8 Best Starbucks drinks for gestational diabetes (Diabetes-Friendly Starbucks Drinks + More information)
Developing gestational diabetes does not mean that you cannot enjoy a Starbucks occasionally. So, what are the best Starbucks drinks for gestational diabetes? Let’s see.
I recently came across a study that stated that caffeine can prevent gestational diabetes. However, this study needs more research but as far as we know, caffeine and Starbucks drinks can be safely consumed by people with gestational diabetes.
If you have recently been diagnosed with it and you aren’t sure what to drink, this post will give you a variety of drinks that you can safely consume.
You should be able to enjoy a Starbucks without worries by the end of this read.
Table of Contents
What is gestational diabetes?
This is a condition where blood glucose levels are elevated during pregnancy. This condition is temporary and resolves soon after birth.
The condition does not present any symptoms and it is only diagnosed by a blood sugar test. There are no drugs administered to cure it except for some lifestyle changes.
A woman is advised to exercise, change her diet, and daily monitoring until birth. There is a high risk of getting type two diabetes for those with this condition and care must be taken to prevent this escalation.
What can I drink from Starbucks with gestational diabetes?
You can drink a low-sugar and low-carb Starbucks drink to keep your blood glucose in check. Try out unsweetened coffee and non-coffee drinks with sugar-free syrups.
As much as the body needs to cut back on sugar, other nutrients are still essential for the health of both mother and baby. You can ask for skinny lattes and iced herbal teas for hydration.
Can you drink Starbucks with diabetes?
Yes, you can. As we had mentioned earlier, there is ongoing research on the effects of caffeine on gestational diabetes.
It does not mean that one cannot enjoy good things in life when diagnosed with diabetes. The only difference is that you will be required to adjust your order.
For instance, you can order a skinny latte with no sweeteners or a Caffe Americano with no sugar. If you want tea, you can take herbal teas, and ask for tea lattes with no sweeteners or low-sugar refreshers.
How we choose the Best Starbucks drinks for gestational diabetes
Our products on this list have been chosen based on existing research about gestational diabetes. Scientific research is the best way to come up with products that have been proven to be safe.
Pregnancy and gestational diabetes are sensitive conditions that require extra care. An expectant mother with this condition requires low sugar and low carbohydrates to avoid elevating her blood sugar.
In this post, we have only compiled what we are certain that is safe and have left out what we cannot prove, so you can trust that this information is accurate and trustworthy.
8 Best Starbucks drinks for gestational diabetes
Here are some great drinks you can enjoy in this temporary condition.
Rank |
Drink (Tall serving) | Carbs |
1 |
Skinny almond vanilla latte |
5.5g |
2 |
Unsweetened Shaken iced passion tea tango |
0g |
3 |
Nitro cold brew |
0g |
4 |
Honey almond milk cold brew |
8.3g |
5 |
London fog latte |
12g |
6 |
Espresso macchiato |
2g |
7 |
Caffe Americano |
5.9g |
8 |
Skinny flat white |
15g |
Skinny almond vanilla latte
This is an excellent choice for gestational diabetes. At only 5.5g of carbs, this drink will barely elevate your blood sugar. The plant-based almond milk is full of great health benefits and is low in calories.
This latte is splashed with sugar-free vanilla syrup for an extra great flavor. Don’t let this condition stop you from enjoying great drinks at Starbucks.
You can have a tall serving and enjoy some 75mg of caffeine which is great for extra energy. A latte will mostly be made with 2% milk and you can get some plant proteins from this.
Unsweetened shaken iced passion tango tea
The blend of lemongrass and hibiscus is ideal for a refreshing afternoon. The tango tea is caffeine-free and a great way to hydrate without accumulating too much energy.
You will also be enjoying zero0 carbs and no sugar if you don’t add any sugar or sweeteners.
Most women with gestational diabetes who do not like coffee go for this herbal tea blend. The taste is great as you will pick up notes of passion and hibiscus.
At only 50 calories, you will be on the safe side. You can opt to skip the lemonade or add it if you don’t mind. Whatever you do, just keep it unsweetened.
Nitro cold brew
This is a great and safe drink with no sweeteners. The nitrogen is added to give a cascading sweet taste without adding any sweeteners. You can add a sugar-free syrup of your choice for flavor and you will not spike your blood glucose.
This is an upgrade for that person who does not want just coffee. You can customize it with 2 pumps of vanilla sugar-free syrup and some almond milk.
Remember to keep your coffee intake moderate to avoid further health issues. Three to four cups are enough with a maximum of 300 mg of caffeine.
This can also be summed up to a single Grande per day.
Honey almond milk cold brew
I love the balance that almond milk gives this drink with the slight sweetening of honey. This is one of Starbucks’ drinks with the lowest sugar at only 10mg.
The calories are in check at only 50 and carbs at 8.3g. This drink tastes like it has all the sugar in the world when it is only at 10mg so if you are a sweet tooth with gestational diabetes, this one is a must-try.
Ask the barista to use unsweetened almond milk for your drink as this will not raise your blood sugar. Did you know that almond milk is rich in vitamin D and reduces the risk of heart disease? Yeap, this one should be your go-to drink.
London fog latte
This tea is great for all and it is only 12g of carbs. The taste is great with hints of lavender and a strong Earl Grey black tea. You will end up with a moderate stimulation of caffeine at 40mg per Grande serving.
This tea latte can be customized with whole milk, nonfat milk, soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, or even the Starbucks nut milk blend.
A London fog tea is safe for gestational diabetes and you can have it either hot or cold depending on your cravings. The taste of this tea is a swirl of Early Grey with sweet vanilla hints and a floral finish.
Espresso macchiato
This drink is also known as a Caffe Macchiato and is added some milk and foam. In Italy, the name macchiato means stained. This can be directly translated as stained coffee.
That aside, this is a great drink for gestational diabetes. It has the right amount of caffeine for an energy boost at 75mg. Both short and tall are made with a single shot of espresso.
With just foam and espresso, this is a safe drink for gestational diabetes. A latte macchiato has no sweeteners and has only 2g of carbs.
When the body is fed with too many carbohydrates, it turns them into sugar which in turn spikes the blood sugar levels.
Caffe Americano
This drink is made with espresso and hot water which are all safe for gestational diabetes. You can order a Grande and enjoy some caffeine with the taste of espresso.
This coffee drink is for those who don’t mind the strong coffee taste in their drinks. 16 fluid ounces serving contains 150mg of caffeine and 15 calories. Unless you insist on sweeteners, this drink is sugar-free.
A tall will also contain only 5.9g of carbs. As recent studies continue to show, caffeine reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Women with gestational diabetes are at high risk of developing this type of diabetes later in life. While these studies have not yet been completed, it is okay to have this drink as it is safe.
Skinny Flat White
This is a common Starbucks drink that you are likely to see a bunch of people ordering. It is simple and has great taste. The skinny flat white has nonfat milk and only 15g of carbohydrates.
The drink uses ristretto shots of espresso that have a naturally sweet taste without added sweeteners. This drink has dome steamed milk that tones down the strong ristretto to bring out a smooth, moderately creamy, and sweet drink.
The flat in this context means that the drink has a thin/flat layer of steamed milk at the top.
Informative Section
Can you drink a latte with gestational diabetes?
Yes, you can. Just make it skinny and sugar-free in the syrups.
Which drink is best for gestational diabetes?
While there are several great drinks, the best is the skinny almond milk vanilla latte.
What Can I Eat with Gestational Diabetes?
Make sure that your diet is low in carbs and sugar to prevent a spike in blood glucose.