Pizza for Diabetics: A Guide to Best Toppings, Crusts, and Sauces

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When somebody has diabetes, they need to worry about what is being put into their mouth. After all, anything that gets the rebellious blood sugar levels out of control will be life-threatening!

Diabetics are often required to maintain nutrition-filled, whole foods diets low in refined carbs. However, what should they do to indulge their taste buds in flavors occasionally? All of this led me, a diabetic patient wonder, is it okay to have pizza for a diabetics patient?

You will be surprised to know that a pizza can be the answer!

As long as white creamy and cheese-filled pizzas are avoided, people can get away with enjoying a few slices despite having diabetes. Throw veggie toppings like capsicum, corn, or tomatoes on a thin crust, and you have the perfect pizza for diabetics.

Learn more hacks to find and make diabetes-friendly pizzas down below!

Is It Okay For A Diabetic Patient To Eat Pizza? 

pizza for diabetics

Can a diabetic eat pizza? Yes.

But do diabetes and pizza always make a good combo?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. This is why doctors often ask diabetics to limit their pizza intake to 1 or 2 slices on rare occasions. Aside from this, certain types of pizza – for example, the ones loaded with cheese – are entirely forbidden to avoid fatal blows to health.

Below are some reasons why pizza is not necessarily good for people with diabetes.

Reasons To Avoid Pizza For A Diabetic Patient

Reasons To Avoid Pizza For A Diabetic Patient

Who does not like a tasty bite of pizza is not always the ideal choice for a diabetic patient, and here is why. 

1. Very High Total and Refined Carb Content

Refined carbs are carbs that have essential nutrients like proteins and fibers removed from them. The feature allows the carbs to increase the consumer’s blood sugar levels, making it much more dangerous to a diabetic person’s bodily systems.  

In addition to refined carbs, the total amount of carbohydrates in pizza is also really high. A pizza (weighing around 100 grams) will have around 30 grams of carbohydrates and tiny portions of proteins and fiber.

This is owing to the high quantity of spices, cheese, meat, and crust made from white flour.

Upon digestion, refined carbs and total carbs increase the eater’s blood sugar levels immensely. The sudden spike can be handled by secreting insulin for a healthy person, but for a diabetic, this is not the case.

Their body system suffers from insulin resistance, meaning they cannot stabilize their blood sugar levels.

2. Increases Sodium Levels

As pizzas contain a lot of additives and spices to enhance flavor, each slice tends to have a lot of salt. In fact, according to research carried out by medical professionals, two slices of pizza are enough to make up more than 50% of your daily recommended sodium limit.

This means that having pizza can cause a massive and sudden increase in your body’s sodium level. After enjoying a slice or two, you need to keep an eye on your salt intake for the day to prevent the values from going off the charts.

While this introduces the threat of irregular blood pressure for all consumers, it is essential to note that the risks are much higher for people with type 2 diabetes. High blood pressure levels could cause issues in your cardiovascular health.

3. Contains a Lot of Saturated Fat

Research has shown that 100 grams of pizza can contain around 5 grams of unsaturated fat – nearly 50% of the daily approved value. This means enjoying a few slices will cause excess fat in the eater’s body.

For a person who has diabetes, a large fat intake can result in increased insulin resistance. This causes their blood sugar levels to worsen, as managing it is much more complicated.

Best Pizza for Diabetics

Best Pizza for Diabetics

The reasons above show why pizza and diabetes are not always the best mix. Despite these, diabetics can get away with ingesting a slice of pizza – even if it is unhealthy – as long as they don’t do so frequently. Nonetheless, you must tone down the risks while doing so.

Here are some things you can do to make your pizza more diabetes-friendly:

1. Thinner Crust

A pizza’s crust contains a lot of carbohydrates as it is made out of flour. So, when ordering pizza from a restaurant or pizza place, always opt for thin crusts instead of thicker ones. This will help in cutting down the carbs and sodium in your pizza.

2. Whole-Wheat Crust

Diabetics are always encouraged to include whole foods as they are not processed. So, replace your regular crust with a whole-wheat one to make yourself a low-carb pizza high in fiber. To learn the recipe, surf the internet for Hacker-free Neapolitan pizza. You will be pleasantly surprised upon finding how mouthwatering these healthy pizzas can be!

3. Vegetable Toppings

Vegetables like broccoli, artichokes, olives, spinach, garlic, squash, etc., make amazing pizza toppings when added to tangy tomato sauce. So, instead of having pepperoni and cheese-filled toppings, try out these veggie toppings that are nutrient-dense and low-carb.

For some crunch, I will suggest adding bell peppers and onions. Mushrooms can also be sliced and spread out over the top to increase protein.

Cauliflower Crust

Many online recipes are available where people combine eggs and shredded cauliflower to invent a low-carb pizza crust. Diabetics can easily switch to that recipe and enjoy a healthier meal.

Pizzas A Diabetic Patient Should Avoid

 Not all pizzas are the best choice when you suffer from diabetes. Here are some you should avoid

Extra Cheese, And Sauce Pizza

Creamy sauces and cheese might look and taste appealing but be mindful of their poor impact. So while ordering or making pizza, always decrease or null the amounts of these ingredients.

Stuffed Crust Pizza

Cheese or sausage-filled crusts are bound to increase the number of carbs present in your pizza. So, while ordering your pizza, avoid getting ones with a stuffed crust.

Recipe To Make Diabetics-Friendly Pizza

If you are a diabetic patient and want to enjoy a diabetic-friendly homemade pizza, this recipe is for you. 

  • Start by making a dough using cups of all-purpose flour with a pinch of salt and a spoon of yeast together. 
  • Then slightly add  1 and a ½ cups of water with a spoon of oil and knead it well. 
  • Once a dough forms a solid body, let it sit for an hour for it to get big. 
  • Now, spray low-fat oil on a pan of your choice and spread the dough around. 
  • Then add ¼ cup of onion, cauliflower, mushroom, pepper, and olives. 
  • Spread some olive oil and spread low-fat cheese on top of it slightly. 
  • Lastly, bake it for 7-10 minutes at 450°F 

Here you go, you have yourself a diabetic-friendly pizza. 

Does Pizza Have Sugar In It?

Yes, surprisingly, it does have sugar in it. Sugar is often used in restaurant-made pizza for a fine crumb and to tenderize the dough.

Types of PizzaAmount of Sugar Per Pizza
Cheese Pizza35g
Pepperoni Pizza33g
Sausage Pizza33g

As you can see above, pizza does have relatively high amounts of sugar in it. So having an entire pizza may not be the best for a diabetic patient, but you can have a slice now and then.

Can Type 1 Diabetics Patients Eat Pizza

Yes, they can, but not all types of pizza as some may shoot up your sugar levels. We suggest trying out the pizzas we suggested above and avoiding the ones mentioned above too. 

Should type 2 diabetics eat pizza?

Yes, type 2 diabetic patients should try out pizza for a treat. A pizza with a thin crust, vegetable toppings, and no cheese will be their best option as it contains many nutrients and fewer carbs.

Can Moms With Gestational Diabetics Have Pizza? 

If everyone can enjoy pizza, then why should the to-be moms be left out? We recommend eating pizza filled with fiber and proteins but with low sugar and fat. Meaning tries having pizza with vegetable toppings and meat but avoiding pizzas with cheese and too much sauce. 

FAQ’s:

  • What type of pizza can a diabetic eat?

A diabetic person should have cheese-free pizza that does not contain creamy sauces. Pizzas with vegetable toppings drenched in tomato sauce are a good pick since they contain many vitamins and minerals.

  • Can a diabetic eat pizza

When a diabetic person eats pizza, the refined carbs and fat in it cause the person’s blood sugar levels to spike up. This might happen a few minutes after eating or an hour later when the food has mostly been digested. So, to answer the question, yes, they can, but it is not the best idea.

  • How many slices of pizza can a diabetic eat?

As a diabetic, it is safe to occasionally stick to only one or two slices of pizza. Too much can hinder your blood sugar levels as the meal contains a lot of carbohydrates. Upon being digested, it will cause a sudden jump in your blood sugar levels, which can then prove fatal to your health.

Final Words

Do not let diabetes stop you from enjoying a finger-licking slice of pizza! Simply pay heed to the toppings, add-ons, and sauces you pick or use to get the healthiest option. You can also get a pre-meal bolus of insulin or MDI to shield yourself from unhealthy blood sugar spikes. Eat safe, be safe!