Diabetes is a health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Usually, the food you eat is broken down into glucose and released into your bloodstream. When blood sugar goes up, it signals your body to release insulin. Insulin acts like a key to let the blood sugar into your body’s cells for use as energy. If you have diabetes, this process doesn’t work as it should.
As you can see, what you eat is a very important part of the process. If your body doesn’t produce insulin then the foods you eat will cause problems. As a diabetic, you need to avoid eating certain types of foods. You also need to think about weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight. In this article, we will go over several tips on the foods to avoid as a diabetic.
1 – Sugary foods
One of the worst things you can eat when you have diabetes is sugary foods. Eating them will cause a spike in blood sugar which can cause a diabetic shock. This includes obvious items like candy, cakes, and other sweet desserts. These foods are often packed with sugar and can disrupt your blood sugar control.
Avoiding things like candy and cakes can easily be done but there is sugar hiding in many other foods that you may have trouble avoiding. Many everyday items can be surprisingly high in sugar.
For example, breakfast cereals can contain a lot of sugar. Even ones labeled as being healthy and full of fiber can have lots of sugar. It’s important for diabetics to be careful about their choices and possibly choose a specific breakfast cereal for diabetics.
2 – Refined carbohydrates
Refined carbohydrates are very difficult to avoid since so many products contain them. Common examples include white bread, pasta made from white flour, and white rice. When you eat refined carbohydrates, your body breaks them down quickly into sugar since they’ve been stripped of fiber, which increases blood sugar levels.
Carbs are important in a diet so you can’t avoid eating them in an effort to avoid refined carbohydrates. Whole grains are a much better choice. They are less processed, so they still have their fiber and nutrients. Examples of whole grains include whole wheat bread, brown rice, and whole grain pasta.
3 – Processed foods
Processed foods are convenient for people who live a busy lifestyle. They are often heat-and-serve and can be ready in minutes. Processed foods and fast foods are typically high in calories, unhealthy fats, and added sugars while being low in nutrients. These foods can lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar and contribute to weight gain, which makes diabetes harder to control.
The high sodium content in processed and fast foods is another problem, as it can lead to high blood pressure. Choosing fresh, whole foods over processed and fast food alternatives will allow you to better manage your diabetes and overall health.