How to snack when you have diabetes can still be enjoyable. However, diabetics should not think of snacks as something extra. If you have diabetes then you can't afford to eat anything that is not part of your meal plan. Any of the snacks that you can have if you are diabetic then need to be part of the overall eating strategy and come directly from your meal plans. It will take more planning but will be worth it in the long run.

Some diabetic researchers believe that it is best for a diabetic to eat six small meals a day to keep the blood sugar steady instead of the three big meals a day that most people eat. This idea can be great for diabetics that have good portion control but can go bad if the diabetic eats too much. Most diabetics will end up eating six regular sized meals instead of the six small meals that this program intends. If you are a diabetic and would like to eat this way then you should make sure you understand portion control and stick to it.

Snacks in a diabetic diet are sometimes necessary. This is especially true before exercise or when diabetics who are on insulin take two shots a day and need a bedtime snack to keep the glucose from going too low during the night. The best use of snacks for a diabetic is to understand what you need those snacks to do. Diabetics with Type 1 diabetes will often need a quick snack to prevent or reverse low blood glucose levels. In these cases a high carb snack may be called for. If you feel shaky and have sweats this is an indication of low blood sugar and you may need rapid-acting glucose such as juice.

How to snack when you have diabetes will generally require you to have snacks with the same kind of balance as the rest of your meals are balanced. The best recommendations for balanced snacks are to have one carbohydrate food with one protein food. Examples of this type of diabetic snack would include a slice of whole wheat bread with some peanut butter or a cracker with some cheese. A diabetic should choose carbohydrates that contain a low glycemic index. Diabetics should avoid bananas, pineapple and watermelon. Better fruit choices with a low glycemic index for the diabetic would be apples or berries because they don't spike the blood sugar as much.

Diabetics should also keep in mind that glucose control is not the only main issue when dealing with food, but it is still the main concern. Diabetes is also a major risk factor for heart disease so all foods and snacks a diabetic has should also be heart healthy. Diabetics should avoid foods with saturated fats and trans fats because of this risk. As a diabetic you will need to think about how your snack fits into your total eating plan and choose wisely each and every time.