Let’s take a look at how to choose tortillas for diabetes, and some of my favorite brands you can find at your local grocery store.
Tortillas are used in so many different recipes and cuisines, and you can absolutely still enjoy them when you have diabetes. Below, we discuss several options and categories of tortillas for diabetes.
Can you eat tortillas with diabetes?
Absolutely, yes! Tortillas can most definitely be part of a diabetes friendly or blood sugar friendly eating pattern. So, if you’ve been worried about whether or not you can eat tortillas with diabetes, let’s address that first. Yes, you can enjoy tortillas when you have diabetes.
But, some types of tortillas are better than others for people with diabetes, and there are certain foods and nutrients we should try to pair them with to avoid blood sugar spikes after we eat.
Wondering if you can eat bread with diabetes? Read more about the best bread for diabetes.
How to choose a tortilla for diabetes
So, what should you look for when choosing tortillas for diabetes? The same things we look for in every other food: fat, fiber, and protein! And for tortillas, we are especially looking for varieties that have more protein and fiber. While there is not a set specific number, I usually like to see at least 2g fiber, and at least 4g protein, but these numbers are not set in stone and depend on what other attributes the tortilla has and what foods you’re planning on eating with them.
Should you choose flour or corn tortillas for diabetes? Or something else?
When dining out at a restaurant, I recommend going with what you prefer the taste of and then using other foods at the meal to ensure you’re getting adequate protein and fiber. At home, we can use nutrition labels to help inform our choices, but this isn’t always possible when you’re at a restaurant.
Are flour tortillas bad for diabetes?
Flour tortillas can definitely be part of a blood sugar friendly diet and they are not bad for diabetes when consumed in moderation. I give some examples of my favorite types and brands below.
Flour tortilla glycemic index
Flour tortillas have a glycemic index score of 30 and a glycemic load of 8. This categorizes them as a low glycemic food.
Are corn tortillas bad for diabetes?
Corn tortillas have a reputation of being healthier than flour tortillas, so you may be wondering, “are corn tortillas good for diabetes?” The answer really depends on if you enjoy eating them or not. They do have a higher glycemic index than flour tortillas, but it is not a big enough difference in my opinion to recommend one type of tortilla over another.
Blue corn tortillas for diabetes
Research has shown that blue corn products have less starch, more protein, and a lower glycemic index than the same products made with white corn, making them a better choice for people with diabetes.
Corn tortilla glycemic index
White corn tortillas have a glycemic index of 52 and a glycemic load of 12. Based on this, they are considered a low glycemic food, however, I would still recommend pairing them with some additional fiber and protein like beans, avocado, meat, and/or veggies.
Are low carb tortillas good for diabetes?
Low carb tortillas can be a great option for people with diabetes if you enjoy the taste of them. But, if you don’t like them, there’s no need to force yourself to eat them. There are plenty of options when it comes to tortillas for diabetes that aren’t considered low carb, but are still very blood sugar friendly.
What about tortilla chips for diabetes?
Before we look at some of my favorite tortilla options available at the grocery store, I want to briefly discuss tortilla chips. These can be hard for people with diabetes to navigate for two reasons:
- Tortilla chips can raise blood sugars quickly
- We often eat more than we realize which can lead to eating more carbohydrates than we planned
For the tightest blood sugar control, we’d need to count out exactly how many chips we’re eating… but, this can seem really restrictive and honestly often leads to not being satisfied with the amount in front of you.
So, when you want to enjoy tortilla chips, I have two main tips:
- Eat them slowly. Try not to eat them super fast. This way you can give your body time to digest them and can stop when you are satisfied or full.
- Pair them with a fat or protein source. There’s a reason chips and guacamole are such a perfect combo!
Best tortillas for diabetes
Let’s look at some of my favorite tortillas for diabetes. All of these tortilla options offer some combination of fiber and protein, and/or are lower in carbohydrate.
- Mission Whole Wheat Tortillas
- Santa Fe Tortilla Company Whole Grain & Flax Tortillas
- Thrive Market Organic Coconut Wraps
- FlatOut Multigrain Flatbreads
- Siete Almond Flour Tortillas
- Mission Almond Flour Tortillas
- OhLa Almond Flour Tortillas
- LaTortilla Factory Low Carb Whole Wheat Tortillas with Quinoa + Flax
- Marcela’s Cactus Tortillas
- BFree Gluten Free Quinoa & Chia Seed Tortillas
- Egglife Egg White Wraps
Some of the links used below are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you decide to purchase them through the link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Best whole wheat tortillas for diabetes
Best wraps for diabetes
Best grain free tortillas for diabetes
Best low carb tortillas for diabetes
Best low carb gluten free tortillas for diabetes
Best keto tortillas for diabetes
My favorite ways to use tortillas for diabetes friendly recipes
Now that we’ve covered what to look for in a tortilla when you have diabetes, and some of my favorite brands, here are some of my favorite recipes using tortillas…
3 Responses
Thank you for the information. I eat Mission Low Carb tortillas, but can’t wait to try some off your list. It’s good to have options!
Very helpful. Thank you.Bi
Thank you for this knowledge