Best Fruit Candy Choices for People with Diabetes

Indulging Your Sweet Tooth: The Best Fruit Candy Choices for Diabetics

Having diabetes certainly doesnt mean you must completely avoid sweets. The key is making wise selections and practicing portion control. The good news? There are plenty of delicious fruit candy options that can satisfy your craving for something sweet in a diabetes-friendly way.

Understanding Carbs, Sugar and Diabetes

Before diving into candy choices, it helps to have a basic grasp of these key concepts:

Carbohydrates

Your body breaks carbs down into glucose (sugar) which is used for energy. This makes your blood sugar levels rise. But with diabetes, your body has impaired capability to produce or use insulin properly to transport sugar from the bloodstream into cells.

Added vs Natural Sugars

Added sugars like corn syrup and sucrose are put into foods or drinks during processing, preparation or at the table. Natural sugars occur naturally in fruits, some vegetables and dairy. Focus on getting more sugars from natural food sources.

Monitoring Carbs is Crucial

Eating too many carbs can spike blood sugar to an unsafe level. Thats why monitoring total daily carb intake is so essential for diabetics. Work with your doctor to determine your personalized carb budget for meals and snacks, including the occasional sweet treat.

Fruit Candy Benefits

Candy made predominantly with real fruit offers some advantages:

More Nutrients

Fruit contains fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants - things lacking in refined sugar candies. These nutrition components offer health benefits and help slow sugar absorption.

Less Processed Sugars

Real fruit candies tend to have less added sugars and instead use natural fruit sugars present in the whole fruit or juices. This makes it easier to account for the carbs.

Varying Sugar Content

The sugar content can vary significantly between different fruit candies depending on the ingredients. This allows flexibility to choose low sugar options.

Best Fruit Candy Options for Diabetics

With the right selections, you can certainly incorporate some fruit candy in moderation. Here are smart picks to consider:

Dried Fruit

Dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, apricots and apples make an easy finger food candy. Look for unsweetened or low added sugar varieties. But pay attention to serving sizes due to condensed sugars from reduced water content.

Fruit Leathers

Pureed real fruits like strawberries, raspberries, peach or apricot are slowly dried into portable fruit leather sheets. With only 1-4 grams sugar per serving, they make a great pick-me-up snack.

Fruit Snacks

Gel-based snacks are often made with fruit juices and purees rather than high fructose corn syrup. Brands like Stretch Island Fruit Co., True Goodness by Meijer and Welchs all offer diabetes-friendly options under 10 grams of sugar per pouch.

Freeze Dried Fruit

This process removes 98% of fruits water content while retaining most nutrients. Crispy, crunchy texture satisfies in small servings. Choose unsweetened or those sweetened with fruit juice rather than added sugars.

Smart Ways to Work Fruit Candy Into Your Diet

Enjoying fruit candy with diabetes is all about smart incorporation. Here are some tips that help:

Mix With Nuts or Seeds

Pairing candied fruit with protein-rich nuts or seeds helps balance blood sugar response. It also slows digestion so sugar enters your system more gradually rather than spiking.

Watch Serving Sizes

Pay close attention to serving sizes with concentrated sweets like dried fruits. Stick within recommended guidelines and measure portions to stay aware of carb counts.

Time It Right

Consume candy alongside a balanced meal or snack. Eating sweets on an empty stomach makes blood sugar rise faster. Combining it with proteins, healthy fats and fiber steadies your levels.

Account for Carbs

Remember to tally all carb counts from any sweets into your daily tally to avoid going over your personalized budget. You may need to trim carbs elsewhere to stay in your target range when enjoying candy.

Other Diabetes Candy Considerations

Beyond fruits, a few other options also make good candy choices:

Sugar Free Candy

These are typically made with sugar alcohols like xylitol, sorbitol or erythritol which dont spike blood sugar. Brands like SmartSweets, Russell Stover and Hersheys all offer sugar free treats.

Dark Chocolate

High cacao content chocolate has less sugar than milk chocolate varieties. Opt for at least 70% cacao bars broken into small, measured squares for portion control.

Jelly Beans

You can even fit jelly beans into your diet occasionally. Just carefully count carbs and save for a special treat. Brands like Jelly Belly and Starburst make mini packs with measured grams of sugar per container.

Create Your Own Fruit Candy Recipes

For complete control over ingredients and sugar content, whip up homemade fruit candy recipes like:

Candied Citrus Peels

Simmer citrus peels in sugar syrup flavored with vanilla, spices or other extracts. Roll in sugar once dried. Add nuts or drizzle chocolate if desired.

Fruit Juice Gummies

Blend your favorite unsweetened fruit juice with unflavored gelatin. Pour into molds to set before gently removing. Kids love the vibrant colors and fun shapes!

Frozen Fruit Pops

Puree your choice fruits like mango, pineapple or mixed berries. Stir in vanilla Greek yogurt for creaminess. Pour into popsicle molds, add sticks and freeze for an easy summertime refresher.

General Guidelines for Choosing the Best Fruit Candies

Follow these helpful tips when selecting fruit-based candy options with diabetes:

Check Ingredients Lists

Scan labels to verify real fruit is first and added sugars are minimal. Watch for buzzwords like fruit flavored rather than fruit juice sweetened.

Seek Out Nutrient Density

More nutrients bring additional health advantages. For instance, dark colored berries provide antioxidants while citrus fruits contain immunity-supporting vitamin C.

Calculate Total Carbs

Remember, natural sugars still impact blood glucose. Pay attention to total carb counts from all ingredients rather than just added sugars when determining if a candy fits your diet.

Control Portions

With concentrated sugars from dehydration processes, dried fruits require smaller serving sizes. Refer to manufacturer guidelines for advice.

Mind Fat Content

Some candied fruit options have added fats from nuts, coconut or chocolate. Balance these appropriately as fat also influences blood sugar.

Consider Fiber

Fiber slows sugar absorption into the bloodstream. Seek fruit candies with skins, nuts or seeds to provide a fiber boost.

The Takeaway on Fruit Candy for Diabetics

Candy doesnt have to be completely off limits with diabetes. Prioritizing whole food sources of sugar allows room for occasional indulgences in moderation. Fruit candies tend to offer more nutrients and less added sugars when chosen mindfully.

Always incorporate treats as part of healthy balanced eating plan. Count carbs accurately, control portions, time it right and pair sweets with proteins and fats for stabilized blood sugar response. This way fruit candies can be part of enjoying lifes special moments without sabotaging your health!

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.