Idli good for diabetes is a common question asked by many health-conscious people. In South India their most famous Dish is the Idli which is soft and made with steam process it consumed with sambar which is made with different types of vegetables and plus chutney which is basically made with Coconut.
In South India it is considered as a breakfast they consume in the morning as breakfast. It is made traditionally from soaked and cooked rice and urad dall. Because it was made traditionally so, during the process of making it, there is no usage of the oil and that is why many people also consider Idli Good for Diabetes as it is light, healthy and easily digestible.
Now the Question Arise Is Idli Good for Diabetes?
Answer is Yes, Idli good for diabetes because rice is good for diabetes and the main ingredients of the Idli is rice and urad dal two cups of rice and three cups of urad daal. Processing time is around overnight and steaming process properly.
In Two Idlis there are:
- 61 kcal of Calories
- 12.5 gram of Carbohydrates
- 2.3 gram of Protein
- 0.2 gram of Fat
- 1.2 gram Fiber
Types of Idli in India:

In India people are more experimental, over time passes different regions and communities of India innovate the new recipes of the Idli such as rava , Stuffed, Millet and oats.
Kancheepuram Idli
It is the most famous one in South India. Kancheepuran urad dall, mung dall, fenugreek, cumin seeds and green chili is used. It is totally oil free. In Kancheepuran there is urad daal and mung dall which are rich in protein and protein help in maintaining muscle mass. Because in Kancheepuram urad daal and mung daal is fermented due to which it easy to digest and helps better manage the sugar in the bloodstream of the body.
Oats Idli
It is made with oats, rava, yogurt, carrot and urad daal. It is rich in fiber and having Low glycemic which helps in lowering the cholesterol and stabilising the sugar in the bloodstream, this makes oats idli good for diabetes.
Rava Idli
Rava is also known as Suji in India. Suji contains high fiber, low glycemic, minerals and magnesium which helps in controlling the sugar level, boosting the energy level, helping the weight loss, prevent from spikes in the sugar level and also help in prevention from heart attack.
Mung Daal Idli
It is the another version. In this, there is mung daal , yogurt and suji which makes it more nutritious. In mung daal there is low carb and high protein which is more beneficial for the diabetic Patient.
Ragi Idli
Also idli is made with ragi. Ragi contains high fiber, rich in magnesium and low glycemic which helps in improving insulin sensitivity, control the sugar level in the blood stream and weight management.
How to consume Idli as Diabetic patient?
- As A diabetic patient never consumes the white rice it contains high glycemic index which produce high sugar in your body.
- Always make sure that batter of the idli is made with the brown rice which helps in balancing the sugar level in your body.
- As diabetic patient you also prefer the millet and also oats idli. It helps in controlling the sugar level in your body naturally.
- Always take the 2 medium sizes of the idlis. It helps in absorbing the sugar level in your body naturally.
- It makes it best if you eat it with sambar and vegetable chutney instead of the coconut chutney.
- Always make sure that you can eat this in the morning or at lunch. It makes it beneficial for your health to avoid it at night.
- Always make idli in the traditional way by steaming and avoiding oil and don’t use ghee and any type of the oil for roasting it.
- And also after eating take a short walk it helps in prevention from the sugar spikes.
Alternative Breakfast of the Idli
Poha
Poha is a much better breakfast than Idli for the diabetic patient. In poha there is low glycemic index and high fiber and protein. In Idli also there is high fiber but it always needs to be consumed with a high protein dish so that sugar can be controlled in the bloodstream of the individual.
Quinoa Idli
It is the replaceable one in today’s time from the traditional rice idli in South India. It contains polyphenols and flavonoids which prevent the spikes of the sugar level in the blood stream.
Avocado And Egg On Whole-Grain Toast
In comparison to the Idli Avocado and egg on whole grain toast is the best choice as diabetic patient. Because it is the packet of the proteins, healthy fat and rich in fiber which help in absorption of the sugar in the body slowly.
Chickpea Salad
Chickpea Salad is more beneficial because it contains high fiber, healthy fat, protein and carbohydrates which help in controlling the sugar level in the bloodstream of the individual.
Conclusion
Idli is the most famous dish of South India. It is prepared traditionally by fermenting the rice overnight and the next day preparing it with a steaming process. It is soft and served with sambar and coconut Chutney.
It contains fiber, carbohydrates, protein and low Glycemic Index. Different types of idli are prepared such as Kancheepuram, Oats, Rava and Mung daal. These are more beneficial for the diabetic patient than rice.
In Idli, rice is fermented due to which, glycemic index is low which helps in controlling the sugar level in the bloodstream of the individual. Millet and Oats is the most beneficial for the diabetic patient because it helps in the natural absorption of the sugar in the body.
It is the Best choice as a breakfast for the diabetic patient for their balancing diet and moderate the sugar level in the bloodstream of the individual and that is why many health experts consider Idli Good for Diabetes.