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Diet is, no doubt, a crucial part of managing diabetes. Choosing the right diet makes a big impact when it comes to lowering your blood glucose (sugar) levels. Diabetics are generally advised to avoid processed foods in order to avoid a spike in their blood sugar levels. But can diabetics have pizza? They can. Find out how!
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Pizza: Nutritional Profile
There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to diabetes. What works for one person might not work for another. Having diabetes does not mean that you have to completely avoid certain foods. You can talk to your doctor and work on your specific health goals. Though it is generally advised to avoid processed or junk food such as pizza, an occasional indulgence should be ok as long as you choose to eat them in moderation. Let’s understand the nutritional information about pizza.
Each variant of pizza will differ in its macronutrients and calorie count depending upon the type and method of preparation. Let’s take a look at the nutritional facts in one slice (107 g) of a regular cheese pizza.
| Nutrient | Amount in 1 pizza slice (107 g) |
| Calories | 285 kcal |
| Fat | 10.4 g |
| Sodium | 640 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 35.6 g |
| Fibre | 2.5 g |
| Sugar | 3.8 g |
| Protein | 12.2 g |
Is Pizza Bad for Diabetics? Can Diabetics Eat Pizza?
Diabetes is a chronic condition where your blood glucose (sugar) levels are constantly high. This can occur when your body is unable to efficiently produce or utilise a hormone called insulin. Though this condition cannot be cured, it can be managed well with lifestyle changes and medication.
Speaking about lifestyle changes, your diet plays a major role in controlling your blood sugar levels. It is necessary that you consume a nutrient-rich diet in order to keep your sugar levels low. Is it ok to have processed foods such as pizza with diabetes?
Yes, diabetics can eat pizza in moderation. Diabetics can also make certain healthy switches to their pizza, to get more health benefits out of them. Let’s take a look at how diabetics can modify pizza:
Pizza With Whole Wheat Crust Provides Dietary Fibre
Replacing the regular pizza dough made of all-purpose flour or maida with a whole wheat crust provides you with a good dose of fibre. Fibre bulks up in your stomach and takes longer to digest. This leads to a slow rise in your blood sugar levels. It also promotes healthy digestion and regulates your bowel movements.
Adding Meat and Dairy Products Such Cheese Provides a Protein Source
Pizza contains proteins mainly in the form of cheese. Adding chicken, meat, or fish will add an extra dose of protein to your pizza. Foods that are high in protein generally have a low glycaemic index (it is an indicator of how fast a particular food raises your blood sugar levels) and do not cause a considerable rise in your blood sugar levels after consumption.
Adding Some Veggies Can Provide You With Essential Nutrients
You can top your pizza with your favourite vegetables such as capsicum, mushrooms, or broccoli. These can provide you with nutrients that can benefit your overall health. Adding vegetables to your pizza is also an easy way to increase your fibre intake. Fibre also plays a role in boosting your metabolism and aids in weight loss.
How to Make Healthy Pizzas For Diabetics?
You can prepare pizza at home making it a fun activity. It is also a great way to add nutritious and healthy ingredients to your pizza. You can try out different types of flour such as whole grain or nut flour and add your favourite vegetables as toppings. This improves the nutritional value of the pizza and negates its unhealthy elements.
You can use the type of less processed and low-fat cheese you like in the quantity that you would prefer. This way you can customise and make your pizza much healthier. Moderation is key when it comes to consuming high calories foods such as pizza. Though they are lip-smacking, make sure to have them in controlled portions, especially if you are diabetic. This helps control a spike in your blood sugar levels.
How Much Pizza Can Diabetics Consume?
People with diabetes should be mindful of their refined and total carbohydrate intake. Therefore, when you choose foods such as pizza, make sure to have them occasionally. You can enjoy 1 to 2 slices of your favourite pizza once or twice a week. As pizza is high in carbohydrates, avoid eating it at night and eat them during the day to give your body enough time and movement for digestion.
What are the Risks of Overconsumption of Pizza for Diabetics?
If you have diabetes, it is recommended that you monitor your carbohydrate intake, including the type of carbs you are consuming. This macronutrient (carbohydrates) has the maximum effect on your blood sugar levels.
If you were to eat two slices of cheese pizza, you would be consuming around 60 grams of carbohydrates, which is a significant amount. Overconsumption of pizza can therefore lead to a considerable rise in your blood sugar levels, which, if not controlled, can lead to various complications such as cardiovascular disease and nerve damage.
Don’t Have Time To Read?
- Having diabetes does not mean that you have to completely avoid certain foods. You can talk to your doctor and work on your specific health goals.
- Though it is generally advised to avoid processed or junk foods such as pizza, an occasional indulgence should be ok as long as you choose to eat them in moderation.
- You can make a healthier version of your favourite pizza at home by replacing the regular all-purpose flour (maida) with whole wheat flour, adding your favourite vegetables, and healthy dairy products such as low-fat, less-processed cheese.
- People with diabetes should be mindful of their refined and total carbohydrate intake. Therefore, when you choose foods such as pizza, make sure to eat them occasionally. You can enjoy 1 to 2 slices of your favourite pizza once or twice a week.
- As it is high in carbohydrates, avoid having pizza at night and eat it during the day to give your body enough time and movement for digestion.
- Overconsumption of pizza can lead to a considerable rise in your blood sugar levels, which if not controlled, can lead to various complications such as cardiovascular disease and nerve damage.
- Use the Phable Care App to consult India’s leading diabetologists, order medicines, book lab tests, integrate blood sugar monitoring and other devices to get real-time remote care from the comfort of your home. Also, check out our Diabetes Management Program which provides 360º care. Let’s treat diabetes together.
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Friendly Asked Questions
Pizza generally has a high carbohydrate content, which can raise your blood sugar levels. This makes it necessary that you eat it in moderation. Altering the ingredients in your pizza can also make a major difference to the nutrition it provides. Adding vegetables and lean meat to the pizza and choosing whole grain flour is a smart way to balance the nutrition and lower the calories in the pizza.
Some types of pizza contain added sugar in their crust. Regular consumption of refined foods with added sugar can raise the risk of chronic health conditions such as diabetes. Limiting the consumption of processed foods such as pizza to once or twice a week is necessary to maintain good health.
Diabetics can choose pizzas with a whole-grain crust and add healthy toppings such as vegetables and lean meat. This combination provides a boost of fibre and other essential nutrients that would benefit diabetics. Added low-fat and less-processed cheese to your pizza can provide a healthy dose of protein and calcium.
As pizza is a rich source of carbohydrates, it can cause a spike in blood sugar levels. It can raise your blood glucose levels for about 2 to 5 hours.
In order to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, it is important that you consume processed foods such as pizza in moderation. You can limit your consumption to 1 to 2 slices of pizza once or twice a week.