In moderation, ice cream is not off-limits for people with type 2 diabetes. However, it is important to consider carbohydrate serving sizes and their potential effects on blood sugar.

People with type 2 diabetes need to consider how ice cream will affect their blood sugar (glucose) levels since managing this is crucial for controlling diabetes.

While including small servings of ice cream as part of a balanced, nutritious diet is not dangerous, decisions about types and brands require careful consideration.

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Choosing from a range of available ice cream products can be challenging for people with diabetes. They must consider the number of carbohydrates, calories, and any fat content in the product, as well as serving size.

As a sweet dessert, ice cream usually has high carbohydrate content from refined and processed sugars.

Even within one brand, carbohydrate levels may vary among different ice cream flavors. Some ice cream brands may also offer flavors with no added sugar. However, these may contain multiple artificial sweeteners, which may stillTrusted Source increase blood sugar.

The following brands may suit people with diabetes:

  • Blue Bunny Ice Cream: This brand offers various flavors. For example, the Vanilla Bean flavor contains 21 grams (g) of carbohydrates per 2/3 cup serving, while the Chocolate flavor contains 23 g per 2/3 cup serving.
  • Breyers Extra Creamy Vanilla: This contains minimal fat and 24 g of total carbohydrates per 2/3 cup.
  • Halo Top: Halo provides ice cream flavors with additional protein and low carbohydrates. It uses lower amounts of sugar due to the use of stevia leaf extract and the sugar alcohol erythritol. Their Golden Blondie ice cream contains 21 g of carbohydrates per 2/3 cup serving.

Considerations

Recommended daily carbohydrate intake will vary based on many factors, including:

If someone has difficulty managing blood sugar levels, a doctor might advise a low carbohydrate diet. People can speak with a diabetes specialist or dietitian about the optimal carbohydrate intake for their particular type of diabetes.

People following a carbohydrate-restricted diet must keep a thorough record of carbohydrate intake.

Those who plan on eating a serving of ice cream for dessert need to ensure they eat one less carbohydrate serving outside of this. Substituting a sandwich with a lettuce wrap or salad could achieve this.

Some ice cream brands and flavors also contain high saturated fat. People with diabetes have a higher riskTrusted Source of heart disease. Therefore, limiting other foods that contain saturated fat on the day they plan to eat ice cream may help them avoid exceeding the recommended intake.

People with diabetes who wish to eat ice cream as a daily treat need to consult a dietitian about ways to include it in a dietary plan while still managing blood sugar levels.

One factor to consider when choosing an ice cream is the total amount of carbohydrates on the nutrition facts label. This number will directly affectTrusted Source blood sugar, so people managing glucose may benefit from limiting their serving size.

However, ice cream may have a lot of added sugar, which people with diabetes need to considerTrusted Source. Added sugar and total carbohydrates on nutrition fact labels are not the same.

The total carbohydrates include naturally occurring sugar, which, in ice cream, is usually milk sugar or lactose. There is typically a separate line on nutrition fact labels for added sugars.

It is important to understand how ice cream fits into the overall diet plan. Here are a few factors for those with diabetes to consider:

  • An ice cream serving with 15 gTrusted Source of carbohydrates equals 1 serving of carbohydrates. Any carbohydrates in ice cream count toward the total carbohydrate goal for the day, which will be different for each person.
  • Protein, which may be in ice cream, can help slowTrusted Source the absorption of sugar. Choosing an ice cream higher in protein may be preferable.
  • People may benefit from being aware of their saturated fat intake. Full fat ice cream has higher amounts of saturated fat.
  • A suitable portion of ice cream for people with diabetes may be smaller than someone expects, usually half a cup. People with diabetes need to be aware of portion sizes so they know exactly how many carbohydrates they are eating.

The options for choosing ice cream can be overwhelming, with a wide range of available brands and flavors.

People can start by looking at the nutrition facts label to understand how a particular ice cream may fit into their diet plan. This is important so they can manage their blood sugar levels.

Consider the following factors when looking for ice cream at the store.

Low sugar

The best ice cream for someone with diabetes may have a lower sugar content per serving without relying on artificial sweeteners.

To check the amount of sugar in a particular ice cream, look at the total number of carbohydrates on the nutrition label and the ingredient list.

A single carbohydrate serving for someone with diabetes is 15 gTrusted Source of carbs.

Confusing labels

Almost every brand of ice cream has lots of marketing information on the container, which aims to catch the consumer’s eye.

People with diabetes may find product labels that boast reduced sugar or half the calorie content of regular ice cream. Although the claims may be true, the actual sugar content may still be much higher than the recommended amount per serving.

Fat and protein level

The amount of protein and fat in ice cream can directly affectTrusted Source the speed of sugar absorption in the body. High fat and protein content generally support slower-than-average absorption.

Diabetes-friendly desserts are available in most stores and are as easy to prepare at home as any other sweet treat.

People with diabetes may wish to consider the following when looking for alternative options:

  • total carbohydrate contents per serving
  • protein and fat levels
  • whether the alternative contains natural or artificial sweeteners

Some alternative options for dessert include the following:

Frozen yogurt

Stores often sell fat-free varieties of frozen yogurt, which may be a suitable alternative to some ice creams that contain high amounts of fat.

However, people need to read the nutritional information on frozen yogurt packaging carefully. Frozen yogurt may also contain sugar levels that are the same as or greater than the amount in ice cream.

Manufacturers might increase the amount of sugar to make up for reduced flavor and texture after removing the fat.

Pudding and gelatin

Many brands that offer sugar- or fat-free versions of these dessert options may still contain artificial sweeteners.

People with diabetes can check the nutritional facts to see how they fit into their overall diet for the day.

Homemade baked goods made with stevia

Some baked goods use stevia instead of sugar in their recipes.

This natural, zero-calorie sweetener may be aTrusted Source useful sugar substitute and can reduce the carbohydrate effects of a baked favorite.

However, stevia is much sweeter than regular sugar, so less is necessary to achieve the same level of sweetness. In addition, unless a person consumes the plant directly, they are still consuming a highly processed sweetener.

While moderation is still key, stevia can reduce the per-serving carbohydrate effects of eating baked goods.

Understanding carbohydrate serving sizes and their potential effect on blood sugar throughout the day is key to making ice cream a treat that people with diabetes can continue to enjoy.

Individuals working with dietitians to develop a meal plan can discuss possible issues with adding ice cream to the diet or ways to make it work.

With the right research and dietary adjustments, those with diabetes can safely eat ice cream.