Eat Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper!” Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Selecting recipes that maintain healthy blood glucose levels is crucial. Which breakfast recipes suit diabetic patients? Scroll down to know!
Do you know the secret to managing your blood glucose levels? It’s breakfast! A healthy breakfast for diabetics prevents high glucose levels, provides energy, and helps in weight management.
Here are the best Indian breakfast ideas for diabetic patients to enhance their meal plan and ensure healthy blood sugar levels.
Contents:
10 Best Breakfast Options for Diabetes
Besan Chilla
Nutritional profile: High in fibre, proteins, essential vitamins and minerals, and low in carbs and fats.
Its high protein and fibre content makes besan chilla one of the best breakfasts for diabetes. Its low glycemic index and high complex carbs ensure fullness and prevent post-meal sugar spikes.
Health benefits: Veggies strengthen the immune system, fibre aids in digestion and improves gut health.
Consumption limit: 1 besan chilla per day
Multigrain Idlis
Nutritional profile: High in dietary fibre, proteins, carbs, calcium, iron, micronutrients, antioxidants, and essential amino acids.
The high protein and low glycemic index of millets make multigrain idlis the ideal South Indian breakfast for diabetic patients. These are high in soluble fibre that slows digestion and prevents blood glucose spikes.
Health benefits: Millets support good bacteria, improve digestion, reduce food cravings, and support weight management. They fight anaemia, increase good cholesterol, and improve heart and kidney functions.
Consumption limit: 3 idlis with sambhar
Methi Paratha
Nutritional profile: High in iron and calcium, rich in fibre and proteins, and low in carbs.
Fenugreek (methi)leaves are rich in soluble fibre that slows digestion and controls blood sugar.
Health benefits: Fenugreek reduces the risk of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and infections. Fenugreek helps in digestion, relieves pain during menstruation, migraines, headache, and aids weight loss too.
Consumption limit: 2 to 3 parathas
Steamed Dahi Bada
Nutritional profile: High in proteins, fibres, carbs, rich in calcium, magnesium, vitamin B, and low in fats.
Dahi Bada is made from Urad Dal. Its high fibre content makes it diabetic-friendly. It keeps you full and controls post-meal blood sugar spikes.
Health benefits: Its high iron content prevents anaemia, and potassium and magnesium content prevents heart disease. Curd provide proteins and calcium, aid digestion, and improves immunity.
Consumption limit: 3 small dahi badas per serving
Sprouts
Nutritional profile: Low in carbs, high in proteins, fibre, folate, vitamin K, magnesium, phosphorus, and beta-carotene.
Sprouts reduce blood glucose levels; therefore, they are a healthy breakfast option for diabetic patients. The insoluble fibre maintains the good bacteria in the intestine and improves digestive health.
Health benefits: Sprouts increase HDL (good cholesterol) levels, reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) levels, and lower the risk of heart disease.
Consumption limit: 1 cup of sprouts per day
Hard-boiled Eggs
Nutritional profile: High in proteins and essential nutrients, low in calories and carbs.
Eggs provide fullness and slow down the absorption of glucose, which makes them the best breakfast option for diabetic patients.
Health benefits: Hard-boiled egg increases good cholesterol, reduces bad cholesterol, and cuts down the risk of heart diseases.
Consumption limit: 1 hard-boiled egg per day
Veggies Omelet
Nutritional profile: High in proteins, fibre, sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, vitamins A and C, and low in carbs.
Veggie omelette is a healthy breakfast, as it provides proteins that ensure fullness and reduce blood sugar spikes.
Health benefits: Eggs increase good cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart diseases. Veggies provide vitamins and minerals essential for a healthy immune system.
Consumption limit: 1 veggie omelette made from 2 eggs and assorted veggies
Red Poha with Veggies
Nutritional profile: High in fibre, vitamin B, iron, calcium, zinc, manganese, magnesium, and antioxidants.
Fibre-rich red poha with veggies is one of the best diabetic breakfast ideas. It keeps you full and thus maintains blood sugar levels.
Health benefits: Red poha aids digestion. Its antioxidant property helps fight the disease-causing free radicals, and its iron content helps fight anaemia.
Consumption limit: 1 bowl red poha with veggies
Ragi-Wheat dosa
Nutritional profile: High in fibre, proteins, iron, calcium, carbs, and essential fats.
It’s the ideal South Indian breakfast for diabetic patients. Ragi-Wheat dosa t keeps you full, reduces your hunger pangs, and controls post-meal increase in sugar levels.
Health benefits: Ragi fights anaemia, maintains strong bones, strengthens the immune system, reverses skin ageing, and aids in weight loss. Wheat provides energy and protects against diseases.
Consumption limit: 2 dosas with sambhar/coconut chutney
Oats
Nutritional profile: High in fibre, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and low in calories.
The soluble fibre in oats regulates blood sugar levels and improves insulin sensitivity. Oats keep you full for longer and support weight management.
Health benefits: Oats reduce cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. They boost the immune system and improve digestion.
Consumption limit: 1/2 cup of cooked or instant oats with curds/low-fat milk, fruits, and nuts.
Don’t Have Time To Read?
- Eating a healthy and nutritious breakfast keeps your blood sugar levels in check.
- Besan chilla, multigrain idlis, and methi parathas are high in fibre, proteins, and essential nutrients. They are considered the best breakfast for Type 2 diabetic patients because of their low glycemic index.
- Steamed dahi badas are low in fats and high in fibre, proteins, and calcium.
- Sprouts and oats reduce LDL, increase HDL, and improve digestion.
- Hard-boiled eggs and veggie omelettes contain proteins and essential nutrients.
- Red poha with veggies and ragi-wheat dosa are rich in fibre, proteins, and iron. They maintain blood glucose levels and fight anaemia.
- 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.
Friendly Asked Questions
A recipe low in glycemic index and high in fibre and proteins is the best breakfast for diabetic patients. Besan chillas, multigrain idlis, methi paratha, ragi-wheat dosa, and red poha with veggies are some of the best Indian breakfasts for type 2 diabetes.
Whole grains, millets, brown rice, nuts, pulses, legumes, high fibre vegetables and fruits, are good for people with diabetes. Foods rich in fibre and proteins are ideal for diabetic patients, as they slow the digestion process and maintain blood glucose levels.
Chapati has a low glycemic index of around 52 to 55. It is low in carbs and calories and high in fibre. It is ideal for diabetic patients to consume 2 to 3 chapatis per day with vegetables.
Suji or semolina is made from durum wheat. It is high in calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus, and rich in complex carbs, fibre, and proteins. Suji slows down digestion and prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes. This makes it ideal for diabetic patients.
Eggs are rich in proteins and other essential nutrients but low in calories and carbs, which makes them suitable for diabetic patients. Their low glycemic index prevents blood sugar spikes and improves insulin sensitivity.