If you're a diabetic patient, you realize that watching your diet is the first rule to being healthy. Nevertheless, it doesn't mean giving up your favorite drink outright. There are a lot of beverages that are safe for diabetics, but there are some you should steer clear of.

This article peeks at good and bad drinks for diabetic individuals.

2 Diabetes-Friendly Drinks

Irrespective of your health status, water is undoubtedly the best option for any health-conscious person. It keeps your body hydrated without spiking glucose levels and helps the elimination process of excess sugar as well.

Water can be an old-fashioned option to opt for. So here are some drinks with extra nutrients that you may find interesting to try.

Herbal Tea

Even though we all know this flavorful water is healthy for everyone’s wellbeing, some teas are specifically beneficial for diabetic patients.

Chamomile is one of them. It helps your body to relax and get good sleep at night. Disturbed sleep can elevate your blood sugar levels, whereas good quality sleep reduces inflammation with other benefits.

“Short-term intake of chamomile tea has beneficial effects on glycemic control and antioxidant status in patients with T2 DM (type 2 diabetes mellitus)” - concluded a study conducted on 64 subjects in Jan 2016.

Other than chamomile, peppermint, hibiscus, and other herbal teas have advantages for diabetes. So start sipping those hot beverages.

Vegetable Juice

Despite the absence of artificial sugar, fresh juices may have fiber and natural sugar that influences your blood sugar levels. Please, don’t be afraid. Some vegetable juices can help you to control your glycemic index.

Kale and spinach juices regulate glucose levels; carrots can also help in diabetes when consumed in moderation. You can also mix ingredients like ginger, cucumber, lemon, and celery to make your customized healthy juice.

Drinks to Avoid

Who doesn’t love a chilled glass of soda after a hectic day, right? I’m afraid you may have to say goodbye to this mouth-watering beverage.

Here are two drinks to keep at bay at any cost if health is your priority.

High Sugar Beverages

Research performed by Cambridge University stated a chance of increased diabetes due to the consumption of soft drinks. Whether it’s an energy drink, diet coke, or a so-called sugar-free drink, it has an extreme amount of artificial sweetener, not only for diabetic patients but for any human being.

On top of that, all that sugar contains can spike your blood sugar level quickly, risking your health.

Alcohol

You may wonder what is the relation between alcohol and sugar, but do you know that some alcoholic beverages contain carbohydrates, which can, in fact, directly increase your blood sugar levels?

Alcohol directly affects the functioning of the liver - consuming it can harm your health.

Wrapping It Up

You should keep a check on your eating habits whether you have diabetes or not. You are what you eat. Being careful about what you’re putting in your body will always be helpful in the long run.

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