Some blood-sugar-friendly snacks dietitians recommend include an apple with peanut butter, homemade energy balls, veggies with hummus and a hard-boiled egg with grapes. Happy snacking!
Sugar-Free Alternatives
Mushrooms, spinach, kale, soybean sprouts, celery, broccoli, cucumber, cauliflower, radishes, and asparagus are among the vegetables with the lowest sugar content available. Seafood, pork, beef, and chicken are all sugar-free. They're also an important source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
Drinking water and staying hydrated is important for managing blood sugar, also known as blood glucose. “Water helps your kidneys filter out excess sugar through urine,” says Khan. “So, the more hydrated you are, the more urine production you'll have, which flushes out sugar in the body.”
For example, many brands contain 1 gram of sugar per serving (2 tablespoons), whereas others contain 3 grams per serving (2 tablespoons). If you eat 2 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter with breakfast every day for a week, that adds up to 18 grams of sugar—that's more than half an entire can of soda!
Artificial sweeteners are synthetic compounds that are often hundreds of times sweeter than sugar itself. Popular examples include aspartame (Equal), sucralose (Splenda) and saccharin (Sweet'N Low). All of these are low-calorie and have little-to-no effect on blood glucose levels.
Try fresh fruit baked, grilled, stewed, or poached. Make and enjoy your own snack mix (granola) without added sugar. Combine your favorite nuts, seeds, dried fruit, rolled oats, and whole grain cereal. Use unsweetened applesauce as a substitute for some or all of the sugar in your baked goods.
Healthier snack options are those without added sugar, such as fresh or tinned fruit (in juice, not syrup), unsalted mixed nuts, plain popcorn, rice cakes, crackers topped with lower-fat cheese or lower-sugar yoghurts.
The fastest way to lower blood sugar is to take fast-acting insulin medication. Exercise can also help to bring down blood sugar levels quickly. Diet and lifestyle changes can help manage overall blood sugar levels, but for immediate action, prescription medication or medical assistance may be necessary.
But there is one food that stands alone as the best snack for lower blood sugar: nuts. Nuts are delicious, nutritious and incredibly versatile as far as snack foods go. Plus, they can be stored at room temperature (or in the freezer for longer periods) and are great for grab-and-go snacks.
Lemon water may not directly impact your blood sugar levels and cause it to come down, but it can surely help prevent untimely spikes. The easy to make beverage is very low in carbohydrates and calories, and keeps you hydrated, which is very essential for diabetics to ensure.
You might be surprised that pasta, pizza and rice are in this meal plan, But they can still be part of your sugar-free diet. This is because the carb choices are mostly whole grain, or contian both starch and fiber and do not contain as much added sugar that pastries do.
You can add fruits like dates, applesauce, and bananas to sweeten your food with natural sugar. These fruits also provide added nutrients and fiber, making them a healthier alternative to refined sugars.
Condiments and sauces: Ketchup, jarred pasta sauce, barbecue sauce, and salad dressings may taste savory, but they often hide added sugars. Protein bars or yogurt: These foods can be a good way to add protein to your diet, but some of them could have high amounts of added sugars.