What Foods To Avoid With Diabetes?

Do you have diabetes and are struggling to keep your blood sugar levels in check? Well, we may just have the answers you need. When a person has diabetes, it isn’t just about choosing the right foods, it’s also about limiting or avoiding foods that can spike blood sugar and increase your risk of complications such as nerve damage, heart disease and stroke. In this article, we’ll explore what foods to avoid with diabetes.

Foods and drinks to avoid with diabetes

Food choices matter immensely for a diabetic patient. Here is a list of foods that diabetic patients should avoid:

1. Sugary foods like sweets and soda

Foods that are primarily made up of processed sugar lack nutritional value and can cause a sharp spike in blood sugar. Many desserts like candy and soda are considered low-quality carbohydrates and are among the worst foods to eat when you have type 2 diabetes. They even result in weight gain. Refined carbohydrates raise the sugar in the blood because of which the body produces extra insulin to bring the blood sugar down. Insulin is a fat-storage hormone that converts carbohydrates to fat when the level of insulin increases in the bloodstream. It then stores the fat in other areas of the body like on the buttocks, thighs, abdomen, and hips.

2. Fatty cuts of meat

Eating even small amounts of processed meats such as pork bacon, ham, salami or beef jerky, beans prepared with lard etc. may increase your risk of diabetes. They may contain many harmful chemicals and are linked to diseases such as cancer and heart disease in numerous studies. People with diabetes should also avoid ribs and other fatty cuts of meat, poultry meat with skin on it, deep-fried fish, etc. Such food can be replaced with leaner, more natural protein choices like chicken, tuna or hard-boiled eggs.

3. Full-fat dairy products

Full-fat dairy products primarily contain saturated fat (the ‘bad’ fat) and more calories, which increase the risk of obesity and heart disease. One can replace full-fat dairy products with low-fat or non-dairy milk like almond or soy milk.

4. Dried fruits

Dried fruits contain a good amount of fibre and can satisfy one’s appetite and sweet tooth. Unfortunately, they are sometimes packed with loads of sugar. A small box of 43-gram raisins contains 25 grams of sugar and a 50-gram serving of dates also contains 25 grams of sugar. So, these dried fruits could be replaced with fresh fruits like apples or bananas for a quick and healthy snack.

5. Drinks to avoid with diabetes

People with diabetes should avoid regular sugary drinks or diet soda that contains sugar. Artificial sweeteners and preservatives should also be avoided. Instead of fruit juices, try and stick with having the fruit as a whole.

Understanding what foods to avoid with diabetes is just as important as knowing what foods are good for you. Consult your doctor if you have any queries regarding your health and diet.