Can A Diabetic Eat Spaghetti?
After a diabetes diagnosis, your may fear you have to give up your favorite carbohydrate-rich meals like spaghetti and other pastas. Although it’s true that you need to keep careful watch over how many carbs, calories and fat you take in, you can accommodate an occasional serving of spaghetti. Make sure your eating is always within the context of a healthy, carb-balanced meal plan and that you are following the advice of your doctor or dietitian. You can also make small changes to your traditional spaghetti dish that make it just as palatable but reduce the impact on your blood sugar. Video of the Day Is Spaghetti OK? “The short answer to the pasta question is yes, you can eat pasta,” writes registered dietitian Cindy Moore on EatBetterAmerica.com. People with diabetes do not need to give up their favorite spaghetti meals. In fact, it’s important to have carbohydrates such as pasta at each meal. The “but” is you must ensure you are adhering the eating plan created by your doctor or dietitian. Spaghetti is “carbalicious,” and eating too much can spike your blood sugar. To keep it balanced, be sure to always eat the appropriate amount of carbohydrate servings when you have spaghetti. The nutrition facts on the spaghetti package will tell you how many carbohydrates are in a serving. A cup of cooked plain spaghetti without sauce has roughly 43 g of carbohydrates. If that’s more than your allowance of carbohydrates per meal, you can reduce your portion size, to 1/3 or 2/3 of a cup. Remember that the sauce will add more carbohydrates — close to 18 g for a typical 1/2 cup of tomato-based sauce. In addition, if you make meatballs with carbohydrate-containing items like breadcrumbs, that’s an additional carbohydrate source you need to account for. Choosing Continue reading >>
Nuttall & Gannon Dreamfield Pasta Low Carb? Scientific Study Says No! (interview Includes Transcript)
LISTEN NUTTALL GANNON REVISED (30 Minutes) Nutrition Today has just published something extremely rare, and possibly unique its a peer-reviewed science study that checks out the claims of a low-net carb food product. And this science study indicates that one low-net-carb protected starch product may not live up to its claims. The new study, by Minneapolis VA Health Care System and University of Minnesota researchers Mary Gannon and Frank Nuttall , challenges the claims of Dreamfields Pasta that their pasta does less to raise blood sugars than regular pastas do. In their advertising, Dreamfields states that a serving of their product has only 5 grams of digestible carbohydrate , compared to the roughly 40 grams of carb in regular pasta. Dreamfields also states that those carbs become sugar in the bloodstream much more slowly than carbs from traditional pastas. Gannon and Nuttall have done a randomized, controlled, double-blind study of 20 non-diabetics that found no difference between how this low carb pasta affects blood sugar levels, compared to regular pasta. They say that they got interested in this topic because they were seeking a low-carb pasta for their diabetic patients who miss the taste of pasta, and they were hoping that the Dreamfields product would be work. They were surprised at how much Dreamfields pasta did NOT live up to its claims. Transcript follows. See the end of this article for links to other discussions about Dreamfields. Dr. Frank Nuttall, what do you think of products that advertise that theyre low net carb because you can deduct an especially high amount of fiber in the product, or protected carb from the total carbohydrate. What do you think of that? FRANK NUTTALL: Im not quite sure what the question is. Now fiber, which can also be referred Continue reading >>
Dreamfields Dff- Diabetes Friends Forever Is Back!
February 2nd, 2012 |By: Dreamfields Recipes And More Many of us have a BFF (Best Friend Forever) that we look to for laughs, encouragement and support. The nearly 105 million Americans living with diabetes or pre-diabetes also need someone who can make living with diabetes a more manageable experience. Thats what we call a DFF Diabetes Friend Forever ! DFFs are friends, family members, caregivers and healthcare professionals who make a difference in the lives of those living with diabetes. They are teachers, counselors, coaches, and best friends to some of the 105 million Americans who have diabetes or pre-diabetes today. With so many caring DFFs out there, everyone deserves a little recognition. So to honor and learn from these unsung heroes, Dreamfields Pasta is launching a first-of-its-kind program to help pay tribute to the special people who help make living with diabetes easier. To get the latest dish on Diabetes Friends Forever the fast and easy way, sign up to receive text messages or email alerts ! This entry was posted by Dreamfields Recipes And More on Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 at 4:51 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response , or trackback from your own site. Continue reading >>
Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Dreamfields Angel Hair Pasta, 13.25 Oz
5.0 out of 5 starsNot low carb unless al dente The reason, I suspect, that people have varying results regarding glucose levels after eating Dreamfields. Their website explains that it must be cooked precisely according to the individual box directions in order to retain the low carb aspect. This should probably be explained on the box as well. The website states: "It is very important not to overcook Dreamfields because over cooking can damage the protective matrix and increase the digestible carbs per serving. We also recommend pouring any sauce over the pasta just before serving. If the pasta is mixed in a pan with the sauce, do this only over low heat for a short amount of time." I don't cook mine even a minute longer than the the recommended time. With the exception of the lasagna noodles, it's not recommended for storage after cooking, either. The company recommends only preparing what you will consume at the time. Storage in a sauce, especially an acidic sauce (like one with tomatoes or vinegar), will also break down the protective matrix which prevents digestion. Needless to say, portion control is important, too. A diabetic friend told me that her blood sugar level rose significantly after eating it but, upon further questioning, she admitted she'd eaten almost the entire box at one time. This product does work, but has to be as directed. 5.0 out of 5 stars Not low carb unless al dente The reason, I suspect, that people have varying results regarding glucose levels after eating Dreamfields. Their website explains that it must be cooked precisely according to the individual box directions in order to retain the low carb aspect. This should probably be explained on the box as well. The website states: "It is very important not to overcook Dreamfields because ove Continue reading >>
Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Dreamfields, Pasta Spaghetti, 13.25-ounce (20 Pack)
Dreamfields, Pasta Spaghetti, 13.25-Ounce (20 Pack) 5.0 out of 5 starsFantastic Low Carb Pasta! Highly Recommended This great tasting pasta is a diabetic's Godsend! Being a Type 2 Diabetic, I am always looking for ways to reduce my carb intake. Up till now that has meant avoiding pasta completely since a single serving of normal pasta has about 35 - 40 carbs. This has been one of the biggest impacts to my diet as we love Italian cooking. I was not sure about Dreamfields' claim to only have 5 carbs, but we gave it a try anyway. After having a full serving, my blood sugar levels only took a modest rise, about what I would have expected from 5 carbs (plus the 15 others from the rest of the meal)! It does cost more than regular pasta, but it is worth it to me to be able to eat pasta again. 3.0 out of 5 starsGreat product, but sneaky manufacturer I have been a big fan of Dreamfields pasta and have recommended it often, however, I am quite irritated at the manufacturer at the moment. They recently changed box sizes from 16 to 13.25 ounces and kept the price the same. This product is already higher priced than most other brands of pasta; I justified the price because of the reduced carbs and comparable taste to regular pasta products, but the sudden reduction from 16 to 13.25 ounces without a drop in price has got me questioning whether I still want to purchase this product. I just went to Dreamfields' website to see if they had an announcement on their homepage concerning the change in size and they didn't; in my opinion a change of this magnitude deserves some mention on their homepage. The company sent no announcement of the size change via email (I am on their mailing list). I think the consumer at least deserves an explanation. Not doing so is bad customer service and th Continue reading >>
The Dreamfields Pasta Fraud
Dreamfields pasta is promoted as a low carb product. But it’s made from durum wheat and it tastes great. Actually, it looks, feels and tastes just like… regular pasta. Now, regular pasta is anything but low carb. It’s mostly starch, which turns into glucose in the gut and is absorbed as blood sugar. Exactly what low carbers try to avoid. Dreamfields pasta has 41 grams of carbs per serving. How can that be low carb? Well, Dreamfields claim that their “patent-pending” (since 2004) recipe and manufacturing process protects the carb from being digested. It sounds fantastic. But is it true? I decided to find out and the results were shocking. A beautiful tale Can you be a low carber and eat all the pasta you want? Can you have your (low carb) cake and eat it too? It sounds too good to be true, and two questions pop up: If their “patent-pending” manufacturing really made the starch indigestible, would that not affect the taste? (It’s great). If the starch really became indigestible, should it not end up being digested by bacteria in the large intestine, causing massive flatulence? (It does not). Now it’s time for answers. The package Here’s my package of Dreamfields pasta, bought in a “low carb” store. Let’s take a closer look. Big promises Basically the idea is that the carbs will pass straight through your body: Side There you have it: 36 grams of non-fiber carbs per 56 gram serving. It adds up to about 80 percent energy from carbs. That’s about as high carb a food as you could find. Of course – most of it is supposedly indigestible. I tested the pasta myself, eating it and testing my blood sugar 21 times. We’ll get to the test shortly. A good idea? It may sound too good to be true. But even if it was true, consider if it really is a good ide Continue reading >>
Dreamfields Pasta Diabetic Supply Review | Adw Diabetes
Posted by ADW Diabetes | Nov 10, 2011 | Diabetic Supply Review | 0 | Dreamfields Pasta comes in a variety of conventional forms including spaghetti, elbows, lasagna, rotini, linguini, angel hair and penne rigate. Feast on your favorite dishes with no guilt or worries when you include delicious Dreamfields low carb pasta in the recipe. Known to many as a comfort food, people with diabetes rarely want to give up their favorite pasta dishes. Dreamfields lasagna, macaroni and cheese casserole, spaghetti and meatballs and pasta soups are all popular menu items. Many who could not eat pasta before are discovering a new way to enjoy it whenever they have the craving. Dreamfield Pasta has fewer digestible carbohydrates with about the same high fiber as traditional whole wheat pasta. Just like authentic pasta, Dreamfields Pasta has an al dente texture and delicious taste because it is made with durum wheat semolina. Unique Dreamfields Pasta protects all but 5 grams of carbs per serving. As a result, blood glucose levels do not rise as much as when you consume traditional pasta products. Dreamfields also contains a natural prebiotic fiber called inulin. The same natural fiber is found in foods such as raisins, garlic and asparagus. Prebiotics support a healthy immune system, better digestion and help your body absorb calcium. Besides satisfying your palate, youre doing healthy things for your body when you eat Dreamfields Pasta. Unlike any other pasta product, Dreamfield has a glycemic index (GI) that is 65 percent lower than traditional pasta. These results are based on actual clinical testing, not estimates. Dreamfields Pasta is also free of saturated fat and cholesterol. Enjoy the full pleasure of eating pasta without compromising on texture or taste. Remember, always follow Continue reading >>
Is Dreamfields Pasta Good For People With Diabetes?
Years ago when I followed a low-glycemic diet I discovered what I thought was something new and wonderful. It was Dreamfields Pasta, advertised as having just "5 net carbs" per serving and being "65% lower glycemic index" than other pastas. old.jpg What the Dreamfields Label Used to Claim In an article I wrote 10 years ago and published on my website as "A Totally New Low-Carb Process" I reported that my personal tests showed that eating Dreamfields Pasta had little, if any, effect on my blood sugar level. So I wrote several articles extolling it between 2004 and 2007. Now I know that most other people don’t get the same benefit as I did. I didn’t start writing for HealthCentral.com until 2005 and didn’t write another article about Dreamfields Pasta until 2007, when I wrote three: 1. "Dreamfields Pasta for Diabetics" 2. "Pasta For Diabetics: FiberPasta Verses Dreamfields" and 3. "Dreamfields Calories" Except in the last of these articles, where I focused entirely on the calorie count, I made sure to note that Dreamfields spiked the blood sugar levels of some people who ate it. But then in late 2007 I began to eat very low-carb, which didn’t leave any room in my diet for any sort of pasta. So I didn’t think any more about Dreamfields. But my earlier articles remain online, and sometimes people ask me about them. Lately, several readers have written me about the articles that I wrote about Dreamfields Pasta. Here’s what happened in the last couple of years. The Dreamfields story made a major shift in 2012 when Frank Nuttall and three associates published "The Glycemic Response to Ingested Dreamfields Pasta Compared With Traditional Pasta" in Nutrition Today. This randomized, controlled, double-blind study of 20 people, none of whom had diabetes, compared their Continue reading >>
Diabetics & Pasta
Most individuals with diabetes are fearful of the great Italian meal simply because of pasta's infamously high carbohydrate content. Nonetheless, with proper meal planning, pasta can be safely incorporated into a diabetic diet. The key is to limit the portion size and to select pastas made from high-fiber whole grains. Diabetes and Carbohydrates Individuals living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes must monitor their carbohydrate intake in order to control their blood sugar. Excessive intake of carbohydrates can lead to hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. When an individual's blood sugar runs high for an extended period of time, it can lead to other medical complications such as compromised eyesight and kidney disease. To avoid hyperglycemia and associated diseases, diabetics should moderate, but not eliminate, their intake of carbohydrate-containing foods, such as pasta. Carbohydrate Content of Pasta As a member of the grains food group, pasta contains a significant amount of starch, a complex form of carbohydrate. One diabetic serving of pasta is 1/3 cup of cooked pasta, or the equivalent of 15 grams of carbohydrate. One serving of pasta also contains fiber, another complex carbohydrate which helps to control blood sugar. Whole-wheat pasta contains the most fiber: roughly 3 to 5 grams of fiber per serving. Incorporating Pasta into a Healthy Diabetic Diet According to the American Diabetes Association, most diabetics may consume 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrate per meal. As a carbohydate-containing food, pasta is safe to consume when following a diabetic diet; however, because 1/3 cup equals 15 grams of carbohydrate, the amount of pasta in one meal should not exceed 1 cup, or 45 grams of carbohydrate. Additional sauces such as marinara and Alfredo contain minimal amounts of Continue reading >>
Dreamfields Pasta | Diabetes Forum The Global Diabetes Community
Diabetes Forum The Global Diabetes Community Find support, ask questions and share your experiences. Join the community i thought 'Dreamfields' (low bioavailable carb) looked promising, so have recently tried some. I was a bit dispappointed as 1 small bowl of this pasta took my BG up from 13 to 19.... my 'usual' response to the same size bowl of 'ordinary' pasta ranges from an increase of 0 BG units to 10 BG units. Has anyone else tried this pasta - and if so with what results? I find it a bit dissapointing too. It tends to make my bg peak at the three hour mark. Not as much as ordinary pasta, but unacceptably so nonetheless. Tastes fab, and i mix it with courgette tagliatelle to make it appear more so am only ever eating the 56g portion (5g real carbs) mentioned Ive found bg still a bit higher, but not as high as with same amount of 'ordinary pasta'. At this point am willing to accept it for sake of still having it Dont eat it as much as I would normal pasta pre dx, partly due to price, having to have it delivered but also due to bg. Still, theres a perverse bit of me feels better knowing its there I stopped using Dreamfields for the opposite reason. The last couple of meals that I used it I didn't have any other carb, other then the 5g in the pasta portion. That wasn't really enough to balance the meds I was taking and I hypoed a few hours after both meals. I've just spotted a post in the Food Forum section (Pasta thread) that answers your question. Although Dreamfields is supposed to have only 5g of digestible carb, this is only true as long as you don't overcook it. The longer it is cooked then the more starch becomes digestible and will therefore raise your blood sugar. Ah! Overcooking! That makes sense - it does say on the box that it should only be 'al dente' - Continue reading >>
6 Great Low-carb Pastas (and 1 To Avoid!)
Well there are plenty low-carb bread options out there nowadays–we keep adding to this list of great low-carb breads–but what do you do about those pasta cravings? While a traditional slice of bread will pack 16 grams of carbs or more per slice, a serving of pasta is no joke! At 40+ grams of carbs for one cup of pasta, it is not easy on the blood sugar! Fortunately, the creators of food are listening to your demands, because more and more low-carb pasta choices continue to pop up. Here are 6 great low-carb pasta choices that we’ve found so far: 1. Black Bean Pasta from ExploreAsian, Gluten-Free: This pasta is a favorite of mine because it’s gluten-free, it cooks really fast (in about 5 to 7 minutes) and it holds together. Oh wait, did I mention the only ingredients are black beans and water? Very clean and very healthy! After subtracting the 12 grams of dietary fiber from the total carbohydrates, you’re left with 5 grams of very low-impact carbohydrates! Feel free to have two servings at that count! 2. Adzuki Bean Pasta from ExploreAsian, Gluten-Free: This one has a different flavor than it’s black bean counterpart, and has twice as many carbs. But at 11 grams of carbs per serving, that’s still a lot fewer carbs than traditional pasta. You could even mix this pasta into the pot of boiling water with the black bean pasta to change things up and reduce the carbs in your bowl at the same time. (This company has some higher carb bean pasta variations, too!) 3. Dreamfields Low-Carb Pasta: Now this pasta really comes down to the individual. The company says they’ve created this whole-wheat pasta in a way that won’t impact your blood sugar significantly, “Its blend of fiber and plant proteins helps create a pasta that offers many healthy benefits while stil Continue reading >>
The Glycemic Response To Ingested Dreamfields Pasta Compared With Traditional Pasta
ObjectiveDreamfields pasta is a modified commercially available pasta that is claimed to raise blood glucose much less than standard, unmodified pasta. Our objective was to quantify the blood glucose response to ingested Dreamfields pasta compared with an unmodified pasta. Research Design and MethodsUsing a blinded, randomized, crossover design, 20 subjects without diabetes ingested 50 g carbohydrate in the form of Dreamfields or traditional pasta at 8:00 AM after a 12- to 14-hour overnight fast. The preparation of both pastas was identical. Fingerstick blood glucose was measured before and at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 minutes after ingestion of each pasta meal. ResultsThe glucose response to ingestion of the 2 pasta products was essentially identical. ConclusionThe 2 pastas tested had identical taste and mouth feel and resulted in nearly identical blood glucose responses in normal subjects. An eminent diabetologist takes a look at pastas that claim to be special in terms of glycemic index Frank Q. Nuttall, MD, PhD, is with the Metabolic Research Laboratory and is professor of medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. He has had a long interest in the dietary management of diabetes, having served as chairman of the Council of Nutritional Sciences and Metabolism for the American Diabetes Association and on the Macronutrient Panel of the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences. Mary Carol Gannon, PhD, is director, Metabolic Research Laboratory and Professor, Departments of Medicine and Food Science & Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Heidi Hoover, MS, RD, LD, is dietetic internship director, Nutrition and Food Service, VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jan Thurgood, BS, is the clinical data coordinator Continue reading >>
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Is Dreamfields Pasta Really Low-carb?
A truly low-carb pasta is something of a Holy Grail for people with diabetes , especially those who tend to avoid this popular food because it can cause serious increases in levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. It's not surprising then that in 2007 a pasta manufacturer called Dreamfields reported an impressive $14.6 million in sales after claiming its "Healthy Carb Living" pasta products might actually help to improve glucose levels. Fast forward seven years, however, and Dreamfields found itself entangled in an $8 million class-action lawsuit for label fraud, forcing it to make substantial changes in how it markets and labels its products. Having done so, Dreamfields' pasta is still available on grocery store shelves, but the story of the lawsuit underscores why it's vital for people with diabetes (or any other health issue that requires careful dietary management) to be savvy consumers. That means reading labels carefully and with a significant degree of skepticism about claims that seem too good to be true. Dreamfields got into hot water for several reasons. For one, it asserted that the "patent-pending formula and unique manufacturing process" used to make its products created "a matrix within the pasta, protecting 31 grams of carbohydrates from being digested." In other words, the company asserted that anyone who ate its pasta wouldn't absorb all of the carbs it contained and therefore would not experience a rise in blood sugar levels that typically follows the ingestion of regular pasta. According to the lawsuit , each box stated that the product inside had only "5 g Digestible Carbs per Serving" and a "65% Lower Glycemic Index" than other types of pasta. Unfortunately, Dreamfields failed to publish proof that its pasta was effective in modulating blood sugar Continue reading >>
Dreamfields Pasta On Unwrapped Food Network | Diabetic Connect
i am going to try to find this. I love pasta and this would really make my life easier! I agree w/ kdroberts. Some low-carb stores won't even sell it because they refuse to disclose how they arrive at their "5g effective carbs" claim. Personally, it sends my blood sugar through the roof, and I think their claim is highly suspect, to the point of possible consumer fraud. Video is good but I hate dreamfields. Spikes me more than white pasta an way more than wheat. After eating it, check your post meal blood sugar an hour later and note your next day fasting. Both of mine are raised higher than with other pasta. A diabetic friend told me about Dreamfield's past shortly after I was diagnosed. I've made several dishes using various shapes of Dreamfield's pasta. I honestly can't tell the difference in either taste or texture, but there is a great difference in how it affects my blood glucose. My 18-year old daughter enjoys it, too. I hope they continue to expand their line of pasta shapes to include more favorites. Dreamfield's is a dream come true! This is my pasta of choice. It is better for my levels than even the whole wheat brands. If you have not tried it yet, give it a spin. You'll be glad you did Continue reading >>
Carbs In 1 Cup Of Dreamfield Pasta? | Diabetic Connect
Sadly, they have been forced to settle a class action suit on the deception they used in their labeling of carbs and fiber and the actual counts. I do like Dreamfield pasta, but I have given it up. It says 40 carbs (I believe, it's been a long time since I looked at a box) and then took away like 25 in fiber...it is all kind of a game and they got caught. I don't know how you would count it for a pump other than to just call out the carbs it lists as carbs. I have always been taught that you can only take out half of the fiber from your carb number and that is only if it's over 3g of fiber in a serving. It's a game I do not play because I tend to end up in denial about carbs in foods when I do. But I don't have to calculate as closely as a pump user does. Have you asked your doctor how it would be best to deal with foods that are high fiber foods? Steve Well my research before I actually ate my spaghetti paid off. Like I stated before, I measured 1 cup, that was with homemade sauce included. For this alone, not including my salad, I counted 21 carbs. I checked my BG a little over 2 hours after I ate. Usually I use the "B" button on my pump and do not plug in BG, just carbs. But since I was concerned about supper spiking me, I checked b4 snack and my BG was 112. But I'm not putting all my eggs in one basket just yet. Hopefully it will be ok fasting in the morning. If one cup of cooked spaghetti weighs 140 grams (which I believe it does) and according to the Dreamfields site 56 grams of their spaghetti has 41 carbs I'd say about 120 grams. You might want to read this: Continue reading >>
