It is well known that diabetics need to control their diet, but when faced with various foods, many patients often have questions. Even for drinking milk, there are various controversies and statements on the internet. Then let’s sort out whether diabetics should drink milk and what to drink. Drinking milk has many benefits for diabetics Some studies believe that milk is rich in nutrients, calcium, conjugated linoleic acid and whey protein in milk may improve insulin resistance and help type 2 diabetics improve their blood sugar levels. In addition, milk is a food with a low glycemic index, which raises blood sugar slowly and smoothly after consumption, making it ideal for diabetics. Milk is also rich in protein, vitamins, essential amino acids, and calcium, phosphorus and minerals, and the appropriate ratio of calcium and phosphorus is conducive to absorption, which can prevent osteoporosis. Chinese dietary guidelines for diabetes recommend that patients drink 300mL of liquid milk daily. How to choose milk for diabetic patients 1. It is recommended to choose pasteurized fresh milk, which contains less additives and preservatives and can ensure to the maximum extent that the nutrients in the milk are not lost and will not cause fluctuations in blood sugar. However, you should not add sugar when drinking milk, so as not to cause a rapid rise in blood sugar. 2. You can use skim milk or low-fat milk instead of whole milk, which have less fat content, lower calories and do not raise blood sugar significantly. However, you should not consume modified milk because too many sugar additives can easily raise blood sugar. 3, if you choose milk powder, it is recommended to choose low-fat milk powder, at the same time need to pay attention to the amount, to 300mL per day is appropriate. How to drink milk for diabetics First of all, it is not recommended to drink milk on an empty stomach, if you drink milk for breakfast, you can drink with whole wheat bread or cereal, both to promote the absorption of milk, but also to supplement dietary fiber. In addition, you can also drink milk before going to bed to help you sleep. However, the total amount of milk drunk daily should not exceed 300mL. Overall, drinking milk has more benefits for diabetic patients, they just need to ensure that they do not overdo it. However, in case of renal complications, milk should be drunk with caution and the amount of milk consumed needs to be determined in communication with a dietitian. References [1] Qin, L. Q. Progress of research on the relationship between milk and its products and type 2 diabetes [J]. Health Research,v.38(04):499-501. [2]Ge S,Zhang Piece H,Ma A-Q,et al. Dietary Guidelines for Type 2 Diabetes in China and Interpretation[J]. Journal of Nutrition,2017(6):521-529.