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.
“My favorite breakfast cereal recommendation for people with diabetes is a high-fiber, low-sugar option such as bran flakes,” says Palinski-Wade. With 5 grams of fiber per serving, this type of cereal contains 19 grams of net carbs per ¾ cup serving, making it lower in carbohydrates than many breakfast cereals.
Weetabix and Oatibix are low in sugar and salt. Each Weetabix biscuit has less than 1g of sugar and only contains 0.05g of salt (1 Weetabix = approx. 19g).
So in short, the original Weetabix is pretty healthy and is certainly a much healthier option compared to many of the cereals on the supermarket shelves.
According to the American Diabetes Association, rolled oatmeal, steel-cut oatmeal, and oat bran are all low GI foods, with a GI value of 55 or less. Quick oats have a medium GI, with a value of 56-69. Corn flakes, puffed rice, bran flakes, and instant oatmeal are considered high GI foods, with a value of 70 or more.
Oat foods — such as oatmeal and muesli made from steel-cut or rolled oats — are low-GI foods, with a score of under 55. In comparison, other breakfast cereals, such as puffed rice or corn flakes, have a GI score of above 70.
Sugarfree biscuits are made without including any sugar. This prevents a spike in blood sugar levels. It is ok to consume sugar free biscuits if a person is diabetic.
People with diabetes may need to limit the amount of flavored sweetened milk they drink. People with diabetes may choose to use milk products that are full fat or whole, reduced fat or fat free depending on their preference or their calorie and nutrition goals.
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.
Fruits like bananas are healthy foods that contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals. You can include bananas in your diet even if you have diabetes.
Like dark leafy greens, non-starchy vegetables are rich in fiber, low in carbs, and blood-sugar friendly. Because they aren't starchy and have lots of fiber, they won't cause a blood sugar spike. Some examples of non-starchy veggies are onions, mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, celery, and brussels sprouts.
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.
A recent study published in the Journal of Dairy Science encourages people with type 2 diabetes to add cow's milk to their cereal for better blood sugar control.
Peanut butter contains essential nutrients, and it can be part of a healthful diet when a person has diabetes. However, it is important to eat it in moderation, as it contains a lot of calories. People should also make sure their brand of peanut butter is not high in added sugar, salt, or fat.
As you can see below, they both have similar amounts of protein, carbohydrate and dietary fibre. The only major difference is oats have more fat and slightly more calories. Additional point: - Be cautious of flavoured oats, they have slightly less protein and can have up 24 x the amount of sugar.
Best weetabix alternative: Aldi Harvest Morn Wheat Bisks. Best golden syrup-flavoured porridge: Quaker Oats So Simple Golden Syrup Porridge. Best special k-style cereal: ASDA Special Flakes Cereal. Best fruit & nut muesli: Lizi's Super Muesli Glow.
At 157 calories per two biscuit serving, a bowl of Weetabix Banana Flavour is high in fibre and low in both salt and fat, making it a fantastic breakfast option for all ages.
A 5-ounce can of tuna provides around 20 grams of protein and no carbs, which makes it a great snack option if you have diabetes. Additionally, tuna provides small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to help manage diabetes due to their potential to lower inflammation and improve blood sugar control.