Diabetic cake is another great culinary invention, the world of desserts seems to shrink once you are diagnosed with diabetes. What has expanded is the options available to diabetics with a sweet tooth. From low-sugar and no sugar added options to completely sugar free, you can, in fact, have your diabetic cake and eat it too!
Let’s talk about sugar for a moment. The general consensus a decade ago was that sugar is the main cause of unstable blood sugar and eliminating it from the diet is the only way to manage severe fluctuations. This line of thinking has changed over the years to allow for small amounts of sugar and a vast reduction in carbohydrates (breads, refined grains like white rice and starches) in the diabetics diet.
Non Diabetic Cake
While sugar itself isn’t a cause for alarm, coupling that with the carbohydrates found in baked goods, like cake for example, is. Thanks to the advent of sugar substitutes and artificial sweeteners you no longer have to sacrifice dessert for the sake of your health. Alternatively, natural sweeteners like apple sauce or bananas can help as well, allowing you to have a bigger slice of that diabetic cake without the cost to your blood glucose level.
Diabetic Cake Portions
Portion size is the complaint most often heard from patients trying to balance their disease and their sweet tooth. While a sliver of Johnny’s birthday cake is better than none, too often the craving demands more. To circumvent this problem more doctors than ever are recommending their patients try sugar-free diabetic cake alternatives in order to quench that craving. You can have a normal serving size thus eliminating the tiny portion problem. This is not to say you should devour the entire diabetic cake but a good sized wedge isn’t a pipe dream any longer.
Diabetic Cake Frosting
You should also remember to take into consideration other factors of the food, for example frosting or candy decorations, which you may wish to remove before you indulge. Too often a well meaning friend or relative will offer you a slice proclaiming proudly “it’s sugar-free!” only to find out later that while the cake itself was indeed sugar-free, the frosting was most certainly not. Taking a gamble with your health is never a smart idea so be sure to ask before eating, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Diabetic Cake Taste
A final point we need to touch on is diabetic cake taste. Alternative sweeteners are most often the closest to undetectable verses real sugar in taste, but the amount you use is still a huge factor. On the other hand, artificial sweeteners can be used more liberally but many produce a strange aftertaste. In the end product you are less likely to notice the aftertaste of an artificial sweetener when used in baked goods like cake based solely on the fact that there are many flavors mingling in every bite. To sum this information up simply, if you use real sugar or a sugar alternative, watch those serving sizes. If you use a sugar-free sweetener, indulge a little. With any part of your meal planning, moderation is always the key. Not only important to managing your diabetes but also to your over all health.
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