Can Diabetics Eat Yellow Squash?

Yellow squash is a general term for a variety of summer squashes that come in shapes that include crookneck, zucchinilike and patty pan. A source of vitamin C, vitamin A, lutein and zeaxanthin, yellow squash can be a regular component of a healthy diet for people with diabetes to control blood sugar levels.

Healthy Meals With Yellow Squash

Many individuals with diabetes should consume 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrates per meal to reduce unhealthy fluctuations in blood sugar levels. A cup of cooked yellow squash contains 6.8 grams of carbohydrates. For breakfast, you could have egg whites scrambled with yellow squash, a whole-grain English muffin and a small pear. Lunch could include soup made with low-sodium beef broth, yellow squash and other vegetables, and 1/2 cup of kidney beans. Have a container of plain, fat-free yogurt and some berries for dessert. For dinner, serve grilled chicken breast with one-half of a large baked potato, yellow squash and a slice of whole-wheat bread.

Dietary Fiber

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Yellow squash can be healthy for individuals with diabetes because each cup of cooked crookneck squash provides 2 grams of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber helps lower blood sugar levels after you eat a meal, and you should try to consume 14 grams of fiber per 1,000 calories in your diet, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2. Make a high-fiber side dish with yellow squash, black beans, red bell peppers, chili power and cumin.

Limit Saturated Fat

Diabetes increases your risk for heart disease, but a diet low in saturated fat reduces your risk. Yellow squash can fit into your diet for diabetes because it is fat-free. Eat your squash raw or steam, grill or roast it to keep it fat-free. If you saute it or brush it with fat before roasting it, use vegetable oil or olive oil instead of butter, which is high in saturated fat. Another way to limit saturated fat is to use lean ground turkey instead of ground beef for making stuffed squash.

Limit Sodium Consumption

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Diabetes is a risk factor for high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart disease and stroke. Following a low-sodium diet, with no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day, can help you control your blood pressure. A cup of cooked yellow crookneck squash is suitable for a low-sodium diet because it contains only 2 milligrams of sodium. Squash cooked with salt contains 427 milligrams of sodium per cup.