Dairy Products, Eggs and Diabetes.

Low Fat Alternatives

Because of the increased risk of Heart Disease for diabetics. A diet low in Saturated Fat is recommended. Most fat in diary products and eggs is unfortunately saturated fat.

Most diary products have ½ fat or low fat alternatives with vegetable fat based alternative products are worth considering.

Low fat dairy alternatives have the benefit or having less calories and retain the normal calcium level of the full fat versions.

Cows Milk Alternatives

Soya, Goat, Sheep and Coconut Milk. Note that Coconut milk is high in saturated fat too, it is NOT a healthier alternative.

Goats Milk:
4.2% Fat & 3.7% Sugar.
Cows Milk: 
3.7% Fat & 4.9% Sugar.
Typical fat and milk sugar content. Note that all mammals milk contains sugar (lactose).

Sugar absorption rates for Butter, Cream and Cheese are slower rated than Milk. Why?

Two reasons: First they are higher in fat slowing down the sugar absorption rate. Second in products like Cheese and Yoghurt, sugar (lactose) is used up by the bacteria during fermentation.

External Link.

Dairy FoodSugar Absorption RateNotes
Butter
Butter
Very Slow High in fat and calories. Try ½ fat, low fat or vegetable fat spreads such as sunflower and olive oil based spreads. These can reduce the risk of heart complications.
Cheese
Cheese
Very Slow High in fat and calories with the stronger tasting versions like stilton and mature cheddar tending to have the highest fat content. Try ½ fat or low fat versions if trying to lose weight and reduce risk of heart complications.

For more details see the cheese - fat content table.

CreamVery Slow High in fat and calories. Avoid varieties with added sugar. Try ½ fat versions if trying to lose weight and reduce risk of heart complications.

For more details see the cream - fat content table.

Eggs
Eggs
Very Slow Fat is almost entirely in the yolk, about 1/3 of this is saturated fat. The rest of the fat is mainly monounsaturated fat.

For more details see the egg - fat content table.

Milk
Milk
Slow Cows Milk is about 5% sugar - take care if using in large quantities.

Try either skimmed or semi-skimmed versions to reduce saturated fat intake.

For more details see the milk - fat content table.

Condensed and Evaporated MilkUnknown Condensed Milk has sugar added so avoid.

Evaporated Milk only has water removed so retains original fat and sugar in a concentrated form.

Yogurt
Yoghurt/Yogurt
Medium to Very Slow Unsweetened version are rated Very Slow. Otherwise check the label for the amount of added sugar.

Try low fat versions if trying to lose weight and reduce risk of heart complications.

Fat Content Tables For Milk, Cream, Eggs & Cheese.

The cheese fat content table is shown as sold to the consumer, that is including water.

Elsewhere you may also see 'dry mass' percentage figures for cheese fat. These are figure for the cheese with water removed, leading to a higher fat percentage in the dry mass.

The French Cheese web site (external link) goes into greater detail.

MilkFat
Gold Top4%
Whole3-4%
Semi Skimmed1-2.9%
Skimmed<1%
CreamFat
Clotted50%
Double Whipping31-50%
Single15-30%
Half Fat<15%
EggsFat
Chicken Eggs11%
Quail Eggs11%
Duck Eggs12%
Turkey Eggs12%
CheeseFat
(½Fat)
CheeseFat
(½Fat)
Bavarian Smoked24%Danish blue30%
Blue Stilton35%Double Gloucester34%
Brie27%Edam25-28%
(11%)
Caerphilly31%Emmental30%
Camembert23-24%Feta20%
Cheshire31%Gouda31%
Cheddar33-34%
(15%)
Gruyere32%
Cheshire31%
(15%)
Parmesan33%
Cottage4%
(1½%)
Wensleydale31%
Cream Cheese47%White Stilton31%

½ Fat cheeses fat content shown in brackets where applicable.