Fried foods are unhealthy because they are soaked in oil and coated in breading. These foods make you gain weight and raise bad cholesterol which can cause blood sugar problems. For these reasons, fried foods should be avoided by diabetics.
Most packaged foods and snacks contain excessive amounts of sugar, preservatives, sodium, and trans fats. These hurt your good and bad cholesterol levels and can raise blood pressure. This, in turn, affects blood sugar levels and can be harmful to those with diabetes.
When you were diagnosed with diabetes, you were probably told to switch to low-fat milk and milk products. This is because the saturated fats in full-fat dairy can raise your bad cholesterol and add to your risk of heart disease.
In addition to this, research shows saturated fats in people with diabetes can increase insulin resistance and make diabetes more difficult to manage. If you want to consume dairy, switch to low or no-fat dairy products.
Another food to avoid with diabetes is fatty meat. Be sure to only buy cuts of meat with the least amount of fat.
Similar to full-fat dairy, fatty cuts of meat have higher levels of saturated fat, so it’s best to stick to lean proteins such as skinless poultry, fish, and pork tenderloin.
White bread, white rice, and white pasta are some of the worst offenders for people with diabetes. They are considered refined starches and low-quality carbohydrates.
This is because white flour acts like a sugar once you start to digest these foods. Since they basically turn to sugar, they elevate blood sugar levels rapidly. Replace white flour with whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat pasta, and whole grain breads.
Most fruits are considered healthy for diabetics, but most fruit juices are another story. Generally speaking, contains high amounts of concentrated sugar which will impact your blood sugar levels. Juice is also void of the healthy fibers you get when the fruit itself is consumed. When it comes to beverages, water is always the best drink choice for diabetics.
Similarly, dried fruit lacks the nutritional value of fruit because the dehydration process alters the fruit. This process makes the natural sugar in the fruit overly concentrated which can easily elevate blood sugar. While dried fruit is better for you than a sugary dessert, it can still be harmful in the long run and remains one of the foods to avoid with diabetes.
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