The Simple Guide to Free Foods for People with Diabetes (2024)

Home Health & Wellness Diabetic

Updated: Aug. 08, 2023

    The Simple Guide to Free Foods for People with Diabetes (2)Svetlana Lukienko/Shutterstock

    If you're managing diabetes and confused about free foods, this guide will clear things up.

    When you have diabetes, it’s important to understand the nutritional value of every food you eat. Some foods are so low in calories and carbs that they’re considered “free” foods. Here’s everything you need to know about this selective group.

    By the way, follow these rules to keep your blood sugar steady.

    What AreFree Foods for People With Diabetes?

    Simply put, free foods for diabetics are any food or drink that contains less than 20 calories or less than 5 grams of carbohydrate per serving.

    These minimal foods don’t need to be counted in the exchange system, but there are still a few restrictions. For example, people with diabetes should not eat more than three free foods a day, and they should spread them out to avoid spiking blood sugar levels.

    Diabetic Free Foods List

    Here are some examples of free foods for diabetics, as outlined by a committee of the American Diabetes Association and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:

    • Carbonated water
    • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
    • Coffee or tea
    • 1 cup raw cabbage
    • Hard, sugar-free candy
    • 1 cup raw cucumber
    • 2 tablespoons whipped topping
    • 1 cup rawsalad greens and lettuce
    • Sugar-free gum

    View the entire list here.

    Up Next: Learn about the worst eating habits for anyone with diabetes.

    Originally Published: July 13, 2007

    Author

    Katie Bandurski

    As Taste of Home's senior shopping editor, Katie connects readers with the best gifts, kitchen gear and home items on the market. An avid foodie and a holiday enthusiast, Katie is an expert at cultivating meaningful moments. Before joining the shopping team, Katie worked as a digital staff writer at Better Homes & Gardens and on the Taste of Ho...

    The Simple Guide to Free Foods for People with Diabetes (3)

    The Simple Guide to Free Foods for People with Diabetes (2024)

    FAQs

    What drink lowers blood sugar? ›

    Drinking water is an excellent way to stay hydrated without consuming sugar. Green tea, cow's milk, and fermented milk (kefir) could also help you manage your blood sugar responses. Coffee also contains compounds that may help regulate blood sugar, but confirming this requires more research.

    What foods will lower blood sugar quickly? ›

    Here are five foods that can make a difference.
    • Berries. Don't make your trip to the store fruitless. ...
    • Go nuts. That's right—go ahead and snack on almonds, cashews or even pistachios. ...
    • Leafy greens. ...
    • Non-starchy vegetables. ...
    • Whole grains.

    What three drinks should diabetics avoid? ›

    The 3 worst drinks
    • regular soda.
    • energy drinks that contain sugar.
    • fruit juices.

    What is the best medicine to lower A1C? ›

    FARXIGA can help with your first priority—lowering your A1C

    FARXIGA is a once-daily pill proven to help lower A1C, along with diet and exercise. *Average reduction with 5mg + metformin XR when starting at 9.2% A1C. Metformin XR alone lowered A1C by 1.4% when starting at 9.1% A1C. Individual results may vary.

    How can I flush sugar out of my system fast? ›

    Drinking plenty of water helps your kidneys flush out excess sugar. One study found that people who drink more water lower their risk for developing high blood sugar levels. And remember, water is the best. Sugary drinks elevate blood sugar by raising it even more.

    What are the 5 worst foods for blood sugar? ›

    Foods to limit or avoid
    1. Refined grains. Refined grains like white bread, pasta, and rice are high in carbs but low in fiber, which can increase blood sugar levels more quickly than their whole grain counterparts. ...
    2. Sugar-sweetened beverages. ...
    3. Fried foods. ...
    4. Alcohol. ...
    5. Breakfast cereal. ...
    6. Candy. ...
    7. Processed meats. ...
    8. Fruit juice.

    What brings sugar down immediately? ›

    The quickest way to lower your blood sugar is to take fast-acting insulin. Exercising is another fast, effective way. However, in severe cases, you should go to the hospital. High blood sugar levels are known as hyperglycemia or high blood glucose.

    What snack does not spike blood sugar? ›

    Certain foods, such as leafy greens, whole grains, eggs, and nuts, will not raise blood sugar as much as other foods and can help lower a person's long-term fasting glucose levels.

    What foods can diabetics eat freely? ›

    Here are some examples of free foods for diabetics, as outlined by a committee of the American Diabetes Association and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:
    • Carbonated water.
    • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder.
    • Coffee or tea.
    • 1 cup raw cabbage.
    • Hard, sugar-free candy.
    • 1 cup raw cucumber.
    • 2 tablespoons whipped topping.
    Jul 13, 2007

    What is the golden drink for diabetes? ›

    May Lower Blood Sugar Levels

    The ingredients in golden milk, particularly ginger and cinnamon, may help lower blood sugar levels. For instance, 1–6 grams of cinnamon per day may lower fasting blood sugar levels by up to 29%. Moreover, cinnamon may reduce insulin resistance ( 30 , 31 , 32 ).

    Why should diabetics avoid eggs? ›

    In addition, a diet enriched with egg yolk was associated with elevated plasma glucose compared with a control diet in rats (9). Data from the Zutphen Study (10) have indicated a positive association between egg consumption or dietary cholesterol and fasting glucose.

    What morning drink is bad for diabetes? ›

    If you have type 2 diabetes, this means taking sugary drinks — such as regular soda, sweet tea, and even juice — off the table and replacing them with low-sugar and sugar-free options, including water. If you enjoy swigging bottled drinks, you may be at a loss for how to stay hydrated.

    Why do doctors no longer recommend metformin? ›

    However, the toll it takes on the digestive system may prevent many people with diabetes from taking it for more than a week or two. “Metformin commonly causes gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and flatulence,” explained a recent study published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

    What organ is metformin hard on? ›

    Metformin may have an adverse effect on renal function in patients with type 2 DM and moderate CKD.

    What is the new drug replacing metformin? ›

    Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is one of the newest metformin alternatives. It's a once-weekly injection that comes in six different doses. It's also the first medication of its type. Mounjaro is a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and GLP-1 agonist.

    Does lemon water reduce blood sugar? ›

    Lemon is a powerhouse of Vitamin C, fibre, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties and its low glycaemic index aids in lowering blood sugar levels significantly.

    What is the black drink that lowers blood sugar? ›

    Drinking black tea without added sweeteners can decrease blood glucose and improve your body's ability to manage sugar. Research also shows that black tea improves blood sugar levels immediately following meals in normal and pre-diabetic adults.

    What is the best thing to eat when your blood sugar is low? ›

    Most healthy people only need a quick high-carb snack, such as an apple or banana, to help get their blood sugar back up to normal.

    What is the red drink that lowers blood sugar? ›

    According to the American Diabetes Association, drinking red wine — or any alcoholic beverage — can lower blood sugar for up to 24 hours.

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