Quick Answer
Diabetics can eat small servings of sponge cake in moderation as part of a healthy, balanced diet. Sponge cakes are high in carbohydrates, so portion control is important. Enjoy sponge cake as an occasional treat and balance it with foods that are lower in carbs and higher in protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Monitor your blood sugar closely when eating sponge cake.
Can Diabetics Eat Sponge Cake?
Sponge cake is a type of light and airy cake made with eggs, sugar, flour, and sometimes fat like butter or oil. It gets its name from its spongy, springy texture. Sponge cakes are lower in fat than many cakes, but they are still high in carbohydrates due to their sugar and flour content.
For diabetics, consuming too many carbohydrates at one time can cause a spike in blood sugar levels. So can diabetics include sponge cake as part of a healthy diet? The answer is yes, but in moderation. Here are some tips for diabetics wanting to enjoy sponge cake:
- Stick to a small serving size, such as a thin slice or small wedge. Avoid large portions of sponge cake.
- Balance sponge cake with foods that are lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Pair cake with fresh fruit, vegetables, lean protein, nuts, or yogurt.
- Try making a sponge cake with less sugar or alternative sweeteners like stevia or erythritol. You can also use whole wheat or almond flour to increase the nutrition.
- Save sponge cake for special occasions and eat it in moderation. Don’t make it an everyday indulgence.
- Monitor your blood sugar closely when eating sponge cake to make sure it does not spike too high. Take insulin or medication as needed to control blood sugar.
The key for diabetics is paying attention to portion sizes of sponge cake and balancing it out with healthier choices to properly manage blood sugar response. When enjoyed occasionally and mindfully, a small serving of sponge cake can be incorporated into an overall healthy diabetes diet.
Nutrition Info of Sponge Cake
To manage sponge cake intake, it helps to know the nutrition information:
| Nutrition Facts | Per 1 slice (1/8th cake) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 180 |
| Carbohydrates | 29g |
| Fiber | 0.4g |
| Sugars | 17g |
| Fat | 6g |
| Saturated Fat | 2g |
| Protein | 3g |
As you can see, one slice of sponge cake contains around 180 calories and 29g of carbohydrates. It is low in fiber, protein, and healthy fats. The table indicates a moderate slice of sponge cake can quickly provide a good portion of carbs for a meal.
Compare that to 1 cup of fresh strawberries, which has under 50 calories and 12g of carbs along with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Sponge cake lacks the additional nutrition of fruit and should be eaten sparingly.
Tips for Managing Blood Sugar Response
When eaten in moderation alongside healthier choices, cake can be part of a diabetes diet. Here are some tips for managing blood sugar when eating sponge cake:
- Eat cake alongside protein and healthy fats, which can help slow digestion and prevent blood sugar spikes. Pair cake with nuts, cheese, yogurt, or eggs.
- Choose slender slices and small portions. Avoid large wedges of cake.
- Try substituting part of the white flour in cake with nut flours, which can lower the carb content.
- Opt for cakes made with whole grains, which digest more slowly than refined flour.
- Get plenty of fiber from vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains throughout the day.
- Stay hydrated by drinking water before, during and after eating cake.
- Check your blood sugar 1-2 hours after eating cake to see your response. Take insulin or medication as needed.
- Go for a walk after eating cake to help manage blood sugar.
Being mindful of portions, adding nutrition, and monitoring response is key for keeping sponge cake in your diabetes diet plan.
Healthy Sponge Cake Alternatives
Rather than nix cake altogether, consider these healthy sponge cake alternatives:
Lower Carb Sponge Cake Recipes
There are many recipes for lower carbohydrate and lower sugar sponge cakes made with alternative flours and sweeteners:
- Almond Flour Sponge Cake: Substitute 1/4 to 1/2 of the regular flour for almond flour to reduce carbs.
- Coconut Flour Sponge Cake: Use coconut flour, which is lower carb than regular flour.
- Protein Flour Sponge Cake: Try cakes made with high protein, low carb flours like soy, chickpea or pea flour.
- Stevia Sponge Cake: Replace half the sugar with stevia extract to reduce carbs and calories.
- Erythritol Sponge Cake: Swap sugar for erythritol, a zero calorie natural sweetener.
Experiment with these alternative ingredient cakes to create a lighter, less sugary sponge cake.
Fruit-Based Sponge Cakes
Fruit adds moisture as well as fiber and nutrients. Try cakes made primarily with fruit:
- Banana Sponge Cake: Made with mashed ripe bananas for natural sweetness.
- Pineapple Sponge Cake: Uses crushed pineapple for a tropical, moist cake.
- Apple Sponge Cake: Grated apples add fiber, vitamins, and sweetness.
- Carrot Cake: Shredded carrots make this cake extra moist.
- Zucchini Sponge Cake: Shredded zucchini gives this cake fiber and nutrients.
Fruit-based cakes are often lower in added sugar. The fruit provides sweetness as well as health benefits.
Gluten-Free Sponge Cake
Those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity can enjoy gluten-free sponge cakes made with flours like:
- Almond flour
- Coconut flour
- Chickpea flour
- Oat flour
- Buckwheat flour
- Rice flour
Gluten-free cakes recreate the classic sponge cake texture without wheat. Stick to moderate portions and balance with protein and fiber.
Angel Food Cake
Angel food cake is essentially a fat-free sponge cake that relies solely on whipped egg whites for leavening. It is naturally lower in fat and calories than other cakes, while still being high in carbs. Enjoy small slivers along with fresh fruit for a lighter dessert.
Tips for Baking Diabetes-Friendly Cakes
Adjusting how sponge cakes are baked can also make them more diabetes-friendly:
- Reduce sugar by 1/4 to 1/3 in traditional cake recipes.
- Add spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and vanilla extract to give a sweet taste with less sugar.
- Substitute sugar with equal amounts of alternative sweeteners like stevia, erythritol, or sucralose.
- Replace all-purpose flour fully or partially with almond flour, coconut flour, oat flour, etc.
- Use oil or unsweetened applesauce instead of butter to reduce saturated fat.
- Replace up to half the white flour with bran, wheat germ, or ground oats for more fiber.
- Use nonfat Greek yogurt or buttermilk instead of oil or butter to cut fat.
- Boost the nutrition with shredded zucchini, carrots, pineapple, or apple.
- Top cake with fresh fruit rather than frosting, glaze, or drizzle.
With some easy ingredient swaps and reductions in sugar, classic sponge cakes can be made diabetes-friendly while still being delicious.
Healthy Options for Frosting, Glazes and Toppings
Frostings and toppings also contribute carbs, so choose healthy options:
- Lightly dust cakes with powdered sugar rather than heavy frosting.
- Make frosting with cream cheese or plain Greek yogurt for more protein.
- Sweeten frostings and glazes with stevia, erythritol or small amounts of honey or maple syrup.
- Opt for fruit-based toppings like raspberry sauce, lemon curd, or orange drizzle.
- Use fresh fruit like strawberries, peach slices, or raspberries to top cakes.
- Drizzle cakes with dark chocolate, which contains less sugar than milk chocolate.
- Spread peanut butter or almond butter between cake layers instead of frosting.
Choose lighter toppings to help control carb and sugar intake when enjoying diabetic-friendly cakes.
Portion Control Tips
Even when you opt for healthier cake recipes and alternatives, portion control is still key:
- Stick to a 1-inch thick slice or small wedge of cake.
- Serve cake on smaller plates instead of large platters.
- Share one piece of cake and add extra fruits and nuts to the plate.
- Put the rest of the cake away before eating to avoid going back for seconds.
- Savor each bite of cake slowly instead of devouring it.
- Drink water between bites of cake to help fill up.
- Wait at least 20 minutes before considering a second serving.
Using mindful eating approaches helps prevent overindulging in cake. Balance the carbs from cake with nutritious foods and monitor blood sugar.
FAQs
Is sponge cake better for diabetics than regular cake?
Sponge cake can be slightly better than richer cakes like chocolate cake. It is lower in fat due to minimal butter or oil. But sponge cake is still high in carbs, so portions must be controlled. Enjoy an occasional slice and balance with low carb foods.
What kind of cake has the least amount of sugar?
Angel food cake and sponge cakes tend to be lower in sugar than cakes made with lots of frosting, fillings, chocolate, etc. But all cakes are high in sugar and should be eaten sparingly.
Is it OK for a diabetic to have cake on their birthday?
It’s reasonable for a diabetic to enjoy a special treat like birthday cake in moderation. Have a small slice, serve it with low carb fruits or nuts, avoid frosting, and check blood sugar within 2 hours, taking medication as needed.
The Bottom Line
Diabetics can enjoy occasional small servings of sponge cake when paired with more nutritious choices like fruits, proteins and vegetables. Pay attention to carbs and portion sizes. Make cakes with less sugar, alternative flours and wholesome ingredients. Check blood sugar and take medication as needed when consuming cake. With mindful eating, sponge cake can be part of a healthy diet for diabetics.
