Enjoying Smoothies from Jamba Juice with Diabetes: Tips and Recipes

Enjoying Smoothies from Jamba Juice With Diabetes

Smoothies make for a convenient and nutritious meal or snack when living with diabetes. Jamba Juice offers many blended creations that can fit into a diabetic diet when ordered wisely. With the right ingredients and adjustments, you can still satisfy your smoothie cravings at Jamba Juice.

Opt for Lower Sugar Fruits

The natural sugars in fruit can spike blood sugar levels. At Jamba, stick to options like strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, lime, lemon, and grapefruit which are lower on the glycemic index.

Increase Fiber Content

Adding high fiber ingredients like chia seeds, flaxseed, oats, peanut butter, almond butter, protein powders, and non-starchy vegetables helps slow sugar absorption and fills you up.

Watch Portion Sizes

Jamba's large smoothie sizes can pack a lot of carbs. Opt for a small or regular size, share your smoothie, or consume half and save the rest for later.

Skip Added Sugars and Syrups

Avoid adding sugary mix-ins like sherbet or sweet syrups which rapidly spike blood glucose levels. If needed, use a small amount of honey or stevia instead.

Diabetes-Friendly Jamba Juice Smoothie Recipes

Try these blood sugar friendly smoothie combinations at Jamba Juice:

Berries & Greens

Strawberries, raspberries, banana, spinach, kale, peanut butter

Tropical Fruit & Yogurt

Pineapple, mango, Greek yogurt, lime, ginger, chia seeds

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana

Banana, peanut butter, cacao powder, almond milk, cinnamon

Orange Carrot Creamsicle

Carrots, orange, vanilla whey protein, flaxseed, ice

Blueberry Almond

Blueberries, almond butter, almond milk, cinnamon, oats

Jamba Juice Smoothie Ingredients to Limit or Avoid

While Jamba Juice offers healthy options, there are also many high sugar mix-ins and smoothies to limit or steer clear of when living with diabetes including:

Added Sweeteners

Syrups and sugars like agave, evaporated cane juice, honey, and classic sweetener quickly spike blood glucose.

Fruit Juices

Juices like orange, apple, mango, and cranberry juice contain high concentrations of fruit sugar.

Dried Fruits

Ingredients like dates, raisins, cranberries, and dried pineapple have very concentrated sugars.

Regular Yogurt

Non-Greek yogurt has more carbs and less protein. Choose plain Greek yogurt instead.

Sweet Mix-Ins

Sherbet, frozen yogurt, sorbet, whipped cream, and ice cream rapidly increase blood sugar.

Refined Grains

High glycemic options like wheat germ, granola, and muesli offer less nutrition and fiber.

Pre-Sweetened Items

Pre-sweetened nut butters, whey powders, milks, and grains can sneak in extra sugars.

Tips for Ordering Smoothies Wisely with Diabetes

Use these tips at Jamba Juice to order smoothies in a blood sugar friendly way:

Customize Off the Menu

Start with a lower sugar base like the Strawberry Whirl or Island Green and modify with diabetic friendly add-ins.

Substitute Milks

Request almond milk, coconut milk, or unsweetened soy milk instead of sugary yogurt blends or fruit juices.

Up the Nutrition

Add fiber, protein, and healthy fats from chia, flax, nut butters, avocado, spinach, and kale.

Balance Carbs

Combine lower glycemic fruits like berries with higher glycemic banana to help maintain steady glucose levels.

Skip Added Sugars

Avoid classic sweetener, agave, honey, and syrup pumps which spike blood sugar. Opt for stevia or monk fruit if needed.

Halve Higher Carb Items

Ask for half the usual amount of mix-ins like granola, dried fruits, and yogurt to reduce carb load.

Healthy Smoothie Bowls at Jamba Juice

In addition to smoothies, Jamba Juice serves tasty smoothie bowl options that can work for diabetes with some adjustments. Try:

Acai Primo Bowl

With unsweetened acai, strawberries, banana, blueberries, almond milk. Top with coconut, chia seeds, walnuts.

Caribbean Bowl

Made with mango, pineapple, coconut milk, spinach. Top with shredded coconut, hemp seeds, lime.

Strawberry Whirl Bowl

Using strawberries, banana, orange juice alternative, vanilla whey protein. Top with sliced almonds, granola.

Orange Dream Bowl

Made with oranges, carrot, Greek yogurt alternative, vanilla protein. Top with flaxseed, walnuts.

Lower Carb Smoothies to Order at Jamba Juice

These existing smoothies from the Jamba Juice menu make good choices for managing blood sugar when ordered with care:

Berry Principle

Contains strawberries, bananas, nonfat Greek yogurt - sub milk and limit bananas.

White Gummi

Made with oranges, bananas, pineapples - go easy on bananas and ask for no classic sweetener.

Orange Dream Machine

Orange sherbet, orange juice - sub Greek yogurt and carrots for OJ.

Pomegranate Smoothie

Pomegranate juice, banana - use very little juice and reduce banana amount.

Peach Pleasure

Peaches, orange juice - switch to almond milk and halve peaches.

Meal Replacement Smoothies at Jamba Juice

For a balanced nutrient-rich meal, Jamba Juice offers meal replacement smoothies that work well for diabetes when customized. Opt for:

Lite Options

Lighter smoothies like Beach Bum Bliss, Basil Berry Balance, or White Peach Lite with fewer calories and carbs.

More Protein

Whey or plant-based protein powders to help fill you up.

Healthy Fats

Peanut butter, avocado, coconut, nuts, seeds, and nut butters provide satiating fats.

Extra Fiber

Chia, flax, almond butter, oats, kale, and spinach bump up fiber to balance carbs.

Portion Control

Opt for a small smoothie or consume half to control calories and prevent blood sugar spikes.

Post-Smoothie Blood Sugar Tips

In addition to smart smoothie choices at Jamba Juice, managing your blood sugar after drinking them is important:

• Test glucose within 1-2 hours to see the impact
• Consume smoothies as part of a balanced meal with protein and fat
• Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration from blended fruits
• Go for a 15-20 minute walk to help stabilize blood sugar
• Dose insulin or medication if needed to counteract rising glucose
• Eat a fiber-rich snack like vegetables and hummus if hungry later

Enjoying smoothies from Jamba Juice is definitely possible with diabetes! Just focus on creating the optimal blends for blood sugar control and balance.

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.