{"id":14174,"date":"2021-11-17T14:15:29","date_gmt":"2021-11-17T20:15:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=14174"},"modified":"2021-11-15T09:46:31","modified_gmt":"2021-11-15T15:46:31","slug":"smart-snacking-when-you-have-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/smart-snacking-when-you-have-diabetes\/","title":{"rendered":"Smart snacking when you have diabetes"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s nothing like a sweet or salty treat between meals. You know, something just to \u201ctide you over\u201d until lunch or supper.<\/p>\n

The problem is that most of us don\u2019t snack on things that are good for us. (We\u2019re looking at you, potato chips!) And when you have diabetes<\/a>, making the right snack choices takes on even greater importance so as to avoid spikes in your blood sugar.<\/p>\n

While making healthy decisions for snack time may seem like a daunting task, it\u2019s actually not too difficult. And the good news is that help is available.<\/p>\n

First step: Consult a dietitian<\/h2>\n

\u201cWhile general dietary guidelines are pretty consistent for people with diabetes, it\u2019s not a one-size-fits-all approach. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to get a doctor\u2019s referral to a dietitian,\u201d said Rebecca Copeland, a registered dietitian<\/a> at OSF HealthCare. \u201cA dietitian can provide snacking guidance that takes all factors into consideration, including body type, medical status, taste preferences, economic limitations, culinary skills, etc.\u201d<\/p>\n

Something many people might find surprising is that snacking is actually recommended for people with diabetes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe carbohydrates<\/a> we eat are converted to glucose \u2013 or sugar \u2013 by our bodies. And for a person with diabetes, we don\u2019t want to starve ourselves all day, get super hungry and then have a big glucose dump all at one time in a single meal,\u201d Rebecca said. \u201cInstead, we want to keep meals and snacks on the small to moderate size and eat more frequently throughout the day \u2013 about every two to three hours. This prevents us from getting overly hungry and overeating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Snack foods to avoid<\/h2>\n

While Rebecca says that it\u2019s important for folks with diabetes to not completely abstain from entire food groups, there are certain foods to stay away from. This includes snack foods that you\u2019d typically find at gas stations, such as:<\/p>\n