Nutritious Bedtime Snacks for Diabetic Patients
A protein-rich, low-fat snack at bedtime might help you stabilize your blood sugar level overnight, as the blood glucose levels change throughout the night. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water before bedtime to help flush excess glucose from the blood. Flavor still or sparkling water with a slice of citrus or cucumber for a tasty, low calorie beverage. You can determine how glucose levels in your blood change during the night with the help of sugar testing kits. Eating some snacks at bed-time can prevent blood sugar levels from dropping very low at night, and thus maintain a balance.
People can prepare snacks for people with diabetes in accordance with their weight targets and how their body reacts to sugar throughout the night. Foods with a high level of protein, healthy fats, and limited carbohydrates may help control an increase in your blood glucose level at night and maintain lower blood sugar levels in the morning.
Best bed-time snacks
Satisfying late-night hunger with healthy snacks might be a good option for diabetics. That is because fasting for a long time during the night can increase the glucose level and might worsen the situation. So, you can include a healthy snack to maintain your blood sugar level during the night or in bed-time. Here are the 5 best options:
1. Roasted or raw nuts
Nuts contain some healthy carbs and healthy fats that will prevent your sugar level from spiking during the night. You are recommended to have dry-roasted nuts or raw nuts, but avoid having honey-coated, chocolate-coated nuts as those have high amounts of sugar. So, raw nuts and dry-roasted nuts can be a healthy snack as well as to satisfy your late-night cravings
2. Sugar-free pudding
Diabetic patients are often confused and think that they can’t have sweet dishes, but it’s a myth; the reality is that they can have sweet dishes. Sugar-free pudding is one of the great snacks for diabetics. Many sugar-free pudding mixes are available in the market in different flavors, so you can buy those to satisfy your desire to relish sweets.
3. Plain yogurt
Another great possible option for diabetics is plain yogurt. It also has more protein than other packed yogurts. You can add some lower-sugar fruits like berries for some added sweetness as they also help the digestion process of your body. It can be prepared at home very easily but just stay away from any store-bought yogurt, as it has many components that are harmful to diabetics.
4. Roasted chickpeas
Roasted chickpeas can be a great bedtime snack for diabetics who also want to have some spice in their snack. Chickpeas are a rich source of protein and fiber, which control the blood sugar level during the night. They can be prepared at home within just an hour, and they can be had with spice for better taste.
5. Cheese and crackers
If you run out of vegetables at home, you can choose cheese and crackers as snacks. You can pick any type of cheese, but try to have real cheese rather than processed ones. Besides, you are recommended to choose whole-grain crackers as your bedtime snack because they have low carbohydrate content.
You can benefit by understanding how your body processes blood glucose throughout the night. Then, you can decide the quantity of food to eat at dinner, including bed-time snacks.