The Health Benefits of Almonds for People With Diabetes

While nuts are generally high in fat and not always considered a good option for low-fat, diabetes-friendly diets, almonds are a special case.

Almonds have an especially high concentration of monounsaturated fats or healthy fats which have been associated with reduced risk of heart disease.

They also are rich in the antioxidant vitamin E and the minerals magnesium (which improves the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the body) and potassium (which is an important electrolyte involved in nerve transmission and muscle contraction).

For people with diabetes, incorporating almonds into meal plans appears to decrease after-meal rises in blood sugar and insulin.

Further, eating almonds along with a high-glycemic-index food significantly lowers the glycemic index of the meal and lessens the rise in blood sugar after eating.

The rest of the good news is that one study found that replacing 20% of dietary calories with almonds led to improved markers of insulin sensitivity and lower cholesterol levels.

• Have a handful of almonds as a snack with a piece of fruit.
• Try almond butter in place of peanut butter on whole-wheat toast or bread.
• Top salads with almonds that have been lightly toasted in the oven.
• Chop almonds and add to rice, pasta, or sautéed vegetables for added crunch.
• Use finely chopped almonds in place of bread crumbs on top of baked casseroles.

• Use unsweetened almond milk in diabetes-friendly shakes, sauces, eggnog, and other recipes.
• Almond flour (same thing as almond meal) can be used in many diabetes-friendly recipes.