Diabetes impairs the body’s production and use of insulin. It makes it hard to manage blood sugar for a person to feel healthy. It’s the one goal of diabetic, to have their blood sugar in a healthy range.
Every meal you have, you have to count your carbs so you can manage your blood sugar. Carbohydrates affect your blood sugar right away.
It’s crucial for a diabetic person to select foods that are high-fiber and nutrient-rich rather than foods that are high in sugar and processed carbs. Your carb intake goals have to be decided with a healthcare provider.
This only means that your diet matters a lot. Eating foods that are nutritious, higher fiber, low in sugar, and unhealthy fat, can manage your blood sugar levels, and improve your health also.
Oatmeal has a ton of health benefits plus it can also save you a lot of money on food expenses. It’s become one of the well-known foods of diabetics. But like all diabetic foods, portions have to be controlled. A cup of oatmeal is about 30 grams of carbs.
Oatmeal belongs to the top most common breakfast foods. It’s made of oat kernels when its husks are removed.
It’s either chopped, rolled, or instant oat groats. The rule is, the more processed your oats are, the faster they’re digested, and your blood sugar rises faster too.
Oatmeal is normally cooked with hot water, with toppings like peanuts, almonds, sweeteners, and fruits. It can also easily be reheated.
Because oatmeal belongs in the lower bracket of the glycemic index, it’s a better alternative to most unhealthy breakfast options like cereal, bread, and pancakes.
People with diabetes can test their glucose levels to see how their blood sugar will respond.
Oatmeal can be great for your heart health, and this is important because diabetic people are more likely to get heart disease.
Eating oatmeal for your diabetes has its advantages. It regulates your blood sugar. It’s good for your heart. It reduces your need to be injected. You can prepare it in a jiffy. It’s high fiber. It’s great for your energy needs. And it helps with your digestion.
Disadvantages of Oatmeal for Diabetics
There are cases wherein oatmeal spiked blood sugar levels of diabetics, especially when its instant coffee with a lot of sugar. Also when diabetics eat too much of it at a time.
Oatmeal can have bad effects for people with gastroparesis. The fiber in oatmeal makes it hard to empty the stomach.
Oatmeal Rules for Diabetics
Oatmeal is a great addition to your diet to manage your diabetes. Especially if you eat it instead of a cake, a bottle of Coke, or mayonnaise.
When you’re eating oatmeal, you can eat it with a protein source like eggs, pecans, walnuts, and almonds.
You can also opt for steel-cut oats as these are high in soluble fiber.
Sprinkle it with cinnamon as it reduces heart disease. It can improve your sensitivity to insulin and lower your blood sugar. Add different kinds of berries like blackberries.
Top it with low-fat milk or pair it with soy milk.
Avoid pre-packaged oatmeal as much as possible. Avoid adding dried fruit. Don’t put sweeteners, or limit the amount of sweeteners like sugar, honey, or syrup. Avoid cream as much as possible.
Oatmeal also benefits in lowering your cholesterol, managing your weight, keeping your skin healthy, and reducing your risk of getting colon cancer.
Summary
When you choose the best oatmeal for you, and if you get into the habit of enjoying it, you can benefit a lot. It’s a carb source, so don’t add too many unhealthy toppings.
Start your day with an experiment on the fruits you can top with oatmeal.
See how your blood sugar reacts after eating your oatmeal meal. Each person has a way of reacting to foods. If you make any drastic dietary changes, and your body feels uncomfortable, it’s important you talk to your doctor or dietitian.
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