Can Diabetics Eat Pizza?


If you are diabetic and keep track of your blood sugar levels often, you might notice that some foods increase your blood sugar levels faster compared to others. Diabetes is also known as carbohydrate intolerance, where carbohydrate-containing foods have the greatest influence over your blood sugar levels. Pizza is very fast and convenient but its crust contains a lot of carbohydrates and its tomato sauce may have added sugar. Most people also have soft drinks together with their pizza and might contribute highly to increasing the sugar level in your blood.
Pizza to Go
A pizza slice contains 36.5g of carbohydrates and 1.5g of fiber. Also, a slice of thick crust cheese pizza has a large amount of carbohydrates (41.1 grams) and a minute amount of fiber (2.8 grams). Of course, if you down two slices of pizza, you will also double the carbohydrates you intake, naturally if you eat half of the whole pizza, it would be equivalent to 146 to 164g of carbohydrates. Sometimes, people who order pizza will also order carbohydrates laden food like french fries. Soft drinks are also often times ordered, which are also filled with carbohydrates.
Pizza and carbohydrates
The majority of the ingredients that are used in making pizza have a large amount of carbohydrates except for the crust and tomato sauce which has a lot of sugar. The American Diabetes Association recommends that you limit your carbohydrate intake to between 45g to 60g per meal.
Eating one or two slices of pizza is acceptable but it might result to high blood pressure. Furthermore, you should avoid eating other foods containing a lot of carbohydrates in the same meal. Instead of foods containing a lot of carbohydrates in the same meal, you can accompany it with a salad or green leafy vegetables to add to your fiber consumption.
Healthier options
One of the healthier options is to order a thin crust pizza to cut off your intake of carbohydrates. One slice of pizza on thin crust contains lesser amount of carbohydrates and fiber. Meaning you could take about two to three slices as long as you don't take another carbohydrate containing foods at the same meal.
Keep track of your blood sugar levels too after the pizza meal to ensure that it stays below 180mg/dL, since some people need to restrict their carbohydrate intake further. If your blood sugar level rises up to 180mg/dL after the pizza intake, try having less amount of pizza next time.
Make your own
Another option is to make your own, instead of making a crust. You could just use a low-carb tortilla. Spread tomato sauce; add plenty of non-starch vegetables with some chicken, salmon, sliced sausages, and a little cheese. Put it in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese melts.