Last Updated on by San San
Diabetes Diets: Can Diabetics Eat Cream of Wheat?
As you may have already heard, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. There is nothing like a good bowl of cereal wheat you are in a morning rush. However, most cereal brands contain fast-digesting carbohydrates and a few unhealthy sugar doses. They usually have high glycemic index scores and they are not recommended for people with diabetes.
The glycemic index is a measure of how foods affect one’s blood sugar. Cereals usually have a high glycemic index score which means that the body breaks them down fast which causes blood sugar spikes. If you have diabetes, you should steer clear of such foods.
Not all cereal brands are loaded with fats digesting carbs however, therefore back to our question, “can diabetics eat cream of wheat?”
Cream and wheat is a popular breakfast that is loaded with many nutrients. Here’s a complete guide on how to include cream of wheat in your diabetic diet.
Can People With Diabetes Eat Cream of Wheat or Not?
Hot cereals are preferred over cold cereals because they don’t raise blood sugars like cold cereals. Cream of wheat is hot cereal, and they’re usually a good option to consume in the morning. Aside from the fact that wheat is a fibre-rich food, consuming warm drinks or food in the morning is good to help wake up the senses and organs.
Dieticians advise people with diabetes or borderline diabetics to add protein and fat when consuming hot cereals to help slow down blood sugar spikes. Cold cereal should be taken with unsweetened milk alternatives such as unsweetened almond milk which has zero carbs or added sugars.
According to the journal of nutrition, having a healthy breakfast contributes to reducing your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Skipping breakfast, cigarette smoking and lack of exercise might increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, depending on the mass index.
According to the centres for disease control and prevention, protein, fat, and carbs can affect your blood sugar, carbohydrates and sugars have the most effective compared to proteins and fat.
Diabetics are advised to keep their carb count through the glycemic index. The scores start from 0 to 100, with 100 being pure glucose.
Cream of wheat has a moderate glycemic index score of 56-69. People with diabetes are advised to include protein and fat to help slow down the digestion of foods that contains carbs, this is where the cream of wheat comes in. Aside from its low sugar nutrition, it also helps with digestion and nutrient consumption.
Healthy alternatives to the cream of wheat include rolled or steel-cut oatmeal, oat bran, and muesli. They have a lower glycemic index score of 55 or less.
Mayo Clinic advises that high-fibre cereals are ideal for people with diabetes. The fibre helps slow down sugar absorption which can help improve blood sugar levels. Diabetics are advised to consume about 14g of fibre in 1000 calories.
To make better choices at the local store, consider selecting cereals with fibre, whole grain pr bran on their label. You can also choose to add unprocessed wheat bran into your bowl to raise its fibre content.
Regular cream of wheat contains 1 gram of fibre per serving while whole grain cream of wheat contains 5g of fibre per serving.
It is important to consult with your dietician or a qualified endocrinologist about the best meal suggestions for someone who has diabetes. The top priority when it comes to being healthy and happy despite being diagnosed with diabetes is making sure of the changed lifestyle. The diet of a person with diabetes and making sure they’re staying fit is part of the lifestyle changes they need to continue.
Is Cream of Wheat Good For Diabetics?
In addition to fibre, carbs, protein, and fat, the cream of wheat also contains iron, vitamin D, and B1. vitamin D and B1 content help in insulin regulation and pain treatment.
You can take wheat or cream as breakfast, however, you have to consider it as part of the carb count for the day. Also, vitamin D will further help regulate your body’s response to these sugars.
Cream of what is also extremely low in sodium. The instant version has even lower amounts of sodium. Cream of wheat contains a few carbohydrates. These can be easily digested in your body is active. Surprisingly, the number of carbs in cream of wheat is just a little part of what your daily limit is; 2000 calories.
Dietitians advise diabetics to consume around 225-325g of carbs daily, which is about 45%-65% of their daily calorie intake.
So is the cream of wheat good for diabetics? based on its nutrient profile you can eat cream of wheat. It also provides nutrients to strengthen the body. Cream of cheese may contribute to your eventual reduced reliance on drugs. Careful diabetes management can lead to reduced dependence on insulin.
Simples Recipes to Cream of Wheat
Cream of wheat can be pretty plain on itself, however, it is known to take on the flavour of whatever you put in it. Therefore, you can go wild with the topping!
To have more flavour in your cream of wheat, consider using milk rather than water. You can use any variety of milk such as whole milk, skim milk, almond milk, soy milk, or any other. Opt for low-fat, high-protein milk.
Cream of wheat has many ways of being sweetened such as sugar, brown sugar, Splenda, stevia, maple syrup, honey, agave syrup, and fruit. As a diabetic, for natural sweeteners such as honey, stevia, and fruit.
Now that you have added sweetness, you can also choose to add flavour. You can add spices to give your cream of wheat some flavour. Use any spices that you would use to add flavour to your dessert or pie. Some spices to try include cinnamon, cake spice, vanilla, lemon, almond, allspice, or nutmeg.
To add that pop to your cream of wheat, you can consider adding fresh fruit, frozen fruit, raisins, prunes, chocolate chips, nuts, apricot, or cherries.
Cream of wheat cooks pretty fast, therefore choose a quick-cooking fruit such as berries, raisins, bananas, or peaches.
When it comes to the question, “can diabetics eat cream of wheat?” Here are the key takeaways;
- Cream of wheat is a healthy breakfast for diabetics. It has fibre, carbohydrates, vitamins, and proteins all of which help strengthen the body. The vitamins and fibre help control blood sugar levels.
- It has a medium glycemic index, therefore it can cause blood sugar spikes if taken in excess. Consider lowering its glycemic index by adding more fibre such as unprocessed bran.
- Choose natural additives for your cream of wheat. Add natural sweeteners such as honey or stevia. Sweeten with natural sources such as fruit. Add flavour with any spices you like using like cinnamon.