10 Scrumptious Smoothies for People with Diabetes
Smoothies often get a bad rap for being high in sugar and for their blood sugar spiking abilities. But, if made correctly, smoothies can be a quick meal or snack that provides nourishing nutrients to our bodies! They are also just darn delicious and the PERFECT thing to help cool you down during a hot day.
So, bust out that blender because I have gathered 10 amazingly delicious smoothie recipes that won’t alarm your glucose monitor. Oh and all of the recipes were created by dietitians ;-)
You will also find some tips for making your own blender creation!
*Affiliate link disclaimer: This article contain affiliate links. If you click one of these link and make a purchase, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!!
Tips for making diabetic friendly smoothies
Fruit contains so many wonderful nutrients that help keep our bodies running smoothly. In fact, many studies have found that fruit consumption is related to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes (1).
If you find that your blood sugar spikes after drinking a smoothie, try adding in a few of these ingredients to help slow down the sugar absorption:
Add Fiber
Fiber will help slow the digestion of carbohydrates. The more fiber the better! Fiber also helps the healthy bacteria in our digestive tract flourish. Here are a few fiber rich ingredients that go great in a smoothie:
Vegetables —> spinach, squash, cauliflower, and kale are all great vegetables to add that won’t alter the flavor of the smoothie too much
Fruit —> just about any fruit goes great in a smoothie :-)
Avocado
Chia Seeds
Flax seeds
Nuts
Add Fat
Fat also helps slow down the digestion of carbohydrates. Fat is also necessary to absorb certain vitamins called fat soluble vitamins! Fat soluble vitamins include vitamin A, K, D, and E. Here are few ingredients to add some fat into your smoothie:
Avocado
Yogurt
Flax seeds
Chia seeds
Nuts or seeds
Nut butters
Add Protein
Protein helps keep us satisfied for longer and aids muscle growth! Below are some great protein additions to any smoothie:
Yogurt
Nut Butter
Nuts or seeds
Tofu
Hemp seeds
Protein powder
Add flavor
More often than not smoothie companies add extra syrups to smoothies to add flavor. Here are a few ingredients that pack on the flavor without the added sugar:
10 smoothie recipes for people with diabetes
The smoothies below use many of these ingredients to create some amazing flavors. Test a few out to find which flavor combinations excite you!
Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie Bowl
Chocolate, peanut butter and banana! What more could you want? This impressive smoothie bowl has only 270 calories, 34 grams of carbohydrates, 7 grams of fiber, and 10 grams of protein. To keep the carbohydrate count down, choose toppings such as nuts, chia seeds, or unsweetened coconut chips.
Find the Recipe HERE
Blueberry cheesecake smoothie
Yes, that says cheesecake! This recipe adds a bit of cinnamon to really pack on the flavor without adding extra sugar.
Find the Recipe HERE
Vegan Strawberry Smoothie
This yummy vegan smoothie uses hemp seeds to add an extra boost of protein and fiber!
Find the recipe HERE
Watermelon Cucumber Smoothie
This smoothie has only 63 calories and is THE perfect way to cool down during a hot day. Because it is so low calorie, the smoothie makes a great snack or addition to a meal!
Click HERE for the recipe!
Very Berry Smoothie
Easy and only 4 ingredients! This smoothie is great when you are in a hurry but still want to make something delicious.
Find the recipe HERE
Tumeric Mango carrot Smoothie
Cacao date smoothie
Dates and a bit of cinnamon are used in this recipe to add flavor and sweetness.
Find the recipe HERE
Watermelon ginger smoothie bowl
Cashews, chia seeds, and hemps seeds are brought together in this recipe to provide an extra boost of protein and fiber!
Find the recipe HERE
Healthy Coffee Smoothie
Skip the coffee shop and make this mocha frap without the added sugar.
Grab the recipe HERE