1. Make Some Adjustments
Just because you have diabetes doesn't mean that you can't enjoy sweets. Desserts can still fit into diabetic diets, if you make them fit. The key is to use sweeteners to achieve the taste of the dessert, while still keeping your blood sugar levels in your target range. Diabetics can sweeten their foods with sugar, fructose, brown sugar, honey, molasses and confectioner's sugar. There are also some reduced-calorie sweeteners on the market such as sorbitol, erythritol and lactitol. Low-calorie sweeteners include aspartame, ascelfume potassium and saccharin. Splenda is yet another option--which is made from real sugar.
2. Sugar and Sugar Level
Diabetics don't have to completely avoid sugar like they were once urged to do. It's not sugar that affects your blood sugar level the most, but the total amount of carbohydrates you eat. In addition to the amount of carbs you eat, the type of carbs can have a huge impact. Some carbohydrates, like white bread, have a higher glycemic index than foods like whole wheat pasta. The higher the glycemic index, the more the food will cause dips and spikes in your blood glucose level. Experts say you incorporate sugary foods into diabetic diets, as long as you work them into your eating plan. Even if you fit them in, though, it's important to remember that sweets don't give your body the same good minerals and vitamins of other foods, so moderation is the key.
3. Have Your Cake and Eat it, Too?
If you want to eat diabetic desserts but you're trying to trim down your waistline, try to satisfy your sweet tooth by eating dried or fresh fruit. When you're eating out, split dessert with someone else so that you need less. On that same train of thought, it's a better idea to make a small serving of your favorite dessert and eat it than to eat a large portion of an ordinary dessert. When following a recipe, cut back on the fat and sugar it calls for or choose lower-fat and lower-calorie dessert recipes.
4. Get a Dose of Fiber
A number of studies show that diets low in cholesterol and saturated fat can reduce your risk of several conditions, including diabetes. Soluble fiber slows the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates because it traps it, which helps prevent big swings in your blood sugar level. Eat a dessert that's chock full of fiber to provide your body with the much-needed nutrient. Apples are a good source of fiber, so consider eating apple cinnamon muffins, apple biscotti, apple pie or baked apples for dessert. Leaving the chunky apple in the dessert, as opposed to just a trace of apple, will add more fiber to the recipe.
5. Make it Work
There are tons of diabetic desserts that you can make at home. The Internet is a huge resource for recipes--for everything from chocolate cake to creamy cantaloupe. The key is to find diabetic desserts that list the nutritional value of the complete recipe. This will help you fit them into your strict diet. You can also make some substitutions in your daily eating plan to allow for sweets. For instance, if you were planning on eating a turkey sandwich but now want two small cookies, too, make your sandwich on light bread to cut down on the carbohydrates. Now you can have the cookies and still be eating the same amount of carbs.
