When you have diabetes what you drink is very important. No or low calories should be the rule according to The American Diabetes Association. The foods you eat can affect your blood sugars, right? Well guess what? The drinks you have can affect your blood sugars as well. So let’s find out just what are some Healthy Drinks For Diabetics:
What are Some Drinks that are Healthy for Diabetics?
The most obvious and healthiest is of course water, but that can be boring so we must have alternate choices which I will discuss. The first thing you obviously want to look for are drinks that either have low calories or zero calories.
With diabetes, we’re always discussing how important it is to eat healthy foods. Drinking is equally crucial to your health when you have type 2 diabetes. It’s not good to drink anything with sugar, diabetes or not.
When I think of drinking and the sugar content, I always remember when I was a teenager that I found out that drinking a 16 ounce can of Coke had 10 teaspoons of sugar in it! 10! After that, I never drank anything like that with sugar again. That is an enormous amount of sugar that could definitely lead to type 2 diabetes and for all I know it may have.
It’s vital to your health and diabetes to have the best and healthiest fluids for your body and of course water is always number 1! But there are ways that you can spice up or add zest to your water to give it taste and still be on the healthy diabetes radar at the same time. So let’s begin with water since it’s the best (although not maybe your top choice when it comes to “boring”) But water IS the best for you.
1) Water
So other than the fact of we all need water to survive, why is it the best drink for diabetics? The simple fact is that water cannot and does not raise your blood sugar levels.
With diabetes and blood sugar levels that are exceptionally high, it can cause you to be dehydrated. That’s why drinking enough water is absolutely crucial when you have diabetes, either type 1, type 2, or type 3 diabetes.
By making sure that you consume enough water each day, you are helping to rid your body of excess glucose by urinating it out. Doctors will tell you that if you’re a woman you should have eight glasses of water everyday and if you’re a man, you should have ten glasses of water each day.
You can choose to flavor your water by adding many different things to it such as a slice of lemon or lime, orange or strawberries or any natural fruit that doesn’t consist of much sugar.
Any fruit in the berry family is good too because they are the lowest in sugar on the glycemic index chart. A lot of times when I dine out, I either ask for ice water or unsweetened tea with a flavor of maybe raspberry. This way it tastes better with very little to no sugar.
2) Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is one of the healthiest drinks you can have. Although you can’t actually drink it straight, you can mix it with anything. The taste is very bitter, but the benefits are powerful!
This can really help your blood sugars. Have it after your meal and it will also improve insulin sensitivity as well. It’s worth the bitter taste.
I mix two tablespoons of ACV with whatever I want. It’s usually 16 ounces of water and this dilutes the taste but I’m getting double the benefits from the apple cider vinegar and water together.
Another good drink for lowering your glucose in the morning is to have your glass of water, mix it with lemon or lime and add two tablespoons of ACV before bedtime and this will help to lower and control your glucose numbers.
3) Coffee
This drink is about the most popular one on the planet. I’m not a coffee drinker but most folks are. Now I know that coffee generally has caffeine but decaf works just as well when it comes to lowering your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Studies were performed that showed that consuming between 2 to 4 cups of coffee a day may further decrease your risk.
Now just like any other drink, once you start adding things such as milk, and cream and sugar, well you know. This will not only make your calories go up but your blood sugars as well. So the key is to have it remain unsweetened.
And like anything you don’t want to overdo it. Caffeine or not, 4 cups of coffee a day should suffice. Because studies also revealed that 5 cups a day or more can actually increase your risk for type 2 diabetes. So let’s put the brakes on it at 4 cups.
4) Tea
Tea is excellent for you no matter which kind you have. I drink green tea personally even though I’m not a big tea drinker. I know it’s good for me and helps with my blood sugars too.
Again like coffee, you want to be careful with the caffeine. Teas have many flavors and no calories and are packed with antioxidants that are beneficial for folks with diabetes.
Research in China revealed that the tea that is best for slowing down the absorption of glucose into your bloodstream is black tea!
I like green tea but I have to look into trying black tea because of this fact alone. Four cups of black tea daily may possibly lessen your risk for type 2 diabetes by about 15%!
So a word to the wise is sufficient. Stop at 4 or maybe 5 cups a day. Even though tea is also beneficial for preventing heart disease and stroke, take it easy. Be careful to avoid teas that are bottled and loaded with sugar and like coffee, but don’t be adding cream and milk.
5) Milk
Milk is beneficial and healthy for you as a kid growing up. Mom always used to say it helps to build strong bones! I LOVED milk when I was a kid and couldn’t get enough of it. It’s been years since I had milk and no longer drink it. I opted for water instead. It’s a great choice!
But studies were done that showed that regular fat milk does actually help protect with heart disease, being overweight, and type 2 diabetes.
Apparently there is an acid found in milk that can result in the improving of insulin sensitivity and and insulin levels as well.
In one particular study, the patients wound up with much lesser (60%) chance of developing type 2 diabetes with the highest levels of the acid in the milk than those who participated with lower levels of this acid. This is according to the diabetescouncil.com.
But personally, I feel that low-fat and fat-free milks are the better choices for drinks for diabetics. They also reduce your high blood pressure which is something you should monitor regularly. I would limit low-fat and fat-free milk to 2-3 servings daily.
6) Coconut Water
How good is coconut water for you as a diabetic? It’s excellent and here’s why: It is loaded with powerful nutrients including amino acids, and numerous vitamins and minerals that are essential for you.
You want to keep your blood glucose under control and the sodium and potassium are responsible for doing just that.
Coconut water helps to maintain your blood sugars because of its high fiber content. And another very important fact about coconut water is that it can help you with your blood circulation because it is able to open up your blood vessels.
7) Tomato Juice
I absolutely love tomatoes in any form and tomato juice is no exception. They are extremely healthy for you and one of the biggest reasons is lycopene. It is responsible for decreasing your risks for developing certain types of cancers, cardiovascular disease, of course type 2 diabetes.
8) Carrot Juice
Carrots are know for being healthy for us and the vitamin A for our eyes too. But they contain something else that is vital to reducing type 2 diabetes and that is beta-carotene. Carrot juice is extremely healthy for you and powerful against diabetes.
The glycemic index is only 43 which is on the low end and while it may possibly raise your blood sugars a bit, because of the low GI level, it will not raise them significantly and quickly.
9) Bitter Gourd Juice
Another good choice for your drinks is bitter gourd juice. It works well for both types of diabetes with taking care of the glucose. It helps with decreasing glucose and urine sugar.
You want to wash the bitter gourd thoroughly and then proceed to peel the skin as you prepare it for blending.
10) Cucumber Juice
Cucumber is a vegetable that has many powerful ingredients including vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin C, iron, phosphorus, calcium, and amino acids that have exceptional effects as a diuretic, treating inflammation and it make cucumber juice one of the best drinks for diabetics.
11) Red Wine
Alcohol can be off limits when you have diabetes but not totally off limits. You just need to know what you can have and how much. Red wine is a good choice and everyone is different especially when it comes to diabetes.
The smart decision is to discuss it with your doctor. But red wine contains resveratrol and polyphenols which are antioxidant properties to fight blood sugars that are bouncing up and down all the time.
The Worst Drinks
I really didn’t even want to talk much about the bad ones because I think they are self-explanatory but I’ll mention them anyway. Diet soda is as bad as regular soda. It is just no good and offers no nutritional value whatsoever.. I would stay away from alcohol as much as possible but you can go here to read more about alcohol and diabetes.
Fruit juices are sugar. They will raise your sugar faster than you can imagine. Whole fruit is much better and you can check out the glycemic index levels here. If you have to drink diet juices with no sugar.
Energy drinks are pumped with carbohydrates, caffeine, and refined sugars. Toxic! Poison! Avoid! If a drink has sugar, then beware. Read the labels or better yet? Stick with my top 11 drinks for diabetics.
Final Thoughts about Healthy Drinks
Being a diabetic does not mean that all you can drink is water even though it’s the best choice for you. These 11 are the top Healthy Drinks For Diabetics as far as I’m concerned. It doesn’t mean that you can’t come up with your own too.
Just think first and be smart when it comes to diabetes, drinking or eating. You have the power to make changes in your selections. I hope this gives you the edge.
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Hey,
Thanks for this information! This is a really useful article for my grandpa (he has diabetes).
Now he can swap to something different rather than drinking his bitter gourd drink every day.
Just wondering, as my grandpa has high blood pressure as well, do any of these drinks also helps in lowering the blood pressure?
Hey Crystal, You’re welcome! We’re always talking about what foods we can eat as diabetics. But drinks are equally important. While water is at the top of the list, there are others that are great too.
In addition to the bitter gourd juice, he can have any of the others and tea, tomato juice, carrot juice, and red wine can help with hypertension. Thank you for your comments!
~Rob
Thanks for the post, it’s highly informative. I would like to know, are the sugars found in fruits harmful to our health?
Hey Mitala, The drinks that are healthy for diabetics can have fruit added but in moderation. As I mentioned, berries are the best because they are lowest on the glycemic index chart as far as their sugar content. Fruit is great for your health and does have sugar but with adding to your drink, it’s only going to be minimal.Thanks!
~Rob
Hey I appreciate your post. I agree water is best.
And coconut water is great , especially during the summer. Soft drinks are terrible on your overall health especially when you already have sugar problems. I think I am gonna try that cucumber drink.
Hey Donald, I drink a ton of water but it’s always nice to switch up every now and then. I do like coconut water as well and love tomato juice! I used to drink diet soda all the time until I realized just how bad it is for you. I stopped on a dime. One of my favorites is diet green tea. Good luck with the cucumber juice. Thanks for your comments!
~Rob
Great post! Thank you so much for the information. Very useful and informative for people with diabetes.
My uncle has it. Must share this article with him. Thank you.
Hi Jyoti, I think everyone knows someone who has diabetes if not having it themselves. The best thing about my article and my website is getting to share as much positive information with others as possible and having others share it as well. Drinking healthy is as important as eating healthy. Thanks for sharing!
~Rob
I love most all of these juices, fortunately, so I’ll make sure I drink them more often from now on. At the same time, I can see myself trying some of the ones you’ve showcased here that I’ve never tried before.
Hey Andrew, Not everyone is going to like everything to drink, right? There are always other choices for each of us individually. The best thing is to try new ones to see what you like and dislike. For me, I love apple cider vinegar, but only if it’s mixed. I know how healthy it is for you but the taste is strong and bitter so I mix it up. Hope you enjoy your choices!
Cheers!
~Rob
Great information for all of us who are striving to get healthier. I really liked some of the juice ideas, will have to try soon! Thanks for sharing.
Hi! Everyone talks about water, right? Well it’s vital for your health and even more when it comes to diabetes. I make sure that I never drink anything with sugar in it. Coconut water is great! There’s always something you can turn to when it comes to healthy drinks for diabetics. Thanks for your insight 🙂
~Rob
I must say I didn’t realize a few of these drinks being good for diabetics. Such as the coffee, milk (sugar), Red wine, and drinking vinegar…
I’ll have to take a look into this more. Runs in my family, I’m just getting older and trying to avoid anything with high fructose corn syrup.
Thanks again 🙂
Hey Sabrina 🙂 I was never a wine drinker but a little red wine now and then is good for you especially with type 2 diabetes. I do feel that apple cider vinegar is the healthiest but I have to mix it because the tastes is very bitter. It’s a small price to pay for the fight against diabetes.
You’re right. Avoiding anything with fructose corn syrup is a must! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
~Rob
I had no idea about coconut water! This has just made my day!
Hey Carolyn, Coconut water is one of the best drinks that diabetics can have other than water. It’s good to have many different choices and still control our blood sugars. And there’s ways to be creative with just plain water too 🙂 Thanks for your comments!
~Rob
Great article Rob. I love cucumber water myself having only discovered it recently. I’m also enjoying ginger water too – a nice little ‘spicy’ pick me up for the morning but I’m going to add in a little ACV as I have it but forget to use it. Thanks for the reminder!
Hi Fleur 🙂 Thank you! Eating healthy is the best thing you can do for lowering your blood sugar but if you drink anything with sugar, you’re negating the purpose of your healthy eating. I may not like every alternate drink for diabetes but I do like most of them including coconut water and tomato juice. Apple cider vinegar is about the healthiest of them all. Thanks for sharing 🙂
~Rob
What a fantastic and informative article. I am a personal trainer so have had to help people with type 2 diabetes for many years now. I always recommend drinking coconut water and adding cider vinegar to their foods. However, there are many on this list that I had never even thought about, cucumber juice for example. I am going to save this page, as I think it will really help giving it to clients.
Hey David, I’m sure as a trainer you’ve seen plenty of folks who have diabetes and it’s a shame that it’s as out of control as it is. The more the word is spread about what healthy drinks there are for people with diabetes the better. I love water but coconut water, tomato juice, and apple cider vinegar (mixed) are my choices. Thanks for passing this on and sharing!
~Rob
Hi Rob, great post! I am a diabetic myself so this information is appreciated. I sweeten my tea with honey as unsweetened tea is not palatable to me. Do you think that is ok?
Hi Ruthlyn! Thankfully there are many healthy drinks for us diabetics other than water. Although water is still the healthiest thing we can drink and should. Honey is okay to add as long as you don’t add too much because honey does have sugar in it too. Thanks for sharing 🙂
~Rob
I truly believe in the power of nature to heal our bodies. If you have the options to do it naturally, why do you even want to consider drugs produced by the pharmaceutical industry? As a digital marketing agency I can tell you they do an awesome job advertising and brainwashing people. Great article!
Hey Marcus, I agree. That’s why I started this website because I believe in natural methods as opposed to medications. While eating the right foods is extremely important, healthy drinks are just as important. The companies who make energy drinks are just as guilty as the pharmaceutical companies because of all the sugar they put into these drinks. Stick with water and the rest of the healthy drinks on my list. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Hello,
You had me at TEN teaspoons of sugar in a 16 oz coke ! That is staggering news and very important news.For some reason I am really craving h20, lol but seriously.
This article has great information as well as educational .
I am very interested in cucumber juice , ACV, and h20 .
Glad to have found you and we are looking forward to more information!
Elaine and Scarlett
Hi Elaine and Scarlett 🙂 The sugar drinks are off limits for sure! Yen teaspoons of sugar is NOT GOOD! For diabetics there are plenty of options as I mentioned. I have an article on H20 and apple cider vinegar as well. Drink up! Water is the best! Thanks for stopping by 😉
Good to know we have more options to stay healthy! Thanks for this information.
Hey Jenny, It is good to know that as diabetics we do have other options for healthy drinking other than just water. Of course water is the best drink for our bodies over anything else. But these healthy drinks are good for us and good for a change without getting the sugar. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks for the article. I had no idea about carrot & cucumber juice.
Hi Priyanka,
I’m glad you like my article. I hope you learned a lot about healthy drinks for diabetics! Feel free to pass it on!
~Rob