5 Best/Worst Breakfasts for Diabetics - 2024 (Diabetic Breakfast Ideas)

Summary

In this video, Dr. Ken Berry, a family physician, addresses the misconceptions about breakfast for diabetics perpetuated by mainstream media and the American Diabetes Association. He offers five recommended and five discouraged food options for diabetics, emphasizing the importance of personal blood sugar monitoring to verify nutritional advice. Dr. Berry encourages skepticism towards dietary guidelines and promotes a diet rich in essential nutrients and low in carbohydrates that spike blood sugar levels.

Takeaways

• 👨‍⚕️ Dr. Ken Berry, a family physician, discusses breakfast choices for diabetics, aiming to counteract misleading mainstream nutrition advice.
• 🥚 Eggs are recommended as a good breakfast option due to their essential amino and fatty acids, and minimal impact on blood sugar levels.
• 🚫 Oatmeal is discouraged due to its high carbohydrate content, which can lead to blood sugar spikes and liver fat storage.
• 🥑 Avocados are highlighted as a superior source of potassium with fewer carbohydrates compared to bananas, making them a better choice for diabetics.
• 🥓 Bacon, particularly uncured or pastured, is praised for its essential nutrients, despite its high-fat content.
• 🥖 English muffins are criticized for their carbohydrate content, which can negatively affect blood sugar and liver health.
• 🥩 Steak, even the least expensive cuts, provide essential nutrients and have a positive impact on blood sugar levels.
• 🥣 Muesli with berries is cautioned against due to its high carbohydrate content, which can spike blood sugar.
• 🍶 Full-fat Greek yogurt with nuts is suggested as a nutritious and balanced breakfast option for diabetics.
• 🌾 Cereal with skim milk is warned against as it is highly processed and can lead to significant blood sugar increases.
• ⏸ Dr. Berry suggests that skipping breakfast might be beneficial for diabetics, as it can help normalize blood sugar and insulin levels.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of Dr. Ken Berry's video?

The main purpose of Dr. Ken Berry's video is to discuss breakfast foods suitable for diabetics, highlighting five good and five bad choices, and to counteract what he believes is poor nutritional advice from mainstream sources.

Why does Dr. Berry suggest that diabetics should not blindly trust nutritional advice from the American Diabetes Association?

Dr. Berry suggests that diabetics should not blindly trust the American Diabetes Association because he believes their advice perpetuates and worsens diabetes, and he aims to provide alternative, evidence-based recommendations.

What does Dr. Berry recommend diabetics do to verify the effects of different breakfast foods on their blood sugar levels?

Dr. Berry recommends that diabetics use a glucometer or continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to check their blood sugar levels 30, 60, and 90 minutes after eating breakfast, to verify the impact of different foods on their blood sugar.

Why does Dr. Berry consider eggs to be a good breakfast choice for diabetics?

Eggs are considered a good breakfast choice for diabetics because they provide essential amino acids and fatty acids, are high in omega-3 content if pastured, and have minimal impact on blood sugar levels.

What are the issues with oatmeal as a breakfast food for diabetics according to Dr. Berry?

Dr. Berry identifies oatmeal as a bad choice because it is high in carbohydrates that break down into glucose and fructose, which spike blood sugar and contribute to fat storage in the liver, respectively.

How does Dr. Berry compare avocados to bananas in terms of potassium content and impact on blood sugar?

Dr. Berry points out that avocados have a higher potassium content (500 mg per 100g serving) and lower carbohydrates (8g per 100g serving) compared to bananas, which have 350 mg of potassium and 22g of carbohydrates per 100g serving, making avocados a better choice for diabetics.

What are the nutritional benefits of bacon as a breakfast food according to the video?

Bacon, especially uncured or pastured bacon, provides essential amino acids and fatty acids, and can have a higher omega-3 content and more vitamins and minerals, making it a nutritious choice for breakfast.

Why does Dr. Berry advise against English muffins as a breakfast option for diabetics?

English muffins are made from wheat, which is high in carbohydrates that break down into glucose and fructose, leading to increased blood sugar and fat storage in the liver, making them an unhealthy choice for diabetics.

What are the nutritional drawbacks of muesli with berries as a breakfast food for diabetics?

Muesli with berries, despite sounding healthy, is essentially raw oats soaked in liquid, which breaks down into glucose and fructose, spiking blood sugar levels and not providing meaningful nutrition.

Why does Dr. Berry suggest full-fat Greek yogurt with nuts as a good breakfast option for diabetics?

Full-fat Greek yogurt with nuts provides essential amino acids and fatty acids, along with vitamins and minerals, making it a nutritious and relatively low-impact breakfast choice for diabetics.

What is Dr. Berry's final recommendation for diabetics regarding breakfast?

Dr. Berry's final recommendation is that diabetics consider skipping breakfast altogether, as delaying food intake can help maintain low normal blood sugar and insulin levels, which is beneficial for diabetics.