List Of Healthy Snacks For Diabetics

When hunger begins to strike, you need to find snacks that can fill you up without having too much of an effect on your blood sugar. As a diabetic, your snacks should follow a similar structure to your meals and include a healthy combination of carbohydrates, fat and protein. The best snack is one that is somewhere between 100 and 200 calories and contains between 15 and 30 g of carbs.

Nuts

Cashews, almonds, peanuts, walnuts and pecans all contain healthy monounsaturated fats that help fight off your risk of developing heart disease and naturally lower your cholesterol levels. Because nuts are filled with these healthy fats and protein, they won't cause a spike in your blood sugar like snacks such as pretzels or crackers will. Nuts are high in calories, so keep portions to 1 oz., which is the equivalent to the amount of nuts that fit in the palm of your hand.

Fruit

Because being a diabetic means that sugar-rich foods are off limits, the choices of fruit you can eat is limited. The good news is that some fruits are safe for you to snack on. Some good diabetic fruit choices include apricots, bananas, apples, oranges, blueberries and grapefruit. Avoid fruits that are higher in sugar, such as watermelon, grapes and dates. Just like nuts, eat fruit in moderation.

Vegetables

You can't go wrong when you snack on vegetables. Eating raw vegetables is your best option as they contain all of the nutrients that are sometimes lost during cooking. Vegetables are loaded with antioxidants that protect you from hypertension, stroke and heart disease. Choose your favorite vegetables, like tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. You can dip vegetables in a low-fat, low-calorie hummus or salad dressing.

Crackers

Fiber-rich crackers make a healthy snack for diabetics. Always check the label before you buy crackers, as some are not healthy. Start with the baked options and look for the brands that are both low in calories and fat. Add a dose calcium by having some fat-free cheese with the crackers. You can also spread a little natural peanut butter on top of unsalted soup crackers.