a smoothie, for example, you should limit yourself to 4 to 6 ounces rather than consuming a whole glass of a smoothie. And, whether you're nibbling on dried fruit or using it in a dish, keep in mind how much sugar and carbohydrates it contains.

Fruit can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, here are some examples:

For a refreshing and appetizing snack, freeze grapes, dark sweet cherries, or berries.

For an added burst of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, add flaxseed to your smoothie. You can also freeze some of them to make ice pops.

Before freezing bananas, slice them and dip them in chocolate. Or enjoy frozen bananas as diabetes-friendly ice cream.

Easy to make diabetes-friendly dessert recipes

The correct combination of nutritious ingredients is the secret to a diabetes-friendly dessert. Choices that provide protein and fiber alongside natural sweetness to limit blood sugar swings. The flavor combinations should be delicious enough just to satisfy you without requiring super-sized portions. Finally, the desserts should be simple enough to whip up on the spur of the moment when your sweet desire strikes, or to create in bulk and keep on hand for when a craving strikes.

Pineapple ice cream

Nice cream, a healthy alternative to ice cream, is made entirely of fruit, is dairy-free, has low calories, and contains no added sugar. Tropical tastes dominate in this pineapple lovely ice cream, accompanied by a hint of mango and lime. Making this naturally sweet frozen treat in a food processor or blender just takes just a few minutes. Serve it alone or with fresh fruit and toasted coconut on top for extra nutrition.

Truffles

In a small mixing dish, combine the peanut butter and pretzels. Freeze for about 15 minutes, or until firm. Roll the peanut butter mixture into 20 balls. Make them about 1 teaspoon each. Freeze until very firm, approximately 1 hour, on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper. Roll the frozen balls in melted chocolate. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set. That can take about 30 minutes or so, make sure to check frequently. These truffles are going to be high on calories so keep that on your mind. Portion control is the key.

Cinnamon apple strudel

Looking for an easy-peasy Apple Strudel dessert that will impress everyone and that you can actually indulge on? No need to stress over a recipe that you can't eat. Using the right ingredients you will be able to prepare a delicious dessert you can enjoy too. Don't worry, it's easy to make it. Click here to find instructions and recipe for this delicious treat.

Banana cinnamon smoothie

Enjoy the taste of a typical cinnamon bun in a healthy way, sugar-free. Oats, frozen bananas, dates, chia seeds, vanilla extract, milk and yogurt of choice, and cinnamon are all included in this creamy smoothie recipe. Chia seeds are the best source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, yogurt is rich in calcium while bananas give potassium. These light recipes are easy to make and can be served as a nutritious breakfast or snack that's high in fiber.

Join our community

While we all share the same diagnosis, we each have our own story. Within this story, we remember the day we were diagnosed, from the little details like the layout of the doctor’s office to the life-changing words spoken that lead to the start of a completely new way of life. These thoughts have created and molded a story that you might think are concrete, yet we are here to tell you that those stories are as fluid as water and can be reshaped! Winning Type 2 Diabetes Together is an ever-growing group of over 40,000 diabetics who help each other, support each other, and laugh together! We want YOU to join the fun!