### Healthy Snacks for Diabetics Snacking often gets a bad rap, but if you are managing type 2 diabetes, including healthy snacks in your diet can be a great way to keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range and energy levels high. They can also be a great weight loss tool. According to Kelly Kennedy, RD, snacks provide another opportunity for nutrition, and with a small amount of carbohydrates (15 grams or less), they can help keep blood sugar levels steady throughout the day. Eating a healthy snack when you have diabetes can also help keep hunger at bay until your next meal, which can ultimately prevent overeating and support any weight loss goals you may have. If you’re managing diabetes, an important thing to keep in mind when snacking is your carb count. Carbohydrates are the nutrient in foods that are broken down into glucose, and they can have a significant impact on blood sugar levels. It’s important to consider quantity and quality when it comes to carbs. Binging on carbohydrates or having too many simple carbohydrates at once can cause spikes in blood sugar, which in turn can increase the risk of diabetes complications like diabetic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, heart disease, and stroke. But this doesn’t mean that you need to avoid carbohydrates completely. Instead, eat a healthy amount of good carbohydrates — such as those from fruits and vegetables, fat-free or low-fat dairy, and whole grains — including while snacking. Combining protein and healthy fats with complex carbohydrates is a great way to give your snacks staying power. Nuts, nut butters, plain Greek yogurt, and low-fat cheeses offer both protein and fat for satisfaction and blood sugar control. Here are some healthy snacks for diabetes to help you meet your health goals: 1. **Sugar-Free Hot Cocoa**: One cup of fat-free milk blended with one envelope of sugar-free cocoa mix. 2. **Salsa and Baked Potato Chips**: A ¼-cup serving of salsa combined with a 1-ounce serving of lower-fat baked potato chips. 3. **Popcorn**: Select a low-fat variety of popcorn that can be microwaved or air-popped. 4. **Oatmeal**: A ½ cup of plain, unflavored cooked oatmeal prepared with water. 5. **Whole-Grain Waffle with Greek Yogurt**: Toast up one whole-grain frozen waffle and top with plain, low-fat Greek yogurt. 6. **Hummus and Whole-Grain Crackers**: Spread hummus over thin whole-grain crackers. 7. **Pistachios**: A 1-oz portion of pistachio nuts without the shell. 8. **Cheese Crisps and Veggies**: Low-calorie baked cheese crisps or crackers with sliced raw veggies. 9. **Red Bell Peppers with Dip**: Slice red bell peppers into strips and dunk them in a creamy, low-fat garden vegetable dip. 10. **Fresh Mozzarella and Tomato**: Part-skim mozzarella with grape tomatoes and a drizzle of olive oil or balsamic vinegar. 11. **Yogurt with Fresh Fruit**: Plain nonfat yogurt with some fresh fruit. 12. **Avocado**: Slices of avocado topped with lime juice and sea salt. 13. **Sugar-Free Frozen Fruit Pop**: A variety of fruit flavors or homemade ice pops. 14. **Peanut Butter on Whole-Grain English Muffin**: Spread peanut butter on one half of a high-fiber, whole-grain English muffin. 15. **Fruit with Prosciutto**: A half piece of fruit like an apple or pear with thinly sliced prosciutto. 16. **Cottage Cheese with Cantaloupe**: Top cut-up melon with low-fat cottage cheese. 17. **Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce**: Steamed, boiled, or sauteed shrimp with cocktail sauce. 18. **Strawberries with Dark Chocolate**: Dip strawberries in creamy dark chocolate. 19. **Sugar-Free Gelatin with Whipped Cream**: A sparkling, fruit-flavored gelatin topped with whipped cream. 20. **Frozen Yogurt with Berries**: A ½-cup portion of vanilla frozen yogurt topped with small berries or chopped nuts.