Can a diabetic eat pickles? Are pickles ok for diabetics? If you have recently been diagnosed as diabetic or have elevated blood sugars (ie – prediabetes), you are more than likely questioning everything you eat, including dill pickles.
Are pickles good for prediabetics? Do they make sugar free pickles? Can diabetics eat dill pickles? Learn the answers here with the complete guide to dill pickles and diabetes, as well as easy keto pickle recipes!
But First.
What is Diabetes?
While I can give you intense, scientific definitions, I prefer to follow the KISS principle, ‘keep it simple, silly.’ Basically, diabetes occurs when you do not produce enough insulin OR you are not using insulin as you should. When this happens, too much sugar stays in our blood stream.
3 types of diabetes exist:
- Type 1 diabetes.
- Type 2 diabetes.
- Gestational diabetes.
When Are You Diagnosed as Diabetic?
According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes is diagnosed when an A1C level is above 6.5%. Prediabetes is diagnosed when the A1C is between 5.7% and 6.4%.
What about Prediabetes?
As a dietitian, I am noticing a huge increase of prediabetes (or elevated blood sugar) in my clinic. This is where our blood sugar is elevated, but not elevated ‘enough’ for the classic diabetes diagnosis.
How Many Individuals Have Diabetes?
According to the Diabetes Research Institute, 37.3 million people (11.3% of the population) have diabetes.
What is the Common Treatment For Diabetes?
As much as I hate to say this, patients are often given a HUGE amount of medicines to help with diabetes. While that is ok for some, it often breaks my heart to see meds handed out with ZERO diet education. As a dietitian and working with 100s of patients, I can honestly tell you a change in diet CAN get you off diabetes medicine and reverse prediabetes.
WAIT…
Can I Reverse Diabetes and Prediabetes?
My professional opinion is that with proper diet (and no, not that moderation diet), activity, and sleep, we can DRASTICALLY reduce our blood sugars out of the diabetes and prediabetes range.
LET’S GET STARTED!
The Diabetes and Prediabetes Diet Guide
While many of us know to cut out the sugar, sweets, sodas, and white carbs (and even some wheat carbs), I focus my diabetes and prediabetes plan on the following:
- Low glycemic,
- Low carb,
- High fiber,
- Lean protein, and
- High omega-3 rich foods.
While this article focuses on dill pickles and diabetes, you can continue to watch my video on the 10 best foods for prediabetes and weight loss.
But Let’s Get Down to Business.
The Perfect Pickle.
What Are Dill Pickles?
Simply put, dill pickles are a pickled cucumber flavored with dill. While we think of the simple dill pickle, many varieties exist with the addition of various seasonings and spices making it sweet, sour, and/or spicy.
Many of us do not realize pickles have been around for years! The pickling of the vegetable (cucumber) sustained our ancestors through winter, wars, and famine.
We can find pickles at our local supermarket, but it is always fun to look for various pickle varieties at the local farmers market.
Nutrition Facts in Dill Pickles.
According to the USDA Food Data Central Search Results, the following is the nutrition facts in 1 spear of a dill pickle. (Note – for the entire article, nutrition facts are based on 1 spear of a DILL pickle)
- Calories 5.6
- Protein 0.1g
- Fat 0.17g
- Carbohydrates 0.80g
- Fiber 0.40g
- Sugar 0.51g
Calories in Dill Pickles.
Are dill pickles low calorie? What are the calories in a dill pickle? 1 dill pickle spear contains 5.6 calories making dill pickles a very low calorie food.
Protein in Dill Pickles.
How much protein is in dill pickles? Just to note, I am looking at the protein in 1 dill pickle spear. 0.19 grams of protein are in 1 dill pickle spear.
Fiber in Dill Pickles.
What is the fiber in dill pickles? Why do we care about fiber? Is fiber important for diabetics? Remember I shared earlier in the article how part of my diabetes and prediabetes plan is to encourage high fiber foods? Fiber helps to slow down the absorption of blood sugar levels. (This is a GOOD thing!)
Let’s look at the fiber in our dill pickle. 1 dill pickle spear has 0.4 grams of fiber.
Glycemic Index of Dill Pickles.
Are dill pickles low on the glycemic index scale? What is the glycemic index of pickles? While researching this article, I have a bit of conflicting reports on the glycemic index of dill pickles.
While both resources are conflicting, I will say the good news is both the reports show that the dill pickle is a low glycemic index food.
Why Does the Glycemic Index Matter with Diabetics?
The glycemic index measures how quickly a food causes our blood sugar to rise. Foods are ranked on a scale of zero to 100. The higher the glycemic index of food means these foods are quickly digested, absorbed, and causing a fast rise in blood sugar levels. On the other hand, foods low in the glycemic index are absorbed at a lower rate.
The glycemic index (GI) rankings are as follows:
- Low GI food: Under 50
- Medium GI food: 56-69
- High GI food: 70 and higher
Carbs in Dill Pickles?
Are dill pickles a low carb food? I have great news! Dill pickles are a low carb food!!
So what is the carb count of dill pickles? Friendly reminder, I am focusing on 1 dill pickle spear. Our 1 dill pickle spear contains 0.80 grams of carbs.
But buyer beware!!! Make sure to look at the label! I have seen some super fun flavors of dill pickles and want to remind you to check out the carb count, sugar count, and ingredient list on the nutrition label of dill pickles to make sure you are selecting the lowest carb on the market!
What are the Net Carbs in Dill Pickles?
Net carbs can be a bit of a confusing topic. Don’t let it be! The simple definition of a net carb is the amount of carbs (in a product) that the body converts to sugar. Need more of a simple definition? Net carbs are the carbs that are absorbed in the body. The equation is pretty simple:
Net carbs = Total Carbs – Dietary Fiber.
The net carbs in 1 dill pickle spear is 0.40 grams.
Can I Eat Pickles on Keto?
Are dill pickles keto friendly? Can you include dill pickles in a keto diet? Absolutely! Dill pickles are a low carb food and are insanely popular in keto recipes (hello air fryer dill pickles!), and as long as you keep an eye on your carbs, you can include dill pickles on your keto plan.
Now this is super super important! Don’t get carried away with overly cheesy, greasy, loaded dill pickle recipes. Instead, make sure you are preparing diabetic pickle recipes. One of my favorite diabetic dill pickle recipes and keto pickle recipe is my Air Fryer Dill Pickles.
(PS – If you watch the video you get to hear my Cajun accent!)
As said in the video make sure to use a low carb flour, such as almond flour, as a breading when you are cooking keto pickles in the air fryer.
Are Pickles Gluten Free?
Dill pickles using the simple ingredients of vinegar, dill, and various spices are naturally gluten free, however, make sure to review the ingredients on the label to make sure no gluten additives have been used.
Are Pickles Vegan?
Can vegans eat pickles? Yes!!!! Dill pickles use the simple ingredients of vinegar, dill, and various spices. No animal or animal products are used in making pickles.
Are Pickles a Good Snack for Diabetics?
Can a diabetic eat pickles? Can diabetics eat dill pickles? YES! Pickles make a wonderful snack for diabetics. With the combination of being a low carb food and a low glycemic index food, pickles will not cause blood sugar levels to spike. But there is more! Recent studies have shown the vinegar in pickles has a huge benefit for diabetics. Several studies have shown a relationship between vinegar consumption and lowering A1C levels.
Please do note, review the label to make sure the pickles you are selecting are dill pickles and do not have any added sugar, honey and/or sugar additives.
Are Pickles Good For Prediabetes?
I have some good news! YES! Pickles are good for prediabetics. With the combination of being a low carb food and a low glycemic index food, pickles will not cause blood sugar levels to spike. Recent studies have shown the vinegar in pickles has a huge benefit for diabetics. Several studies have shown a relationship between vinegar consumption and lowering A1C levels.
Please do note, review the label to make sure the pickles you are selecting are dill pickles and do not have any added sugar, honey and/or sugar additives.
Sugar Free Pickles. What to Look For.
While we have been focusing on dill pickles in this article, I know the question will come up regarding sweet-n-sour pickles OR bread and butter pickles. These yummy pickles sadly do have added sugar. Good news? Many companies (and our local farmers) are using amazing sugar replacers such as stevia and monk fruit in their pickle recipes. As always, double check the label looking at both the sugar and the ingredient list to determine sugar and the sugar replacer used.
Dill Pickles and Diabetes. Research on Dill Pickles.
Are pickles safe for diabetics? Can diabetics eat dill pickles? Yes! Yes, pickles are low carb. And yes, pickles are low on the glycemic index scale. But pickles have additional benefits for diabetics. Recent studies have shown the vinegar in pickles has a huge benefit for diabetics. Several studies have shown a relationship between vinegar consumption and lowering A1C levels.
Keto Pickle Recipes.
Diabetic Pickles. Easy Low Carb Pickles.
Does Dill Pickles Increase Blood Sugar?
Fabulous news! Dill pickles do not increase blood sugar. You can load up on pickles if you are diabetic! Pickles have little effect on your blood sugar levels. With the combination of being a low carb food, low glycemic index food, in addition to the recents studies showing a relationship between vinegar lowering A1C levels, pickles will not cause your blood sugar levels to spike.
Are Dill Pickles Good for Lowering A1C?
YES! Since dill pickles are an amazing low carb, low glycemic index item, you can feel confident including pickles in your diabetes plan.
But here is the amazing part! Recent studies have shown the vinegar in pickles has a huge benefit for diabetics. Several studies have shown a relationship between vinegar consumption and lowering A1C levels.
Dill Pickles and Diabetes: Shopping for Dill Pickles
Shopping
Dill pickles are available in our local supermarkets. When purchasing in the condiment section, make sure to review the carb count, sugar count, and ingredients on the label to make sure sugar, honey, and sugar additives have not been added to the pickle.
In addition to your local supermarket, be sure to check out your local farmers market for dill pickles.
Can Diabetics Eat Dill Pickles: Conclusion.
Are dill pickles good for diabetics? Can diabetics eat pickles? YES! This low calorie, low carb, low glycemic index item is great for diabetics. In addition to being low carb and low glycemic, the vinegar from the pickle has been found to help lower A1C levels.
Looking for More?
Can I Have Green Beans If I am Diabetic?
Much love,
Dietitian Shelly