5 Best Diabetes-Friendly Smoothies You’ll Never Believe Are Sugar-Free

Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely.

While cutting back on carbohydrates and sugars is important for diabetics, complex carbohydrates, as well as the sugars found in fruits and vegetables, are not sugars to fear.

Though these ingredients still need to be monitored and limited to a degree, using fresh fruits and vegetables in smoothies is a great way to increase the overall nutrient content of your diet.

Why Smoothies Help Diabetics

There is no magical ingredient or precise reason why smoothies can help to aid in normalizing blood sugar levels for those with type 2 diabetes. Instead, it is an accumulation of things – from cleaning up one’s diet to increasing the number of nutrients in the body overall. Below are three reasons why smoothies help diabetics.

Weight Loss

Being overweight is a well-known contributor to type 2 diabetes. Those who can manage their weight through diet and exercise can effectively reduce their chances of ever getting type 2 diabetes and those who have it can manage and even reverse the disease.

Smoothies aid in weight loss by being a suitable meal replacement that still provides essential macronutrients as well as vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to increase the overall health of the body.

More Energy

Smoothies are like nature’s energy drink. Made with fresh fruits and vegetables that provide essential nutrients, smoothies can help to increase energy levels. This increase in energy can lead to exercise, which is another great way to lose weight as well as reverse diabetes.

Better Diet

Daily smoothies are a sure way to clean-up the diet from processed foods and artificial junk. Instead of a drive-through breakfast when crunched for time, a homemade smoothie can be made just as quickly and provides far more nutrition. Smoothies also make for a nutritious snack that can help to curb cravings and satisfy any hunger pangs until mealtime.

5 Smoothies For Diabetics

The below smoothies are all incredibly nutritious and are suitable for those with diabetes. Try incorporating at least one a day to increase your overall nutrition and help to improve your health and well-being!

1. Chocolate Spinach Smoothie

Serves 1

• 2 cups spinach
• 1/2 cup strawberries
• 1/2 banana
• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon flaxseed
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 cup almond milk or water
• ice, as need

This smoothie is a delicious balance of protein, carbs and fats. With essential omega-3 fatty acids that boost heart health and reduce inflammation, this Chocolate Spinach Smoothie is a chocolate treat that you can enjoy in the morning without any guilt!

Notes – Be sure to check the sugar content of the protein powder before using it.

2. Low Carb Strawberry Smoothie

Serves 1

• 5 fresh strawberries
• 1 cup almond milk, unsweetened
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, 0% or 2%
• stevia, to taste
• handful ice

This smoothie is creamy and bursting with strawberry flavor. The use of plain Greek yogurt increase the protein content of this smoothie without much additional sugar, however the amount will vary depending on how much fat there is in the yogurt. Always read yogurt labels before purchasing to ensure you are selecting the one with the least amount of added sugars.

3. Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie

Serves 1

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1 banana, frozen
• 1 cup almond milk, unsweetened
• 2 tablespoons flaxseed
• 1 teaspoon coffee extract

Instead of eating cooked oatmeal for breakfast, try adding it raw to your smoothie! This Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie utilizes rolled oats for bulk and filling fiber, however with a high-speed blender the oats are blended smooth so you won’t even know they are in your drink.

4. Hidden Veggie Smoothie

Serves 1

• 1 cup almond milk, unsweetened
• 1/4 red bell pepper, sliced
• 4 strawberries, chopped
• 1/2 banana
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• shake cinnamon
• 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil

This smoothie is a great way to sneak in some extra vegetables. With just a small amount of red bell pepper, this Hidden Veggie Smoothie is both slightly spicy and sweet. Turmeric adds incredible health benefits including antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. As an added bonus, this smoothie is incredibly rich in vitamin C!

5. Loaded Greens Smoothie

Serves 1

• 1 cup almond milk, unsweetened
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 cup kale, stems removed
• 1 banana
• 1/2 small avocado
• ice, as needed

Don’t just eat your greens – drink them! This Loaded Greens Smoothie blends both kale and spinach together to provide a healthy dose of greens into your diet.

With the addition of banana and avocado, this smoothie is smooth and creamy while also being rich in potassium, fiber, and healthy fatty acids.

Smoothies are a great way to increase your fruit and vegetable intake, however, those with diabetes need to be wary of the products they are consuming due to their sensitivity to sugars.

The above five smoothie recipes are both nutrient-dense and suitable for diabetics – they might even help to further manage and reverse the disease!