These are Drinks that Diabetics Should and Shouldn’t Have

When it comes to diabetes, it is imperative that you take the utmost care and precaution in what you eat and drink on a daily basis. You can never be too careful in maintaining your blood sugar levels such that zero-calorie or low-calorie drinks are the only ones that diabetics should consume. While living with diabetes is no easy feat, there are ways to ensure that your condition is stabilized. This means taking into account what you eat and drink so that you can prevent your condition from worsening. You may think that diabetics can’t enjoy themselves in choosing what they want to drink but there are still some healthy and harmless options that are surprisingly yummy and beneficial for your health. Here are five drinks that diabetics can have.

1. Water

You can never go wrong with some water. Not only does it hydrate your body to the fullest, but it is also great for your blood sugar levels as it won’t cause them to increase at all. What’s more, if you drink a sufficient amount of water daily, your body will be able to remove extra sugar in the form of glucose when you urinate. Fret not if drinking huge amounts of water seem boring and frankly, quite unbearable after a while as there is an array of variations that you can consume. Some of these options include adding fruits like lemon, lime, orange and frozen fruits into your drink. They will add a mildly sweet and fruity taste to your otherwise plain beverage and make it all the more pleasurable to consume. If fruity tastes are not to your liking, you can try adding mint or basil instead for a more refreshing take! 

2. Tea

Tea has always been known to provide a myriad of health benefits when consumed regularly. In particular, green tea is great for reducing blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels which can be detrimental to your health if they get too high. You can also choose to drink other teas like black, herbal, earl grey and jasmine green tea which are all just as beneficial. Not to mention that teas like earl grey and jasmine green tea contain caffeine so if you’re looking for a morning drink before work, definitely give them a try. For tea lovers, drinking a couple of cups a day should be a breeze and we recommend that you drink six cups a day to decrease your likelihood of getting type two diabetes. Be sure to drink your tea unsweetened and add rooibos or lemon if you want additional flavor. 

3. Coffee

For those who can’t start their day without a steaming cup of coffee, the good news is that you don’t have to give it up. What’s more, drinking more than one cup a day is good for your health as your likelihood of getting type two diabetes dramatically decreases. This is regardless of whether you prefer drinking caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee; both have the same advantages for your body. The only downside is that you cannot add any form of sweetener to your drink. This means no milk, cream or sugar in order to prevent your overall calorie count from increasing which will badly impact your blood sugar levels. 

4. Vegetable Juice

If you like to drink a cup of fruit or vegetable juice to detox in the morning, you don’t have to ditch this habit because of diabetes. All you need to do is switch your usual juice blend with tomato juice or a substitute for vegetable juice. Your daily detox drink can still be yummy even without fruit juice that is rich in sugar; simply throw in vegetables like celery and cucumbers as well as some naturally sweet berries and we guarantee that you will have yourself a healthy concoction that is packed with all the vitamins and minerals you’ll need for the day. 

5. Low-fat Milk

The ingredients in the drinks you consume on a daily basis can heavily impact your health and condition and it is imperative that you pursue a low-carb diet. Many may not know that dairy products like milk are actually high in carbohydrates but this does not mean that you can’t drink milk at all. The next time you go grocery shopping, opt for unsweetened, low-fat, or skim forms of your favorite milk brand. While you should avoid soy and rice milk, feel free to pick up a fortified nut or coconut milk if you are looking to try something new for your diet.