People who suffer from diabetics will have to change and adapt their lifestyles in very significant ways to manage, control and prevent the disease from developing into its worker changes. Apart from the lifestyle changes and medical resources required, dietary changes are also important.

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Although it’s always best to get advice directly from your doctor regarding dietary requirements when you have a health complication, here we’ll go through the foods that should be avoided entirely for people with diabetes.

What is Diabetes?

Foods to Avoid for Diabetics

Diabetes is a type of disease that occurs when blood glucose (also known as blood sugar reaches alarmingly high levels. Blood glucose is the body’s main source of energy and is derived from food. For the body to process it and get it into your cells for energy, it relies on insulin to convert it.

Insulin is a hormone that is made by the pancreas. When your body doesn’t produce enough insulin to convert glucose into energy, the glucose stays in your blood and ultimately leads to diabetes.

There are two most common types of diabetes. They are type 1 and type 2.

1. Type 1 diabetes

This form of diabetes is when your body is entirely unable to produce insulin. With this type of diabetes, your immune system will attack and destroy the cells in your pancreas to make insulin. Type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed in children and young adults. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every single day to stay alive.

2. Type 2 diabetes

The most common type of diabetes, Type 2 diabetes is when your body can produce insulin but does not take it well, making it hard to convert glucose into energy. This type of diabetes most often occurs in adults and the elderly. Type 2 diabetes is a milder version of type 1 and is developed from poor dieting or being overweight.

7 Foods to Avoid for Diabetics

Foods to Avoid for Diabetics

If you have any diabetes, it’s important to steer clear of the below list of foods as they can worsen your condition:

1. Sugary Beverages

Sweetened drinks with high sugar content are amongst the worst possible beverages for people with diabetes. Especially for people with type 2 diabetes, avoiding processed sugars should be the priority when selecting foods and drinks.

Sugary beverages are high carb, high sugar, and high fructose, all linked to insulin resistance. Sugary beverages also increase the risk of the development of type 2 diabetes. 

2. Dried Fruit

When fruit is dried, most of its water content is lost, making it higher in concentration for its nutrients. This is good in terms of the important nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, but unfortunately, it also leads to a higher concentration of sugar. This will increase insulin resistance and worsen the condition of diabetics. 

3. White Bread, Pasta and Rice

Wheat products can significantly spike blood sugar to alarming levels and should be avoided by diabetics. White bread, rice, pasta are heavily processed and are the high carb. Studies have shown that high carb processed foods, including wheat products, not only raised blood sugar levels but also decreased brain functioning in people who have type 2 diabetes. 

4. Flavoured yoghurt

Flavoured yoghurt contains lots of preservatives, processed and refined ingredients. Most fruit-flavoured yoghurts contain lots of carbohydrates and sugar. One cup (245 grams) of flavoured yoghurt can contain up to 47 grams of sugar. The best option for diabetics is plain yoghurt or Greek yoghurt. 

5. Breakfast Cereals

Breakfast cereals are one of the worst foods for diabetics and are the worst way to start their mornings. They are loaded with preservatives and refined sugars. A lot of cereal products and brands will claim themselves to be ‘healthier’ or ‘reduced sugar’ or ‘preservative-free’.

Don’t buy into these gimmicks as all cereal contain a level of processed and refined ingredients. Breakfast cereals also provide no protein and too many carbs. With so many other healthy breakfast options available, cereal is one to miss. 

6. Trans fats

Trans fats are extremely unhealthy for diabetics and general health. Industrial trans fats are unsaturated fatty acids that are added with hydrogen to make them more stable.

Trans fats products such as margarine, butter, spreads, and processed frozen foods are loaded with them and must be avoided for diabetics and people who are struggling to maintain a healthy weight.

7. French Fries

French fries are loaded with saturated fats, are the high carb and do not offer any essential nutrients. They will spike your blood sugar and make you gain weight quickly. 

Visit Your Doctor

Foods to Avoid for Diabetics

If you are overweight or obese, have a family history of diabetes, always be sure to get your general check-ups with a doctor. Diabetes is a serious disease that can lead to other serious health complications and it is hard to combat when diagnosed.

The best way to handle diabetes is to prevent it in the first place. If you already have diabetes, make sure your diet contains plenty of fresh and whole foods and that your doctor has given it the seal of approval. 

Head over to the Okadoc app to immediately book an appointment with your health practitioner.