Despite being a starchy vegetable and a high GI food, potatoes can still be enjoyed by people with diabetes without facing the implied repercussions. In fact, some studies show that eating potatoes might actually aid people with type 2 diabetes in controlling their blood sugar.
Can people with diabetes eat potatoes? Although potatoes are a starchy vegetable, a person with diabetes can still enjoy them as part of a healthful diet.
Like any other carb-containing food, potatoes increase blood sugar levels. When you eat them, your body breaks down the carbs into simple sugars that move into your bloodstream. This is what's often called a spike in blood sugar levels ( 1 ).
People who have diabetes can benefit from limiting high-GI foods. Thus, it's often recommended that they choose sweet potatoes, especially when boiled rather than baked, over white potatoes, as they generally have a lower GI.
A new study suggests incorporating potatoes into a healthy diet can be a safe choice for people with diabetes. Adults with type 2 diabetes who ate a mixed evening meal with skinless potatoes had a lower overnight blood glucose response compared to a meal with low-GI basmati rice.
High in fiber and protein, beans are digested slowly in your body, making them great for managing blood glucose levels in a type 2 diabetes diet.
Potatoes and diabetes
If your carb goal at a meal is 30 grams, for example, then you can eat 1 cup of mashed potato or 1 medium potato, if you choose.
It is preferable not to eat white flour bread, but if you must, limit yourself to two medium slices. A slice of bread has about 32 calories in it. The total calories consumed from bread should not be more than 90 for a diabetic patient. Furthermore, diabetics should avoid eating white bread every day.
The American Diabetes Association recommends choosing whole grain bread or 100 percent whole wheat bread instead of white bread. White bread is made from highly processed white flour and added sugar. Here are some delicious and healthy breads to try: Joseph's Flax, Oat Bran and Wheat Pita Bread.
Potatoes are a starchy type of vegetable, meaning they are full of starch carbohydrates. After a long digestive process, starches eventually convert into glucose.
Eating butter in moderation is safe for those with diabetes. Choosing real butter instead of margarine will decrease trans fat intake and have a better overall impact on heart health and diabetes management. Since butter is a saturated fat, being mindful of total daily intake is important.
They're very low GI and it's good for a diabetic to have crumpets. They can give you lots of energy, also sustained energy. Crumpets are a very good thing to have in the morning for breakfast. Probably not as Small Talk likes them though, smothered in two inches of butter and marmite.
Whip it up with Instant Mashers™ Mashed Potato Mixes! Low carb & diabetic friendly, these taters are a treat with only 4 net carbs per serving.
Take Biscuits and Sausage Gravy Off Your Menu
Randall singles out this traditional Southern meal as an example of a combination that people who have diabetes should avoid.
If you have type 2 diabetes breakfast cereals made with wholegrains can help to manage blood glucose levels, they release glucose more slowly as they are low GI. Weetabix, Oatibix and Shredded Wheat can make for good choices.
Tomatoes are not high in sugar, and neither are carrots. Tomatoes, similar to carrots, are considered a non-starchy vegetable in meal planning for diabetes. This means that the amount of naturally occurring sugar is minimal in a serving.
Spread no-sugar-added peanut, almond, or other nut butter on whole-grain toast. Look for bread with at least 3 grams of fiber per slice. Top with fresh fruit, such as slices of strawberries or raspberries.
If you're eating Chinese food, chances are there's going to be rice on your plate. And if that rice is white, be prepared for a major blood sugar spike. White rice is so troublesome that one study found that for each serving a person ate per day, their risk of developing type 2 diabetes jumped by 11%.
Porridge oats or the instant variety are both fine - just avoid those with added free sugars like honey and golden syrup. Wheat biscuits, shredded wheat or muesli (with no added sugar) are also great alternatives.
Phipps reminded that "potatoes by themselves offer vitamins, minerals, and some fiber... but not much in the way of protein or fat." So, for those managing diabetes who want to enjoy potatoes, she suggests pairing them with a protein source like meat, fish or legumes and a healthy fat, like avocado or olive oil.
Unsalted butter or grass-fed (organic) butter is good for diabetic patients. Unsalted butter has no sodium, which is good for diabetic patients as well. What Can Diabetics Use Instead of Butter? Ideally, olive oil, nut butter, or clarified butter can be used by diabetes patients.
Regular Heinz Cream of Tomato soup is one which is best avoided with 6.8g carbs per 100g. We see many ladies try this soup and spike their blood sugar levels.
In case you didn't get the memo: Yes, those of us with diabetes CAN eat ice cream. Even though some outside the diabetes community don't think so, and they try to convince us we can't or shouldn't, the fact remains that an ice cream sundae or vanilla waffle cone every once in a while isn't going to kill us.