Diabetic Ice Cream: Keto-Friendly Or Not?

Diabetic ice cream is a growing market, with many brands offering low-sugar, low-fat, and low-calorie options. Diabetics can enjoy ice cream in moderation, but it's important to be mindful of portion sizes and the total amount of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in a serving. The best ice cream for diabetics will be low in sugar, calories, and carbohydrates while being higher in protein and healthy fats. Keto ice cream is often a good choice for diabetics as it is lower in calories and carbohydrates than regular ice cream.

Diabetic ice cream brands

Diabetic ice cream is often made with alternative sweeteners, such as Splenda or stevia, to keep the sugar content low. Diabetics must be mindful of their ice cream choices, as blood sugar control is essential to managing the condition.

Rebel Ice Cream

Rebel Ice Cream is a low-carb and low-saturated-fat ice cream perfect for those on a keto or diabetic diet. It is all-natural, gluten-free, and grain-free, with zero added sugar. It comes in various delicious flavours, including Cookie Dough, which has generous chunks of cookie dough and chocolate flakes.

N!CK'S Swedish Chocolate Variety Pack

N!CK'S offers a delicious and healthy way to enjoy your favourite dessert without the added sugar. Their Swedish Chocolate Variety Pack has a rich, super-creamy texture and is available in Cherry Choka, Swedish Chokolad, and Triple Choklad flavours. They use zero sugar in their chocolate, cherry, and fudge ice cream flavours and sweeten their product with natural sweeteners like monk fruit extract and stevia leaf extract.

Halo Top Creamery

Halo Top Creamery's ice cream is a smart indulgence, packed with protein and low in added sugar. It is gluten-free and has only 7 grams of sugar alcohol per pint, making it an anytime treat that you can enjoy without feeling guilty. Their Cookies & Cream flavour is a popular choice.

So Delicious

So Delicious offers non-GMO, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free ice cream options made with coconut milk and monk fruit extract to keep the sugar content low. Their Vanilla Bean No Sugar Added Coconutmilk dessert is a promising option if you crave vanilla ice cream. The entire container has only 4 grams of sugar, and the vanilla extract it contains is safe for diabetics.

Enlightened

Enlightened offers a range of low-sugar ice creams, including their Triple Chocolate Brownie Dough Keto Ice Cream. It is made with only the finest ingredients and contains zero grams of added sugar. With 13 grams of sugar alcohol, it is perfect for those on a ketogenic or diabetic diet.

Mammoth Creameries

Mammoth Creameries offers a Keto Vanilla Ice Cream with only 1 gram of added sugar per serving.

Edy's Slow Churned Ice Cream

Edy's Slow Churned Ice Cream is an excellent option for those with diabetes. Their slow churning process results in a richer, creamier ice cream that is lower in fat and calories. The Neapolitan flavour contains just 14 grams of carbohydrates per half-cup serving.

Breyers

Breyers offers a range of low-carb frozen dairy desserts, including their Creamy Vanilla flavour, which has only 17 grams of carbs per half-cup serving. They also offer a similar product with the same nutritional information in chocolate flavour.

Blue Bunny

Blue Bunny offers light ice cream versions that are safe for diabetics. Their Hi-Lite Chocolate Ice Cream is low-carb and has just two grams of saturated fat in a half-cup portion.

Remember, when choosing a diabetic-friendly ice cream, it is important to consider the nutritional facts, including sugar content, saturated fat, carbohydrates, and added sugar or sugar alcohol. It is also crucial to practise portion control and not exceed your daily carbohydrate goal.

Sugar-free ice cream

Choosing Sugar-Free Ice Cream

When selecting a sugar-free ice cream, look for brands that use natural sweeteners such as stevia, allulose, monk fruit, or sugar alcohols like erythritol and xylitol. These sweeteners have a minimal impact on blood glucose and insulin levels. However, sugar alcohols can cause digestive issues for some people, so choose a brand with fewer or no sugar alcohols if you are sensitive to them. Additionally, read the nutrition labels carefully and choose ice creams with low total carbohydrates, preferably less than 20 grams of total carbohydrates per half-cup serving.

Some recommended sugar-free ice cream brands include:

• Rebel Ice Cream: This brand offers a range of delicious flavours and is low in carbs and saturated fat, making it perfect for those on a keto or diabetic diet.
• N!CK'S Swedish Chocolate Variety Pack: With no added sugar and a rich, creamy texture, this ice cream is a healthy and tasty option.
• Halo Top Creamery: This brand provides ice cream with added protein and low carbohydrates, using erythritol as a sweetener.
• So Delicious Organic and No Sugar Added: This brand offers a dairy-free option with a coconut milk base and is low in sugar and free from additional sweeteners.

Making Your Own Sugar-Free Ice Cream

If you want to have more control over the ingredients and sweetness of your ice cream, consider making your own at home using an ice cream maker. You can use alternative sweeteners like stevia and include healthy ingredients such as frozen fruit, yogurt, or low-fat milk. Adding cocoa powder, mangoes, or nut butter can enhance the flavour and creaminess of your ice cream.

Enjoying Sugar-Free Ice Cream in Moderation

Even with sugar-free or low-sugar ice cream, it's important to practise portion control and enjoy it in moderation as part of a balanced diet. For people with diabetes, a small scoop of ice cream once every three weeks is generally considered a safe treat. Additionally, pairing your ice cream with foods containing protein and fibre can help stabilise blood sugar levels.

Low-carb ice cream options

If you're watching your carbohydrate intake, there are plenty of low-carb ice cream options available in supermarkets and online. Here are some of the best options to satisfy your sweet tooth without compromising your diet:

Rebel Ice Cream

Rebel Ice Cream offers a range of low-carb, high-fat, keto-friendly options. Their products are full-fat dairy with zero sugars and no lactose, allowing you to indulge in creamy, full-fat ice cream without the negative impacts of sugar. They have various flavours, including Cookie Dough, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Banana Peanut Butter Chip, and Salted Caramel. Their ice cream is sweetened with erythritol and monk fruit, and it has a very limited impact on blood sugar levels.

Enlightened Keto Ice Cream

Enlightened offers keto-friendly ice cream with zero added sugar. Their ice cream is made with a heavy cream and egg yolk base, sweetened with erythritol, allulose, monk fruit, and stevia. They have a range of flavours, including Peanut Butter Cookie & Brownie Dough, Vanilla Dark Chocolate Almond, and Triple Chocolate Brownie Dough. Enlightened ice cream has minimal impact on blood sugar and is a tasty treat for those watching their carb intake.

Nubocha Chocolate Arriba Gelato

This is a rich and creamy low-carb gelato that is surprisingly dairy-free. It is sweetened with allulose, a low-calorie sweetener that is excreted through urine rather than impacting blood glucose or insulin levels. Nubocha gelato is a delicious option for those seeking a dairy-free, low-carb treat, although it is more expensive and only available online or in select retailers.

Nick's Swedish-Style Light Ice Cream

Nick's offers a range of light ice cream options with various flavours, including Birthdäg Cake and Peanöt Choklad Cup. Their ice cream is sweetened with allulose, erythritol, and stevia, and it contains EPG oil, a modified plant-based oil that doesn't cause the same gastrointestinal issues as other low-calorie oils. Nick's ice cream is a fun and tasty option for those seeking a low-carb treat, although some may find the texture a bit watery.

So Delicious Dairy-Free No Sugar Added Ice Cream

So Delicious offers a dairy-free, gluten-free, and no-sugar-added ice cream option. Their ice cream is made with a coconut milk base, sweetened with erythritol, stevia, and monk fruit, creating a well-balanced and non-bitter sweetness. The most popular flavours are Butter Pecan and Mint Chip, although they offer a range of delicious options. So Delicious ice cream is a great choice for those seeking a creamy, dairy-free, and low-carb dessert.

Breyers CarbSmart Frozen Dessert

Breyers offers a range of low-carb frozen desserts with delicious flavours. Their products typically have 3-5g net carbs and 60-150 calories per serving, making them a guilt-free treat. Some of their popular flavours include Mint Fudge Cookie, Brownie a la Mode, and Caramel Swirl Bars. Breyers CarbSmart is a great option for those seeking a traditional ice cream taste with fewer carbs and calories.

Make Your Own

If you're feeling adventurous, you can also make your own low-carb ice cream at home. Some simple recipes include combining coconut milk, almond butter, and vanilla extract for a dairy-free option or using almond milk and nut butter as a base for various flavours. Making your own ice cream allows you to control the ingredients and create a treat that fits perfectly within your dietary preferences and restrictions.

Homemade diabetic ice cream

Ingredients

• 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
• 2 tablespoons of sugar substitute (e.g. Equal or Splenda)
• 1 1/2 cups of whole milk
• 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
• Optional: 1/4 teaspoon of salt

Method

• Combine the milk and sugar replacement.
• Beat well until the sugar is dissolved.
• Add the whole milk and vanilla extract; beat well.
• Add eggs; beat well.
• Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer's directions.

Tips

• This recipe does not include cooking the mixture to form a custard, which may be necessary from a food safety standpoint to eliminate egg-borne disease.
• The recipe can be adapted to include a salt addition of 1/4 teaspoon, which may improve the flavor.
• This recipe can be adapted for vegans by swapping the heavy cream for a plant-based alternative.
• For a child-friendly version, the vodka can be swapped for 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum.
• The ice cream should be checked often during freezing and mixed to prevent ice crystals from forming.
• The ice cream can be customized with other flavors, such as chocolate, mint, strawberry, or peanut butter and jelly.
• To store, the ice cream should be kept in the freezer, completely covered, and not re-frozen more than once.

Diabetic-friendly toppings

Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds are an excellent choice as they provide a good source of protein, healthy fats, and fibre. They can help slow down glucose absorption and prevent a sharp spike in blood sugar levels. Some options include chopped peanuts, sunflower seeds, or even a handful of your favourite nuts. Just remember to stick to unsalted or lightly salted varieties to avoid excessive sodium intake.

Coconut Flakes

If you're a fan of coconut, consider adding some unsweetened coconut flakes to your ice cream. They provide a nice crunchy texture and a subtle sweetness without the added sugar. Coconut is also a good source of healthy fats, which can help slow digestion and keep blood sugar levels stable.

Cinnamon

A sprinkle of cinnamon can add a wonderful aromatic flavour to your ice cream. Cinnamon has been shown to have blood-sugar-lowering properties, making it an excellent choice for diabetics. It can help improve insulin sensitivity and may even reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications.

Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

For chocolate lovers, unsweetened cocoa powder can be a great way to add a rich, chocolatey flavour to your ice cream without the added sugar. Cocoa powder is also a good source of antioxidants and may offer some additional health benefits.

Fresh Fruits

Adding some fresh fruits to your ice cream can provide natural sweetness and a boost of vitamins and antioxidants. Berries, such as strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries, are excellent choices as they are low on the glycemic index and won't cause a sharp spike in blood sugar. You can also try dicing up other fruits like peaches, bananas, or mangoes and freezing them to create your own diabetic-friendly frozen fruit mix.

Remember, when choosing toppings, it's important to read the labels and be mindful of added sugars, artificial sweeteners, and other ingredients that may impact your blood sugar levels. Enjoy your ice cream and toppings in moderation as part of a balanced and healthy diet!

Frequently asked questions