Desserts are not always diabetic-friendly. According to the Mayo Clinic, diabetes is a disease characterized by your body's inability to manage glucose and insulin levels. Because sugar affects glucose and insulin management, you should avoid excessive sugar consumption as a diabetic. Many sugar-free or diabetic-friendly dessert options are available, and many recipes can be adapted for diabetics.
Cakes
When baking cake for a diabetic, you can substitute an artificial sweetener for the granulated sugar in the cake's recipe. Most sugar substitutes can replace sugar cup for cup. Avoid using boxed cake mixes, as they tend to contain high amounts of sugar. Instead of frosting your cake with a high-sugar, high-fat frosting or glaze, serve the cake with warm fruit spooned on top. If you do make a frosting, be sure to substitute artificial sugar for granulated sugar in the frosting recipe.
Fruit
Fruit makes an excellent diabetic dessert, and can be served in a variety of ways. Because fruit contains natural fructose instead of sucrose, or table sugar, its sugars are more easily tolerated by diabetics. Serve seasonal fruit with cottage cheese or over frozen yogurt for a fresh and healthy dessert. Fruit can also be baked into healthful crisps or low-sugar pies. Berries, stone fruit, apples and bananas are some common fruits that are recommended fruits for diabetics.
Ice Cream
Many ice cream options are available to diabetics. Many brands offer sugar-free or low sugar flavors, which are also usually lower in fat and calories than regular ice cream. Look for ice creams which get most of their sugar amounts from sugar alcohols. According to the American Diabetes Association, sugar alcohols have a lesser effect on your blood sugar levels, and are therefore a better diabetic-friendly sweetener than sugar. Some brands make ice creams that have been sweetened with fruit or fruit juices.
Considerations
You should always consume desserts in moderation, whether they are diabetic-friendly or not. Many desserts are high in fat, calories and carbohydrates. Because carbohydrates are a form of sugar and affect blood sugar levels directly, you should limit and monitor your carbohydrate intake. Eat small, occasional portions of sugar-free desserts to manage your cravings and your diabetes. Consult your physician before altering your diabetic diet.
