Eggs are a nutrient-rich food that can be a healthy part of your diet if you have diabetes. While they’re high in dietary cholesterol, this has a much smaller effect than foods high in saturated fat.

Managing your cholesterol is important if you have diabetes.

Dietary guidelines in the United States have previously recommended limiting foods high in dietary cholesterol. However, current evidence suggests that this is less important than limiting saturated fats.

People with diabetes are more likelyTrusted Source to have high cholesterol.

Research suggestsTrusted Source that insulin resistance and problems with blood sugar management can impair the way your body uses and stores fat. This can increase triglyceride levels in your blood, leading to high cholesterol.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance essential for a variety of functions, like building cells and making vitamins and hormones.

Your body makes all the cholesterol you need, but it is also found in animal foods like eggs, meat, and dairy.

While some cholesterol is important for your health, having too much increases your risk of cardiovascular conditions like heart disease and stroke.

One large egg contains about 200 milligrams (mg) of dietary cholesterol. This is more than half the previous federal recommendation of no more than 300 mg per day.

It was previously thought that consuming foods high in dietary cholesterol raised cholesterol levels. However, recent guidelinesTrusted Source suggest that this may be because many foods high in cholesterol are also high in saturated fat, which has a bigger impact on cholesterol levels.

Eggs are low in saturated fat and contain other healthy nutrients like protein, unsaturated fats, vitamins, and minerals.

According to the American Heart AssociationTrusted Source, eating a diet low in saturated fat and higher in fiber is more important than focusing on dietary cholesterol levels.

Refined carbohydrates have the greatest effect on blood sugar levels.

Eggs are low in carbohydrates and higher in protein and unsaturated fat. This means that they may not significantly affect blood sugar.

However, because eggs are commonly fried, used as ingredients in baked goods, and eaten with meats and other fried foods, they’re commonly associated with risk factors for diabetes.

Consuming a moderate amount of eggs as part of a heart-healthy diet may help manage blood sugar levels.

If you have diabetes, try including eggs in your diet by:

  • preparing them with healthy fats like olive oil or canola oil instead of butter
  • using fat-free cooking methods like boiling, poaching
  • pairing them with foods high in fiber and low in refined carbohydrates, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has many recipes that include eggs as part of a diabetes-friendly diet.

Eggs are a nutrient-dense food that may be safe to include in your diet if you have diabetes.

While eggs are high in dietary cholesterol, saturated fats have the greatest impact on cholesterol levels.

Preparing eggs with healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help you manage your blood sugar and cholesterol levels.