Can You Eat Eggs if You Have Diabetes?

Updated on March 29, 2021

Medically reviewed by Danielle Weiss, MD

The American Diabetes Association believes that eggs are a good food option and a great source of protein for people with diabetes.

However, he relationship between egg consumption and the risk of diabetes from studies is not consistent. This is due to the high content of cholesterol, but dietary cholesterol doesn’t affect blood cholesterol as much as we might think.

woman cracking an egg — Westend61 / Getty Images

Benefits of Eggs

Eggs are known as a strong source of protein. Other benefits include:

Vitamin A
Vitamin D
Antioxidants
Potassium
Biotin

Collectively these nutrients are known to:

Protect against free radicals
Help with brain function
Improve vision
Boost the immune system
Help organs such as the lungs and kidney function properly

In general, eggs do have health benefits for your overall health, and they are also known to benefit diabetes patients.

Studies found that consuming eggs for breakfast is known to control the blood sugar levels of diabetes patients throughout the day. The study also found that those who consumed eggs and low carbohydrates had a stable glucose reading for 24 hours and lower blood sugar spikes.

Suggested Cholesterol Intake

The American Diabetes Association’s guidelines for dietary cholesterol intake for people who have diabetes is 300 milligrams per day. If an individual has an LDL cholesterol level of over 100 milligrams their cholesterol intake should be lowered to 200 milligrams a day.

Cholesterol From Eggs and Diabetes

Eggs have high amounts of cholesterol, so it was advised that people consume with caution.

Studies have shown that dietary cholesterol doesn’t have such a large impact on blood cholesterol. It is the mixture of consuming fats and carbohydrates that create a negative impact on the blood cholesterol level.

It is suggested that people limit their cholesterol from food to no more than 300 milligrams per day.

One large egg has 186 milligrams of cholesterol, with most of the cholesterol coming from the yolk. Egg white is a wonderful option for diabetes patients.

Healthy Meal Plan for People With Diabetes

Working Eggs Into Your Diet

If you are a diabetic and want to consume eggs, the high protein content can be beneficial.

Protein is known to reduce the absorption of glucose. Along with the vitamins and minerals, eggs have a wonderful source of nutrients that help develop insulin and reduces the risk of disease.

When consuming eggs, the foods that you eat with them and how you prepare them is important.

Healthy Pairings

When you eat eggs, it is advised to skip the high fat foods like bacon and sausage to eat with it. A hard-boiled egg with fruit or scrambled egg with a whole wheat muffin are healthier choices that will provide the health benefits of what the egg offers.

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Diabetes Association. Protein.
Wang X, Son M, Meram C, Wu J. Mechanism and potential of egg consumption and egg bioactive components on type-2 diabetes. Nutrients. 2019;11(2):357. doi:10.3390/nu11020357
Courtney R Chang, Monique E Francois, Jonathan P Little, Restricting carbohydrates at breakfast is sufficient to reduce 24-hour exposure to postprandial hyperglycemia and improve glycemic variability. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2019;109(5):1302–1309. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqy261
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Cholesterol.
Harvard Health Publishing. Eggs and your health.

By Yvelette Stines
Yvelette Stines, MS, MEd, is an author, writer, and communications specialist specializing in health and wellness.

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