It can raise your blood glucose levels for about 2 to 5 hours. In order to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, it is important that you consume processed foods such as pizza in moderation. You can limit your consumption to 1 to 2 slices of pizza once or twice a week.
Pizza may actually be a good choice for people with type 2 diabetes; just be sure to order the thin-crust type and top it with vegetables rather than high-fat meats and extra cheese. It's also a good idea to watch portion sizes.
That depends on your overall diet and activity level. If you're eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise, then a slice or two of pizza occasionally won't do any harm. But if you're eating pizza every day, or if you're eating more than three slices at a time, then you might want to cut back.
Sugar in Pizza
A slice of the average frozen cheese pizza contains about 5 grams of sugar. An average piece of pizza with meat, such as pepperoni or sausage, has closer to 6 grams. One culprit is the pizza sauce, which can have up to 1.1 grams of added sugar per 1/4-cup serving. The crust also contains added sugar.
The primary macronutrient that affects blood sugar levels is carbohydrates. Carbohydrates in pizza come from the crust, sauce, and certain toppings such as high-starch vegetables. The amount of carbohydrates present in pizza can impact your blood sugar levels, especially for people with diabetes or insulin resistance.
While there are myths that state those with diabetes should not consume dairy, these products, including cheese, can actually be beneficial when consumed in moderate amounts. Cheese, in particular, can actually be great at helping to manage blood sugar levels because of its low glycemic index.
Consider this: The average slice of cheese pizza packs about 285 calories, according to the USDA. If you're trying to lose weight and your goal is to consume around 1,500 calories a day, eating two slices is over a third of your daily caloric intake.
A general rule of thumb is that adults will eat around 3 slices of pizza and children will eat around 2 slices when purchasing a standard pie. Increase that estimate to 4 slices per adult and 3 slices per child when ordering smaller sized pies or thin crust options.
A large pizza can have as many as 10 slices, which means that it could provide about 2,500-3,500 calories or more. That's a lot of calories, and it's important to remember that if you're trying to lose weight or watch your calorie intake, you need to be aware of how many slices you're eating.
How Much Pizza Can Diabetics Consume? People with diabetes should be mindful of their refined and total carbohydrate intake. Therefore, when you choose foods such as pizza, make sure to have them occasionally. You can enjoy 1 to 2 slices of your favourite pizza once or twice a week.
Fried Chicken Restaurants
In general, poultry is a smart choice while following a diabetes-friendly diet—except when it's breaded or dipped in flour and fried. This version adds not just carbs but saturated fat and calories as well to menu items at restaurants like KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) and Popeyes.
A. No, zero sugar soda uses artificial sweeteners, which increases people's weight. Increased weight, in turn, is linked to the worsening of diabetes. Hence, zero soda is not suitable for diabetes.
Pizza can be a high-carbohydrate food. The carbohydrates are metabolized into simple sugars, which can increase blood sugar levels. People with diabetes need to monitor their carbohydrate intake, but they can continue to eat pizza in moderation.
Bottom line: Yes, you can eat at McDonald's, but be aware of serving sizes and limits based on your overall daily nutritional needs. Talk to a nutritionist or your doctor about counting carbs, proteins, and fats.
The bottom line is: If you live a mostly healthy lifestyle, one slice of pizza won't change that, and you'll only gain the weight of the pizza you consumed. However, if you have health issues — including heart disease, or high blood pressure — it's obviously best not to overindulge.
If you're relatively healthy, indulging in a slice of pepperoni pizza every once in a while will not (repeat: will NOT) kill you. It won't even affect your weight. In the short term, your weight will only increase by the actual weight of the pizza, according to Angelone.
In general, one to two servings of pizza a week is a reasonable amount. It is important to keep in mind that too much of a good thing can be unhealthy; pizza is typically high in sodium, saturated fat, and Calories.
“Choose thin crust versus thick crust or even stuffed crust to help reduce the total calories and sodium,” says Kimberlain. One slice of a small thin-crust pizza with no cheese has 141 calories and 282 mg sodium, according to the USDA.
The amount of pizza slices that can be considered too much depends on a variety of factors, including age and activity level. Generally speaking, an adult should consume no more than two or three slices per meal in order to maintain a healthy diet.
Contrary to common belief, you can enjoy chips as a snack, even if you have diabetes. While you'll still need to keep an eye on sodium and be carb-conscious, you don't have to ban the foods you love from your diet.
Avoid Fried Foods Like French Fries and Chicken Nuggets
Fried foods are usually breaded, which can add up to lots of carbohydrates, unhealthy fats, and calories, says Kimberlain. Too much fat in your diet can lead to weight gain, she adds, which can worsen type 2 diabetes.
While there are some extra things to consider, ice cream can be included in a healthy meal pattern even if you have diabetes. It's best to eat ice cream in moderation and to choose an option with lower saturated fat, lower carbs and no or low added sugar.