Can Diabetics Eat Chocolate?

Diabetics can eat chocolate or other sweets! A chocolate or a sweet can be healthy too, if combined with a healthy meal plan and exercise. In other words, diabetic condition doesn’t mean that you will have to bid farewell to all your favourite foods. Chocolate is the most preferred treat for most of us, which can also be included in diet plan even in case of diabetic.

Chocolate and Diabetes

• The basic ingredient of chocolate is sugar, a carbohydrate that increases blood glucose levels. Moreover, it has a substantial amount of fat, to affect heart health. It is generally combined with nuts, candy and marshmallows, which further alleviates amount of fat and sugar. Being a sweet treat, much intake of chocolate could raise out-of-control blood glucose levels, thus increasing diabetic complications.
• Chocolate contain flavonoids, a healthy ingredient found naturally in plant foods. These are considered good for heart health, as they help lower blood pressure and streamline blood flow.
• Flavonoids act as an antioxidant to repair damage caused by free radicals. Dark chocolates usually have more benefits than other chocolate types.
• Diabetes condition can be kept in control by planning ahead, by treating chocolate as a carbohydrate in a diabetes diet plan. Make sure you’re checking the serving size on the nutrition label and matching the same with food serving.
• Talk to your nutritionist or health care provider to help you incorporate chocolates in diet plan. Moreover, ask him regarding the adjustment of insulin to treat your diabetes.

Prevent Diabetes by Eating Chocolate

• Many sugar-free chocolates are available in marketplace nowadays, especially for the patients with high blood sugar level. Unlike other chocolates, these are beneficial for diabetics as they do not cause insulin levels to spike.
• These could be eaten as a substitute for sugar, with only a portion of it getting digested and absorbed. The part which is absorbed through the intestinal tract is absorbed slowly, causing slight change in blood sugar level and leaving no need for insulin.
• These chocolates are prepared with sugar substitutes, such as sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol, isomalt and maltitol. These artificial sweeteners may upset stomach, or cause gas and diarrhoea.

Markets are flooded with chocolates, touting to be sugar-free. Beware of these chocolates as they do not necessarily be free of sugar. Make sure that products belong to an established brand and have nutritional fact label to refer to.

Read more articles on Diabetes

Read Can Diabetics Eat Strawberries?