Foods To Avoid With Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which the body cannot produce or use insulin properly. There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. While both must be managed with proper diet or diabetic snacks, medications, and exercise, there are some foods that can make managing your diabetes easier. Here is a list of foods to avoid if you have diabetes:
Sugary sodas
Sugary sodas are full of sugar, which can cause weight gain and increase your risk for diabetes. The excessive sugar in these drinks can also lead to tooth decay, so it’s best to avoid them altogether.
Fruit juice
Fruit juice is very high in sugar and calories. Drinking fruit juice can cause weight gain, diabetes and heart disease. Fruit juice is also not as healthy as whole fruit. Whole fruit contains fiber that helps you feel full quicker and keeps you from overeating. Drinking fruit juice might increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes because it has a high concentration of sugar.
Cakes and cookies
Cakes and cookies are full of sugar. Sugar is bad for your blood glucose levels, which can lead to high blood pressure and stress on the heart. It’s also bad for your teeth and waistline.
White bread and bagels
The first thing to know about white bread and bagels is that they are high in carbohydrates, which are broken down into sugar. So if you have diabetes, it’s essential to avoid foods that contain large amounts of carbs because when your blood sugar levels increase and stay high for an extended period of time, it can lead to diabetes.
As a thumb rule, if something looks unhealthy and tastes unhealthy —like white bread and bagels—it probably is unhealthy food for people with diabetes. According to a diabetes care expert Tandem Diabetes, “It can be difficult to differentiate between what’s nutritious while still trying to minimize carbohydrate intake.”
White rice
White rice is one of the worst things you can eat if you have diabetes. It’s high in carbs, which raises blood sugar levels. It’s also low in fiber, slowing digestion and preventing your body from absorbing nutrients like vitamins and minerals. White rice is high in calories, sugar, and fat (especially trans fats).
If you love rice, here are some better options:
- Brown rice – This has more fiber than white rice, so it helps keep your digestive system healthy while slowing down the absorption of sugars into your bloodstream.
- Jasmine or basmati – These types of grains have more fiber than regular white rice, less starch, less fat content, fewer calories per serving, and more protein per serving.
French fries and potato chips
French fries and potato chips are super high in fat, sodium and calories. They also contain a lot of carbohydrates with little fiber. In addition, the lack of protein and the high saturated fats make these foods a poor choice for people with diabetes.
There are lots of healthy foods to eat that are better for diabetes than the bad ones
You can still relish the foods you love while working to manage your diabetes. Here are some examples of healthy diabetes snacks that are good for diabetes:
- Leafy greens (spinach, kale)
- Eggs (not fried)
- Fish (salmon, tuna)
Don’t be afraid to try out new foods! So many delicious options are good for your health and can help you manage your diabetes. It’s crucial to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all diet when managing diabetes, so always consult your doctor before making any significant changes in your eating habits.