Contents:
- Medical Video: 10 Best and Worst Drinks for Diabetics | What Can I Drink If I Have Diabetes
- Drinks for diabetes that are safe for consumption
- 1. Water
- 2. Tea
- 3. Coffee
- 4. Juice
- 5. Low-fat milk
- Drinks should be avoided
- 1. Soft drinks
- 2. Alcoholic beverages
- 3. Energy drinks
- 4. Zero-calorie soda
Medical Video: 10 Best and Worst Drinks for Diabetics | What Can I Drink If I Have Diabetes
Having diabetes mellitus, that means you have to be careful not only with the food you eat but also with the drink of your choice. Moreover, people with diabetes mellitus often feel excessive thirst or known as polydipsia. Well, that's why, know what drinks for diabetes are allowed and should be avoided when thirst strikes. See below for a review.
Drinks for diabetes that are safe for consumption
The American Diabetes Association recommends people with diabetes mellitus to choose drinks that have low calories and no calories at all. This is to prevent a surge in blood sugar that suddenly increases dramatically after the drink is consumed. Non-calorie drinks are usually not going to affect the condition of blood sugar, making it safe for diabetics.
Then, what are the drinks for diabetes suggested by experts?
1. Water
Water is the best choice of drinks for diabetes. Because, water will not increase blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels can cause dehydration.
Eat 8-10 days of water every day to meet your thirst and fluid needs in your body. If water does not appeal to you, make a number of variations such as adding lemon or lime slices that do not provide high added sugar.
2. Tea
Tea basically has benefits that are good for the body as a whole. Research shows green tea can help lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol (LDL) levels in the blood.
Whatever type of tea you drink, green tea, black tea, or herbal tea can be consumed by those of you who have diabetes mellitus. Tea can be a drink for diabetes that is good if consumed without sugar, or if you want a sweetener, use artificial sugar specifically for people with diabetes.
But you should avoid buying bottled tea that is already on the market, and make it yourself to make it more secure.
3. Coffee
Coffee is also safe for diabetics even to prevent diabetes mellitus. A 2012 study found that drinking coffee can help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
But coffee that is safe for diabetics is coffee that does not contain sugar. Adding milk, cream, or sugar to coffee is not recommended, because it will increase your overall calorie count and can affect blood sugar levels.
4. Juice
Fruit juice is also allowed for people with diabetes mellitus, but make sure you take into account the juice you will drink with your entire meal in a day. Because, fruit also contains sugar which can affect blood sugar levels. Always also choose pure, unsweetened fruit juices and add sweet thick cream.
You can also try alternative fruit juices mixed with vegetables, or vegetable juice. Mix green leafy vegetables, celery or cucumber for extra fiber, vitamins and minerals. Also avoid the fruit juice that you get in packaged fruit juice, and make your own natural juice
5. Low-fat milk
Milk is also still allowed and safe as a drink for diabetes. Milk contains minerals that are important for the body, but you must remember that milk still contributes carbohydrates to your body.
For diabetics, you should choose unsweetened milk, low-fat milk or skim milk for you. Even though you may drink milk, you also need to limit it to only 1-2 glasses a day.
Drinks should be avoided
1. Soft drinks
Soda is a beverage that contains high sugar and has the potential to cause a surge in blood sugar. Therefore, soda is not recommended to maintain stable blood sugar levels.
Not only does it increase the blood sugar surge to become unstable, high-sugar drinks like soda also have the potential to make your body weight higher. Increasing body weight can potentially worsen your diabetes mellitus.
2. Alcoholic beverages
Alcohol is also not recommended for people with diabetes, even though alcohol doesn't actually contain sugar, but beer and other alcoholic drinks contain a mixture of sugar. Alcohol itself can also affect blood sugar stability by lowering your blood sugar level in the direction of hypoglycemia.
3. Energy drinks
Energy drinks contain high carbohydrates. Research in endocrine news shows that energy drinks not only increase blood sugar spikes but also can make insulin resistance, this could potentially increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. For people with diabetes, this condition certainly also has the potential to cause more severe side effects than before.
4. Zero-calorie soda
Have you ever seen carbonated drinks that are claimed not to contain sugar or calories? Now be careful, especially for diabetics. Artificial sweeteners found in sodas which are claimed for diet are also not recommended for people with diabetes mellitus.
Reported on the Healthline page, these artificial sweeteners can have a negative effect on bacteria in the digestive system. The impact of this will increase insulin resistance so that it will worsen your diabetes condition.
