Snack time can be tricky when you’re living with diabetes. While some people enjoy crunching on veggies and popcorn when hunger strikes, others crave flavored corn chips like Doritos. But how do these chips fit into a type 2 diabetes-friendly diet? Read on to find out whether chips like Doritos and other brands can be part of your diabetes meal plan. You’ll also learn what types of nutrients may be found in these snacks.

1. Doritos May Impact Your Carbohydrate Count

Doritos were first introduced by Frito-Lay in 1974 with the original Nacho Cheese flavor. Today, there are more than 100 additional flavors. Each flavor has a slightly different ingredients list, which may impact nutritional value. A typical serving size of Nacho Cheese Doritos is about 11 chips, which contains 17 grams of carbohydrates.

For people with diabetes, it’s best to choose carbs that are rich in other nutrients, such as fiber. Fiber, in particular, can help slow the rise in blood sugar. Doritos only have 1 gram of fiber per serving.

If you have type 2 diabetes, your doctor or dietitian may suggest counting your carbs each day. How many carbs you need can depend on several things, including your activity level and body size. One important factor is whether you’re on medication for diabetes (such as insulin) and how much of it you take.

If you like snacking on flavored corn chips, keep an eye on your blood sugar levels after you eat them. This helps you see how the snack might be affecting your blood sugar control and decide if it fits into your eating plan.

2. Sodium Could Affect Your Blood Pressure and Kidney Health

One serving of Doritos has 170 milligrams of sodium. People with diabetes are encouraged to limit their sodium intake because too much sodium can raise your blood pressure. Lowering your sodium intake helps keep your blood pressure levels healthy. This can support better blood sugar control. Consuming less sodium will also help keep your kidneys healthier.

People with diabetes are advised to limit sodium intake to less than 2 grams per day. That’s equal to 2,000 milligrams. While a serving of 11 Doritos chips will only take up a small portion of that daily limit, it’s still important to count all the sodium you eat in a day.

For instance, condiments like mustard, salad dressing, and ketchup also contain sodium. Keep an eye on your total sodium intake as the day goes on, and try to limit serving sizes if you’re close to your daily limit.

3. Processed Snack Foods May Trigger Inflammation

The American Diabetes Association recommends eating minimally processed, whole-grain carbohydrates. This includes foods like quinoa and oats. Processing can lower the nutritional value of some foods, especially if it involves removing fiber or adding too much salt, fat, and preservatives. In the case of flavored corn chips, the main ingredient (corn) is cooked, ground up, flattened, and fried before seasoning is added.

Some processed, fried foods, such as corn chips, may promote inflammation in your body. Repeated inflammation can damage tissues in people with diabetes. This may affect the health of your heart, blood vessels, and nerves.

4. Snacks Can Fit Into a Healthy Eating Plan

While your doctor may not recommend eating corn chips, you might be able to find ways to fit this snack food into your diabetes snacking plan. Although there are plenty of healthier swaps you can make for chips, there may be times when you want to enjoy your old favorites. Overly restricting or avoiding foods you enjoy can sometimes make you feel deprived, which may lead to overeating or bingeing later on.

If you need medical advice about which snack foods are safe for you, talk to your doctor. They can refer you to a registered dietitian or diabetes educator who can develop a diabetes-friendly eating plan.

Talk With Others Who Understand

DiabetesTeam is the social network for people with diabetes and their loved ones. On DiabetesTeam, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with diabetes.

Do you eat Doritos while living with diabetes? Have you found any healthier alternatives or low-carb snack options that you like just as much? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.