If you are on a diet to manage your diabetes, chances are you have severely limited the sugars in your diet. You may also be watching your total carbohydrate intake. Cutting chocolate from your diet may seem to be the logical, albeit unpleasant, necessity. Perhaps not. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that chocolate may help to regulate blood sugar levels. Watch sugar and fat as you indulge, and chocolate can fit into any diet, even one designed to control diabetes.
Fondue
Step 1
Make a low-sugar fondue. Purchase a bar of unsweetened baking chocolate. Baking chocolate contains saturated fat, but evidence suggests that it can have a positive effect on a person's cholesterol profile. Of course, you'll want to eat it in moderation.
Step 2
Crumble the chocolate into pieces and heat it over a double-boiler. Add a few packets of a heat-stable, low-calorie sweetener, such as stevia.
Step 3
Dip slices of apples and bananas into the mixture for a delicious treat.
Hot Chocolate
Step 1
Prepare a mug of hot chocolate. Heat 8 oz. of nonfat milk until hot, but not boiling.
Step 2
Break 0.75 oz. of unsweetened baking chocolate into pieces and add to the milk. Stir until melted.
Step 3
Add low-calorie sweetener to taste and a dash of cinnamon. Cinnamon is a nice complement to chocolate, and has been shown to increase the body's sensitivity to insulin, according to Dr. Catherine M. Champagne of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
Step 4
Keep a few packets of sugar-free hot chocolate on hand for times when you want a quick treat.
Get Creative with Cocoa
Step 1
Invest in a container of high-quality cocoa.
Step 2
Add it to cake and cookie recipes that are formulated for diabetics. Cocoa powder is virtually fat-free and contains few calories. It does, however, add the rich taste of chocolate -- along with chocolate's healthy benefits -- to the foods you prepare using it.
Step 3
Eat cocoa with your breakfast. You can sprinkle cocoa powder over a mug of coffee or even add a spoonful to your morning oatmeal for a chocolate treat.
Things You'll Need
- Unsweetened baking chocolate
- Low-calorie sweetener
- Nonfat milk
- Cinnamon
- Cocoa
