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Diabetic Cake Recipes: 4
Tips to
Make any Cake or Dessert Recipe more Diabetes Friendly
If you have
diabetes, it’s important to reduce the amount of carbohydrates and
sugars that you consume, since they tend to raise blood sugar
levels.
If you want to
eat cake with frosting, some types of cake and frosting recipes
are better than others. Try to find recipes with more protein
(for example, cheese cake made with low fat cream cheese is a good
choice with low cal sweetener).
A good choice
for frosting is one made with low fat cream cheese or whipping
cream and a sugar substitute or non-nutritive sweetener. Note that less carbohydrate
(flour and fruit for example) and less sugar is always better!
It’s important
to note that sugar and carbohydrates are converted by your body
into glucose, so the more you eat of these foods, the more likely
you will get dangerously high blood sugar levels. Protein and fat
do not turn into glucose, so are better choices for any diabetic
cake or frosting recipe. Adding fiber to recipes (oat bran/wheat
bran for example) helps to buffer the effects of sugar and
carbohydrates.
Here are some
tips to help you adapt your current cake recipes (and the way you
eat desserts) to diabetic friendly methods.
1)
Substitute a low calorie or no calorie sweetener for the sugar in
the recipe (also substitute a low glycemic
sugar substitute for
honey, corn syrup or maple syrup). As you know, sugar is high on
the glycemic index and therefore, large amounts are especially
poor choices for people with type 2 diabetes. It’s important to
note that substituting a no cal/low cal substitute can change the
results you get in baking your cake.
2) Add a
high fiber supplement to the recipe. Adding a couple of
tablespoons of whole wheat bran or oat bran (subtract the
equivalent amount of flour), plus using whole wheat pastry flour
to make the cake will not affect the flavor much but fiber always
helps to buffer the effects of the high amount of carbohydrates
found in cake recipes.
3) Here is a
great tip for any "junk" food consumption (read high
carbohydrate/high sugar/high fat food) if you have diabetes.
Simply eat a smaller piece of the food/cake/dessert. Half of
a regular serving has half the sugar/carbohydrates/fat – don’t
give it up, just eat less.
Less is
Better - The portion size affects the way your blood glucose
reacts to a given food. Generally, the more you eat at a sitting,
the higher your blood sugar because you have to add up the effects
of all the foods you have eaten.
Be sure also,
when you eat sweets, to always eat some protein as well, such as a
piece of low fat cheese, non-fat cottage cheese, a handful of raw
nuts or a small piece of meat or poultry to help prevent a blood
sugar crash later on.
4) Another
secret tip that can help a lot if you just have to "junk out" is
to take a fiber supplement before eating the
questionable food. There are several that will work including
glucomannan (available in capsules at health food stores...take
with lots of water), psyllium (1 tsp. to 1 tbs. add to water or
low cal juice), guar gum (1/2 tsp. add to water or low cal juice),
and fenugreek fiber (also available in capsules).
It’s very
important to take these with lots of water. These fiber
supplements can also help you to lose weight.
Using some or
all of the above tips can really help you enjoy eating foods you
love while maintaining a healthy blood sugar profile to prevent
the serious consequences of diabetes and uncontrolled blood
glucose levels.
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