Diabetes is a condition that causes the glucose levels in the blood to be persistently elevated. Because people with diabetes need to avoid processed and junk food to prevent triggering a spike in blood glucose levels, pizza is something, they often remove from the list of food they are allowed to eat.

But all is not doom and gloom for people who live with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and want to enjoy a slice of pizza from time to time. Yes, pizza is typically harmful to people who live with diabetes because it's calorie-rich, often contains refined flour, and is high in salt, not to mention the amount of processed cheese on it.

However, you can make some adjustments to a pizza to fit the requirements of a diabetes diet. Here is everything you need to know about pizza for people with diabetes.

How to make pizza healthy on a diabetes diet

When you have diabetes, it's essential to have a strict meal plan with precise meal timings. If you adhere to such a plan most of the time and have a largely healthy diet, you may adjust your diet to include a couple of slices of pizza sometimes.

When ordering pizza at the restaurant, make sure the base is made from whole wheat instead of refined flour. It's also a good idea to order your pizza with a side of salad and share it with a friend. Portion control is essential when you're having pizza as a person living with diabetes. Moreover, it's important to make sure you consume enough veggies in the form of salads to meet your daily fiber recommendation. When there is a choice of crusts at the place you are ordering your pizza from, always order the thin-crust type because it is typically lower in carbohydrates and can help you keep blood sugar levels more in line.

Do not forget to check the menu at the restaurant before taking a table so you can have a look at the nutritional information for the pizza you will be ordering. For example, the Hawaiian Chicken Thin' N Crispy Pizza from Pizza Hut has 14 grams of carbohydrates per slice, with a total of 110 calories and 3 grams of fat, from which 1.5 grams are saturated fat.

If you're making pizza at home, instead of ordering it from a restaurant, you should try to use as little cheese as possible and make sure the base is multigrain or whole wheat. By minimizing the amount of cheese you put on the pizza, you can reduce the total number of calories for your meal, not to mention you'll be able to avoid eating large quantities of processed foods.

Add lots of veggies to your pizza to help balance out the refined carbohydrates in the pizza crust. Examples include tomatoes, broccoli, artichokes, mushrooms, green peppers, and spinach.

Cauliflower Pizza with Ham and Tomatoes Cauliflower pizza is a perfect diabetic-friendly alternative to traditional pizza. This pizza is very tender and delicious.

What should you avoid when eating pizza?

If you have diabetes and craving pizza, try to use only fresh ingredients instead of processed or frozen ones. It is also important to use fresh cheese and limit the amount of it on your pizza.

Frozen pizzas from the supermarket should be avoided at all costs if you have diabetes because they are loaded with processed ingredients and are typically made with refined white flour, which is bound to send your blood sugar levels way over the acceptable limit.

It would be best if you also avoided pizzas that contain lots of fat, like those made with sausage meat or pepperoni, for example. High-fat meals typically cause an increase in serum triglycerides, which cause the liver to become more resistant to insulin. When this happens, the liver will secrete more glucose, so your blood sugar levels will go up. Remember always to avoid stuffed crust or deep-dish pizzas, as they will increase the calories and amount of carbs with every slice. 

Is pizza a healthy choice?

The answer depends on the type of pizza you're opting for. Some pizza types are definitely unhealthy, but some pizzas that are less processed can actually be nutritious. This is mostly true when it comes to pizza made with fresh ingredients.

Most processed types of pizzas, like the ready-made ones that you can find on the shelves of supermarkets are full of preservatives,high on sodium and calories, and made with refined flour. Therefore, people with diabetes should avoid them.

Zucchini Pizza This tender and juicy pizza made with zucchini dough is one of the most diabetic-friendly pizza options out there.

Bottom line

The ability of people with diabetes to include pizza in their diet depends on their overall ability to manage the symptoms of the disease. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes recently, you should avoid getting pizzas and stick to safer choices instead, at least until you learn more about managing your diabetes. And once you learn how to manage your blood sugar levels, you have to make sure when ordering pizza that you get the healthiest choice available.

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