Drinks For Diabetics

When they are done   recommendations   For patients with diabetes, it is usually thought almost exclusively about those foods that they can and cannot eat. But we rarely pay attention to diabetic drinks.

It is not that these patients have to drink special drinks, but some of those on the market are not suitable for them because they contain significant amounts of carbohydrates or sugars that alter blood glucose.  

People with diabetes have a problem regulating insulin secretion and controlling blood sugar levels. However, it is necessary to handle these values ​​appropriately since both the   hyperglycemia, high blood sugar values, such as hypoglycemia, low values, can have serious health consequences.

The dietary and hydration needs are the same as those of non-diabetic people. It is important to follow healthy eating guidelines adapted to the requirements of each one to maintain a good quality of life. It is essential to prevent the appearance of possible complications and future diseases as much as possible.  

Diabetic drinks

The most suitable drinks for diabetics to drink throughout the day are those that do not modify blood glucose values. Among them we find the following:

Sparkling water and water

Without a doubt, water is one of the healthiest drinks for everyone. In fact, it is the best choice to hydrate and drink during the day. Water is one of the major components of the body and, thanks to hydration, we can perform some functions:

• Regulate body temperature.
• Protect structures and joints.
• Eliminate waste substances.
• Transport nutrients.  

Water does not raise blood glucose; neither does sparkling water, as it does not contain carbohydrates Although the latter is another   Of the possible drinks for diabetics, it is not advisable to abuse as it involves the intake of a lot of gas and, in some occasions, high amounts of salts.

People suffering from gastroesophageal reflux should also be careful with sparkling water, regurgitation and burning as it can make your symptoms worse.

Infusions and coffee

Herbal infusions, coffee and tea are totally suitable drinks for diabetics, as long as they are not sugary.

In addition, in this case it could not be simple drinks to quench thirst as they could also benefit from some of its properties. For example, in the case of green tea, there is evidence of the following effects on the body:

• Reduce anxiety.  
• Improves cognitive aspects such as memory or attention.
• It can have effects in the prevention of some diseases such as cardiovascular problems, cancer, arthritis or high blood pressure.  

Sugar-free soft drinks

As we will see later, soft drinks are not one of the recommended drinks for diabetics. However, nowadays a large number of light versions or without added sugar are on the market. These could be taken, although it is advisable to always read the labels to make sure they do not contain carbohydrates.  

However, the nutritional recommendations in this regard are the same as for the general population: it is not advisable to abuse this type of beverages as they do not provide nutrients.  

What drinks cannot diabetics drink?

People with diabetes cannot drink any type of drink with a high sugar content as it can alter their blood glucose. Therefore, the following drinks are not recommended :

• Juices, nectars or   Fruit smoothies, even homemade ones or those that do not contain added sugar, since they provide the carbohydrates naturally present in fruit but are absorbed much faster.
• Sugary soft drinks.  
• Dairy shakes with sugar.
• Diabetics have to be especially careful with alcoholic beverages, as they have a potential hypoglycemic effect.

Although we have seen that fruit juices are not advisable, this recommendation cannot be transferred to whole pieces of fruit. The latter should be part of the daily diet and the amount of carbohydrates to consume.  

Milk is not a drink of choice but it can be drunk

Milk is a drink that contains carbohydrates. Specifically, a 200 ml glass has approximately 12 grams in the form of lactose. This is a naturally present sugar but, as it provides carbohydrates, milk cannot be a free-use drink in the case of diabetics.

Therefore, although you can drink cow’s, goat’s or sheep’s milk because it provides many nutrients, such as calcium and protein, this sugar should be counted as part of the amount of carbohydrates to be consumed in a day.

If we want to replace cow’s milk with vegetable drinks, we must pay attention to which type we choose. All those derived from a cereal such as rice or oats have a high amount of carbohydrates, even those that do not have added sugar.

On the other hand, almond, hazelnut or coconut drinks are more suitable for their low sugar levels, although none of them can be compared to water or infusions.  

The best drinks for diabetics are those that do not provide carbohydrates

Therefore, the most suitable drinks will be water, infusions, coffee or sugar-free soft drinks sporadically. By following this guideline, drinks will not affect blood sugar levels. This is important as we take some of them in large quantities at the end of the day to stay hydrated.

On the other hand, those that do have carbohydrates, as could be   cow’s milk or fruit juices,   should be taken into account when assessing the total amounts of carbohydrates for the day.