About one in ten people living in the United States have diagnosable diabetes. While most of these individuals have adult-onset, or type-2 diabetes, both type 1 and type 2 diabetics must watch their diets to keep their blood glucose levels within a normal range. If you’d like to know what you should and shouldn’t eat to remain healthy with diabetes, here are five foods to avoid. In addition, we’ll discuss where you can go in Oviedo, FL, for excellent diabetes management.
Food and Diabetes
Frankly, the disciplined eating plans that help diabetics control their blood sugars would benefit anyone wishing to keep their “numbers” (blood sugars, blood pressure, and cholesterol) within a normal range. So, when we talk about foods that diabetics should avoid, in reality, everyone should limit these menu choices to ensure good health for the long term.
Foods that are fresh and not heavily processed are healthier and are more nutrient-dense.In general, people should limit high fat and high carbohydrate content and keep sodium to a minimum, too. On the positive side, diabetics and their blood sugars benefit from lean proteins, fiber, non-starchy vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy, and plenty of water.
Top Five Foods to Avoid
Processed Foods
Learn to read food labels as they contain an ingredient list plus details on carbs, calories, protein, fiber, fat, salt and more. Generally, processed foods have very long ingredient lists and more calories, sugar, fat, and salt than you need–or want. So, be an educated consumer, and read before you buy and eat.
Examples of processed foods include:
- Snack items, such as chips and cookies
- Candies
- Soda pop
- Packaged meats (such as lunch meats), bacon and sausage
Trans-fats
Baked goods, margarine, fried foods, such as fried chicken and steaks, and many kinds of fast food menu items contain trans-fat. This kind of fat converts to more solid cholesterol and plaque–leading to heart disease, a common complication of poorly managed diabetes.
Sugary Beverages
Soda pop, many sports drinks and specialty coffees, such as lattes, contain very high amounts of refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup. Both of these things cause your blood sugar to spike through the roof and give consumers feelings of fatiguing “crashes” as their blood sugar drops.
Alcohol
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) states that moderate alcohol consumption does not impact a diabetic’s overall health for the long-term. However, for someone taking insulin, even one drink can increase blood sugar quickly and then cause a rapid drop, leading to dangerous hypoglycemia. As such, many healthcare providers advise patients to avoid alcohol altogether or to strictly limit it.
Large Portions of Some Fruits
Could this be true? Isn’t fruit an important part of the diabetic’s daily meal plan? The answer is yes to both questions.
Large servings of certain fruits, such as pineapple, bananas and mangos, spike blood glucose levels because of their high sugar content. So, avoid big–or multiple–servings. Instead, eat limited amounts as you incorporate them into your meal plans.
Diabetes Management in Oviedo, FL
If you’re living with diabetes in Oviedo, FL, come see us at the Diabetes & Weight Loss Center. Our professional team helps scores of people control their diabetes and weight through evidence-based care, sensible eating plans, and more. Disease management is more than simply avoiding certain lifestyle factors, such as carb-loaded diets. It’s about balance and giving your body what it needs to thrive.
Adriel Perez, FNP, is an expert in diabetes management. He and his team would love to help you attain and maintain your best possible health. To learn more about nutrition and diabetes, please call us at (407) 890-1876 to set up a consultation or request an appointment here. We’re eager to help!
