Foods to avoid if you have diabetes

A proper diet is very important if you have diabetes.

Diabetes is a very common health disease in today’s World. It’s a chronic disease that can lead to several other life-threatening diseases like heart disease, kidney problems, blindness etc. So in order to control your diabetes, it requires a proper diet and healthy lifestyle. There are certain foods which promote diabetes by increasing blood sugar and insulin level in your body.

So, let’s take a look at the foods which every diabetic should avoid.

1. Grains: Avoid white rice, white pasta, white bread, cakes, muffins, bagels and other processed foods containing white flour. These foods promote blood sugar level in people who have type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
2. Dairy Products: If you are diabetic, avoid dairy foods such as whole milk, full-fat cheese, full-fat ice cream, flavoured yogurt, milk-based processed drinks etc as they are loaded with carbs and sugar. These foods raise sugar, insulin and cholesterol level in your blood and cause several heart diseases.
3. Vegetables: Fresh vegetables are loaded with vitamins and minerals which are extremely beneficial for your health. But a diabetes patient should always avoid processed vegetables as they trigger several health problems. Avoid canned vegetables which contain extra sodium, vegetable preparation with lots of spices, butter, cheese or sauce, sauerkraut and pickles.

Instead, eat fresh vegetables and dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale and lettuce.

4. Fruits: While fresh fruits are healthy for you, dried and processed fruits increase blood sugar level in your body. So if you are suffering from diabetes, try to avoid dried fruits with added sugar, fruit juices, canned fruits with extra sugar syrup, fruit drinks, fruit smoothies, chewy fruits, sweetened applesauce, jam, jelly etc.
5. French Fries: French Fries are loaded with fat and carbs, which increase blood sugar level in a very quick time. So avoid French Fries if you have diabetes.
6. Fast food: This is tough but Fast foods are a big ‘No’ for the diabetics. It develops insulin resistance by a lot, which results in causing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
7. Coffee: The coffee drinks from the cafes are high in calories, carbs and fats. Those coffee drinks are made with extra sugar and flavours which are harmful for people with diabetes. However, simple home made coffee with less sugar is absolutely perfect for you.
8. Snacks: Packaged snack foods are extremely harmful for people with diabetes. Those foods are made with refined flour, contain high amount of carbs and increase your blood sugar quickly. Avoid snacks such as pretzels, saltine crackers etc.

Also avoid junk foods like fried steak, pancakes, soda, cinnamon rolls, cereal, nachos, potato chips, cookies, noodles, honey, popcorn, ice Cream, hamburgers etc if you have diabetes.