Almost everyone has a sweet tooth – and that includes diabetics. How can a diabetic satisfy that urge for sweets without overloading your diet with high glycemic index foods that are full of processed sugars and raise your blood glucose? The short answer is: try a diabetic smoothie. A diabetic smoothie can be as varied as your taste and imagination. Made with the right ingredients, a diabetic smoothie can replace a meal or make a great snack that is filling without adding empty calories.

Diabetic Smoothie Recipes

One of the main problems with a diabetic diet is that it is sometimes hard to find foods and beverages that taste good and add nutrients to your diet without adding unnecessary carbohydrates. Use these recipes as a basis for exploring the world of diabetic smoothies.

1. Banana and Mango Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1/2 banana
• 1/2 peeled and chopped mango
• 1/2 cup yogurt (fat-free, sugar-free) (vanilla or citrus)
• 2/3 cup skimmed milk
• Some ice cubes
• (optional) 2 teaspoon of protein powder

Directions

Blend all ingredients together in a smoothie maker or blender

Benefits

The bananas and mango add natural sweetness and the yogurt and skim milk add proteins without fat. If additional protein is needed in your diet, the addition of the protein powder will add that nutrient.

2. Berry Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 frozen banana
• ½ cup mixed berries (blueberry, strawberry, ect.)
• 1 cup water
• Several ice cubes

Directions

Blend all ingredients together in a smoothie maker or blender

Benefits

Rich in antioxidants, low in carbohydrates, high in protein, and high in fiber, this smoothie adds a ton of nutrients to your diet without adding the empty calories of simple sugars.

3. Lime and Spinach Smoothie

Ingredients

• Juice of 4 limes
• Zest of 2 of the limes
• 2 cups spinach leaves
• 1 tbsp. of sunflower butter (optional)
• Several ice cubes

Directions

Blend all ingredients together in a smoothie maker or blender

Benefits

The limes and spinach in this smoothie make a beautifully colored beverage that is also full of nutrients and antioxidants to keep your sugar low and your diet and stomach full.

4. Blueberry-Almond Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1-½ cup blueberries
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (fat-free)
• ¼ cup slivered almonds
• 2 tbsp. wheat germ
• 2 tbsp. skim milk or unsweetened almond milk
• 2 tbsp. honey

Directions

Blend all ingredients together in a smoothie maker or blender

Benefits

The blueberry almond smoothie contains enough protein and fiber to make a great breakfast. This smoothie will provide plenty of energy to get you through the day until your next meal while limiting your carbohydrates.

5. Kale, Avocado and Orange Smoothie

The avocado and kale in this smoothie will provide the vegetables you need while the orange provides some natural sweetness that makes this drink very refreshing.

6. Cucumber, Broccoli, Apple, and Avocado Smoothie

The fiber and vitamins in the ingredients in this smoothie is another way to get 3 servings of vegetables in one tasty beverage. Try this one as a snack in the middle of the afternoon.

Tips

To make your smoothie even higher in proteins, fiber and fatty acids, add a tablespoon of flax seeds or wheat germ to your smoothie. These foods can help lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol while raising the HDL (good) cholesterol.