Benefits of Drinking Iced Tea for People with Diabetes | Blood Sugar Friendly Tea Tips

Understanding Iced Tea and Diabetes

Beverage choices are an important consideration for people with diabetes. The right drinks can help hydrate the body, provide key nutrients, and avoid unnecessary sugars. Iced tea is a popular summertime drink that can be a healthy choice for diabetics when prepared properly.

Benefits of Iced Tea for Diabetes

The base for most iced teas is plain tea leaves brewed in hot water then chilled. On its own, plain tea contains no calories, carbs, or sugars. This makes it an ideal beverage choice for people monitoring blood glucose levels. Tea also provides:

• Antioxidants like flavonoids which may offer health benefits
• Hydration to help avoid dehydration which can negatively impact blood sugar levels
• A no-calorie alternative to high-sugar drinks like sodas and fruit juices

Opting for plain iced tea over sugary bottled teas can help limit carbs and excess calories.

Potential Issues with Flavored and Sweet Tea

While plain iced tea is diabetes-friendly, many popular tea options contain added flavors and sweeteners that increase the carb and sugar content. Pre-made sweet tea, lemonade tea, and fruit-flavored teas often contain as much sugar and calories as sodas. Even teas promoted as "diet" or "zero calorie" may use artificial sweeteners that can affect blood sugar levels in some people with diabetes. Checking labels and counts to know exactly what is added is key.

Best Iced Tea Options for Diabetes

When an iced tea craving strikes, the best choices for people with diabetes include:

• Plain brewed tea served over ice
• Cold-brewed tea that steeped in the refrigerator
• Lightly sweetened tea using small amounts of no-calorie sweeteners if desired
• Adding fresh lemon, lime, oranges slices or mint to water to infuse subtle fruity flavors
• Herbal iced teas using rooibos or hibiscus which offer antioxidant benefits

These allow enjoying an refreshing glass of iced tea without excess carbs, sugars, and calories.

Guidelines for Drinking Iced Tea with Diabetes

It is possible to incorporate iced tea in moderation into a healthy diabetes diet. Follow these tips to make sure any tea consumed contributes to better blood sugar control.

1. Check Added Sweeteners

Read nutrition labels closely to see what is added to bottled tea options beyond just tea leaves and water. Many contain regular sugar or corn syrup that adds extra carbs. Going with unsweetened varieties avoids this issue.

2. Watch Portion Sizes

While enjoying an endless supply of refreshing iced tea all summer long might sound nice, be cautious of drinking too much. Consuming very large volumes can indirectly impact blood sugar levels through needing to urinate frequently. Moderation is key.

3. Time Insulin Dosing

People using insulin should take tea drinking into account when dosing mealtime insulin. Drinking large quantities of any fluid with meals can cause blood sugar to spike soon after then drop rapidly. Discuss dosing adjustments with your healthcare provider.

4. Stay Hydrated

Replacing some water intake with iced tea instead of only sugary drinks helps meet daily fluid needs for better diabetes health. Getting enough hydration aids circulation and temperature regulation.

5. Opt for Healthy Sweeteners if Needed

Those who enjoy a touch of sweetness can use modest amounts of lower glycemic sweeteners. While no-calorie stevia or sucralose or small quantities of sugar alcohols may still affect blood sugar in some people, these are lower carb alternatives to sugar.

Sample Iced Tea Recipes for Diabetes

Finding flavorful recipes that won't spike blood sugar takes the guess work out of whipping up tasty teas to enjoy chilled. Experiment with these creations:

Classic Cranberry Orange Iced Tea

Ingredients:

• 6 cups water
• 4 orange pekoe tea bags
• 1 cup cranberry juice
• 1 orange, sliced

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil then remove from heat
2. Add tea bags and let steep 5 minutes
3. Discard tea bags and stir in cranberry juice
4. Refrigerate until chilled then serve over ice
5. Garnish with orange slices

This fruity, crisp tea offers the tangy flavor of cranberries with subtle citrus tones. The cranberries provide a dose of antioxidants as well.

Sparkling Mint Green Iced Tea

Ingredients:

• 5 cups water
• 3 green tea bags
• 1 cup sparkling water
• 1/4 cup torn fresh mint leaves
• 2 tbsp lime juice

Instructions:

1. In a small saucepan bring water just to a boil, then remove from heat
2. Add green tea bags and steep 3 minutes
3. Remove tea bags and stir in torn mint leaves
4. Allow to cool to room temperature about 1 hour
5. Refrigerate until chilled then stir in sparkling water and lime juice
6. Serve over ice garnished with mint sprigs

The perfect mix of delicate green tea paired with lively mint and lime. An ideal hot weather refresher without added sugars.

Chai Black Tea Iced Latte

Ingredients:

• 3 cups water
• 3 chai tea bags
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 3 tbsp sugar-free caramel coffee syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Pinch cinnamon

Instructions:

1. In small saucepan, bring 3 cups of water to a boil
2. Remove from heat and add tea bags, steeping 10 minutes
3. In measuring cup or pitcher, stir together almond milk, coffee syrup, vanilla and cinnamon
4. Discard tea bags and pour tea into cup with milk mixture
5. Fill cup with ice and enjoy!

A sweet creamy blend of chai tea and sugar-free syrup comes together for a chilled coffeehouse-style treat. The almond milk provides a dose of calcium too.

Stay Hydrated and Quenched with Iced Tea

When thirsty, opt for refreshing glasses of plain or lightly flavored iced tea over high-calorie bottled drinks all summer long. With so many diabetes-friendly varieties, it is easy staying hydrated without affecting your blood sugar goals.

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.