How to Eat Pasta With Diabetes
A diabetes diagnosis doesn't mean that your favorite pasta dishes are off-limits forever.
Yet it's important to know how to safely eat pasta without going overboard on your carbohydrate limit and putting your blood sugar in danger.
Nowadays, there are many pasta options that are better for diabetics, and that may even offer nutritional benefits like protein.
Portion control
The biggest thing to remember when eating pasta is portion control. The American Diabetes Association recommends no more than one cup of pasta per meal, which is equal to about 45 grams of carbohydrates.
If you're eating pasta for dinner, for example, try to avoid other carbohydrate-rich foods, like starchy vegetables, bread or sweetened beverages.
Types of pasta
When choosing what type of pasta to eat, try to opt for whole-wheat or whole-grain pasta varieties, as these are not stripped of their nutrients the way white pasta is, and they are slower to digest (which means more stable blood sugar control).
Brown rice pasta or quinoa pasta may also work for diabetics, the latter of which is high in protein. However, check labels and be mindful again of your portion control.
In general, look for pastas that are high in fiber and with no added sugars. Low-carb pasta is also available in some stores.
Pasta alternatives
Enjoying pasta can also be done without actual pasta noodles. Plenty of low-carb pasta alternatives are available, including: spaghetti squash, which you can bake and then shred the flesh of the fruit to create noodle-like strands; shiritaki noodles, which are found in the refrigerator area of most produce sections and are made from the konjac yam; or zucchini noodles, which can be made with a vegetable spiral tool.
With any of the above options, dress them with your favorite sauce and you have a pasta-like meal with fewer calories and carbohydrates.
Source: SF Gate
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