IS OATMEAL GOOD OR BAD FOR A DIABETIC DIET

Ken-

Hello! I am a diabetic and I oatmeal at least 2-3 times a week.  I don't and haven't hard any issues with it.  I do eat the lower sugar kind, it has about 26g of carbs.  Keep eating your oatmeal unless your physician tells you other wise.

Cherise

Community Moderator

HI KEN,

Oatmeal, grains and starches will  affect everyone " differently". If you are on medications, you may do fine with oatmeal.  Another thing to do is to test the SPIKE of the oatmeal, one hour from your first bite : also called the one hour postprandial blood glucose.   I tested my spike one hour  (165 to 175), and it was two high for what I consider my personal tight glucose targets.   Since I keep an eye on which foods SPIKE me, and therefore put an extra burden on the beta cells and pancreas, I chose to give my friend my new box of oatmeal.  If you are on meds or insulin, you may be OK, but since I am not on meds, and food is my medicine -- I keep an eye on which food spike my blood glucose HIGH.  If oatmeal does not pose a problem for your blood glucose, then you can add cinnamon, and/or some nuts or milk to make it even healthier.   Whenever you are unsure about a food, you can do a blood glucose test for either one or two hours postprandial (after meal ) level, to see how this food affects.   Some starches and grains increase blood sugar more than pure cane sugar.

You can also read up on testing postprandial, or ask your doctor.  Since HIGH after meal readings are purportedly tied into increased risk of heart disease, they are worth checking here and there.   :) Good Luck.

I eat oatmeal every morning. I use the rough cut type, add a little sweetener, some plain cocoa, some blueberries, strawberries, cranberries (unsweetened) 1/2 banana and a little oleo. It is great, filling, and does not spike my blood sugar. I am on an insulin pump and so I provide the proper dosage and reap the benefits.

It has lowered my cholesterol levels and my blood pressure and my endocrinologist says to stick with it.

I believe oatmeal is good for you, just get it plain.

I eat it everyday. Just because I have diabetes, I cannot forget my chloesterol. Louise Leibman

As part of a varied diet composed from a broad range of foods

As part of a varied diet composing and based on a broad range of foods, oatmeal can be a very valuable food addition -- of course, "which" oatmeal is consumed, how much is eaten per serving, etc. must be ascertained and dealt with accordingly.

I find that I have tighter control (expected testing results) when I use "old-fashioned", thickly rolled oats and ESPECIALLY groats or "cracked" groats as in Scottish or Irish presentation...  Any of the flavoured, quick or instant variations cause my system to react as if I've just pigged out on glazed doughnuts...

If oatmeal is to be the main portion of a meal, I prepare it with fruit and nuts OR savoury with onions, chopped vegetables and maybe even bits of chicken or meat.  I also use oatmeal in preparing quick breads, "serious" cookies or muffins (hardly sweetened and served with unsweetened fruit butters) or as  thickening agent in soups, stews and one-dish meals.

good

I think it is good for the diabetic diet because of the fiber and if you don't load it down with sugar and canned fruit I believe it is all good.  I eat mine with 1/2 cup fresh fruit like blueberrys, fresh apple with a tespoon of cinnimom and love it. Pat

yes

I love oatmeal I too am a diabetic and I never had a problem with cholestrial and my blood work comes back very good every year

yes. Just have to watch carb count.

yes, no sugar and good for cholesteral.

I am diabetic and allergic to wheat and I suspect all glutens.  Since oats contain gluten, I avoid them.   Even non-gluten grains and I do not get along.  I can keep my blood sugar numbers within tight range, but I cannot lose weight if I eat grains.  I may be able to tolerate gluten free grains when I reach my goal weight, but if I find that a little causes cravings, I will keep them out of my lifestyle.  I can't stand cravings....   

My husband is diabetic and every morning I prepare oatmeal with 1 tsp of flaxseed meal and a dash of cinnamon for breakfast top with blueberrie or strawberries..Iwant to know if oatmeal is good or bad for diabetes.

Lou

Oatmeal is very good for diabetics, but like anything, eat it in moderation.  It is not a medication or cure.  It is just a great food!

Not to go against the crowd, but I avoid grains like oatmeal.  My carb intake is 6 grams for breakfast, 12 for lunch, and 12 for dinner.  It does not take much oatmeal to get 6 grams of carb, so I avoid it all together.  I am a Type I diabetic and have had diabetes  for 40 years .  I eat according to the Dr. Berstein diet and my HbA1c is 5.5.

Not sure myself

I heard that Steel Cut Oatmeal is better because it takes longer to digest and so your sugar level doesn't spike as much, can anyone support this?  I do know that when my mom eats regular oatmeal her blood sugar is always up that day.

I have been eating Oatmeal for several months plane right out of the box no sugar nothing added.  Recently I was diagnosed with type 2 and put on medication.  When I got out of the hospital (because my sugar had gone so high) I was checking my numbers like 10 times a day.  Day 3 out of the hospital I had a bowl of Oatmeal and my sugar level spiked to 210.  I felt bad for a while until it got back down.  Chalked it up to the Metformin.  Two weeks later after I felt adjusted to the Metformin I tried again and got a similar number. It befuddles me how something with no sugar could spike me so high but it is now on my list of do not eat.  I think everyone is different when it comes to different foods.