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Is Dark Chocolate Ok For Type 1 Diabetics??

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Neckarski_94

Well-Known Member
Messages
346
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Diabetes!!
I have been consuming 80% extra dark chocolate most days! I know it’s a lot better for you compared to milk chocolate as there is not as much sugar! There are also a lot of health benefits!
 
Neckarski_94 said:
I have been consuming 80% extra dark chocolate most days! I know it’s a lot better for you compared to milk chocolate as there is not as much sugar! There are also a lot of health benefits!
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I realise you are recently diagnosed, but once you do your DAFNE course (I think you said you're booked into one) you will be able to have anything you can dose for*, so you should be able to have either at that point - I believe dark chocolate does have less carbs than milk chocolate so may be a good alternative until you get on your carb counting course - though as ever it will be case of trail and error

*yes, some things are decidedly trickier to dose for than others, you will find out
 
Well there is a quantity element here. 2 bars of 80% might not be such a good idea (irrespective of diabetes). I've learned to love the 90 and 95% stuff and this has the advantage that 2 (or 4 if you are feeling really indulgent) is generally enough to satisfy choccy cravings. (I'm a Lindt fan and they count 2 squares as a "portion" with 2 to 3g depending on the choc %).


A lot of T1s here go low carb but it's a personal choice. If you haven't got an extra dose of insulin resistance there is no reason why you can't just inject for carbs. (Personal opinion, am not a doctor, and I do personally find things easier on relatively lopw carb, <100g a day).
 
It is easy to get dragged into the "avoid carbs" message from most people with diabetes, especially on this forum.
However, 90% of people have type 2 diabetes which is often abbreviated to "diabetes".
Type 1 diabetes is a completely different condition which is not about avoiding sugar and carbs, it is about learning how to match insulin to your needs (mostly what you eat but there are other things that affect our BG).
So, if you prefer milk chocolate, go for it.
 
Neckarski_94 said:
I have been consuming 80% extra dark chocolate most days! I know it’s a lot better for you compared to milk chocolate as there is not as much sugar! There are also a lot of health benefits!
Click to expand...
Chocolate is a wonderful thing indeed... Antioxidants, a dopamine-boost, and just being tasty... Seriously though, once you learn how to jab for what you eat, you can have any kind without too many worries, I'd think. Being a diet-controlled T2 I don't quite have that luxury, but I got used to, and started to deeply love, extra dark chocolate.

The darker, the more health-benefits, but if you love the sweeter stuff, you'll be able to bolus for it in time.
Jo
 
Not arguing at all with the accuracy of the statement type 1 can eat what they choose if they dose appropriately for it, same as a non diabetic.

But. If a person has acquired the taste for darker chocolate surely less sugar and more flavonoids etc is better than a more sugary option milk chocolate bar regardless of diabetic status?
 
Why is that the case for someone with Type 1 who is able to manage their condition by dosing the appropriate level of insulin for whatever they eat?
It has always been made clear to me that Type 1 is managed with insulin not diet and that a healthy diet for someone with Type 1 diabetes is the same as a healthy diet for someone without diabetes.
Living in the UK in the 21st century, I work with grams not ounces so I apologise for giving my example in grams. As I am not overweight nor have any diabetes complications after 20 years, I will eat as much chocolate as I want at the time. This maybe 10g of very sweet white chocolate or it may be 60g of dark chocolate or I may splurge and eat a whole 100g of milk chocolate. I always carb count and maintain my BG.
Suggesting someone newly diagnosed with Type 1 limits their diet is, at best, misleading.
 
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In reality as a type
you can eat what you like…. BUT excessive eating and insulin use will cause weight gain…. Also it is possible to form insulin resistance like a T
over time.. so whilst you can eat anything some caution should be used
 
As a T1 you can eat what you like provided you dose the correct insulin. If you have a CGM you can see the impact of each meal and snack.

As a T2 eating a high carb chocolate bar will cause a huge spike as I found the other day when I had a Grenade bar which uses Maltitol as a sweetener. This caused my Time In Range stats on my Dexcom CGM to drop from 100% down to 98%.
 
I’m not a choclateer.

But something with a higher percentage of cocoa & less “additives,” carb wise…?
I understand the early recorded history of “chocolate” estimates to go back 4 thousand years to Latin America?
Discovered by the Spanish when the Aztecs enjoyed this treat.

Closer to “real food.” Less “adulterated” than Cadbury’s?
With a stated higher percentage of cocoa.
 
Dark Chocolate is fine, as long as it is high in cocoa. Try and get up around 90%.

You can even have Dark Chocolate on Keto, so it definitely doesn't have much sugar
 
You might come to learn that its more the fat and sodium content that you also need to watch out for, a few blood test results showing I have high sodium and cholesterol so even though my blood sugar control is good there are other considerations
 
My brother (T1) eats whatever he likes and has absolutely no intention of dropping his carb intake. To be honest I don’t blame him. Why put yourself through food misery if you don’t need too. I say misery because it was for me, plus I’m coeliac. I tried the very low carb diet and it did next to nothing to lower my blood sugars. I can only conclude that there are more causes for diabetes than the blunt two category types we are stuck with. If you are not classic type 2 then as long as you manage your dosing and eat relatively healthy all is good, in my honest opinion. And it is just my opinion.
 
Excellent point. Spot on.
 
Dark chocolate
is extremely HIGH in oxalates. Beware!!!
 
Dark chocolate (100% in my case) in my opinion is silkily delicious. With the advantage you cannot eat too much at a time as it is rich.
 
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