You’ve heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day , right? Well, this is also true for diabetics. Eating a balanced amount of carbohydrates through the day is important for maintaining a healthy blood sugar level . It is important to focus on a mix of carbohydrates, protein, and fats, for a balanced meal that will help you to feel your best.

Diabetics can eat all foods- they just have to pay attention to how much food they are eating and when they are eating it. For example, it would not be a great choice for a diabetic to only have fruit for breakfast, because they need a mix of nutrients, not just carbohydrates.

5 Breakfast Ideas for Type 2 Diabetics

About the featured writer

Amanda Hernandez

Amanda Hernandez, MA, RD is a Detroit-area Master’s level registered dietitian, nutrition blogger, recipe developer and freelance writer. She is the author of The Nutritionist Reviews where she posts healthy recipes, nutrition articles, fitness and parenting articles.

Greek yogurt and fruit
Choose a Greek yogurt that is lower in sugar. Your best bet is choosing plain Greek yogurt and adding fresh fruit to limit the sugar content. Yogurt is rich in protein, which will help keep you full through the morning. Fruit is rich in fiber and vitamins. Fun options include strawberries and banana, or a tropical mix such as kiwi and mango. You can also top it with chopped nuts for protein and fiber. A sprinkle of granola or another whole-grain cereal provides a fibrous crunchy topping.

Oatmeal with peanut butter
Oats are whole grain and contain more fiber than refined grains. They don’t raise your blood sugars levels as high as sugary cereal would. Oats are also rich in selenium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, and manganese. Peanut butter is rich in healthy fats and protein. This breakfast option gives you a perfect mix of carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Feel free to add chia seeds or ground flax seeds to your oatmeal for a boost of omega-3s.

Scrambled eggs
Egg scramble is a great low-carbohydrate breakfast option. Egg scramble is a versatile option, as you can throw in it whatever you want for a nutritious breakfast. Just chop up some vegetables of your choice, sauté them for a few minutes, and then add in whisked eggs. Cook until eggs are thoroughly cooked. Top with a sprinkle of cheese, hot sauce, or ketchup. A delicious option is a Mexican breakfast scramble with tomatoes, bell pepper, green onions, and salsa.

Protein rich smoothie
Smoothies are a great breakfast option because they take just a few minutes to make and are great to take on-the-go if you have a busy morning. A great formula to use is 1 cup milk, 1 cup fruit, and a protein source. Protein rich options to add to a smoothie are protein powders, nut butter or yogurt. You can also add in other nutritious options such as chia seeds, flax seeds or other nutritious add-ins. A fiber-rich smoothie blend would be 1 cup of mixed berries, 1 cup of skim milk, and a scoop of vanilla protein powder.

Avocado toast with an egg
Avocado toast is all the rage right now and for good reason! It is a delicious and nutritious breakfast option. Choose your favorite whole-grain bread, toast it and top it with a sliced avocado. Avocado is rich in healthy fats and will help keep you full. To make it a balanced meal, have a fried egg on your avocado toast. You can also top the toast with tomatoes, hot sauce or other toppings.

These healthy breakfast options are great for diabetics as they contain a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat. They also contain either whole-grains and/or fruit for fiber, which helps to keep you full and also helps to cause less of a spike in your blood sugar. So, choose one of these healthy options for breakfast today.