4 Worst Food Choices for Diabetes

4 Worst Food Choices for Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the most common diseases across the globe that affects both adults and children. It can lead to serious consequences, such as kidney disease, blindness, heart disease, and a few others. Certain foods help keep diabetes in check, while other foods can prove to be harmful for the condition.

Let us understand some of the worst food choices for diabetes.

1. White grains
The American Heart Association has indicated that in foods such as pasta, rice, and white bread, the fiber is removed when the food is processed. Hence, making them sources of refined carbohydrates. Fiber is vital for the body and has many uses. White grains can impact gut health and also slow the process of digestion. Likewise, this can also result in a change in blood sugar levels as it makes you feel fuller and thus makes the body replete with nutrients. That right approach must be adopted to ensure that white grains are included in meals in the proper manner.

2. Fruit-flavored yogurt
While it is understood that plain yogurt is beneficial for people who have diabetes, such is not the case with fruit-flavored yogurt. Flavored yogurts are the absolute opposite of plain yogurt as far as health benefits are concerned, as they have more carbs and sugar. A 245-gram cup of fruit-flavored yogurt can contain as much as 31 grams of sugar, which is a very high quantity, clearly making it one of the worst food choices for diabetes. As opposed to what many people believe, frozen yogurt can also be as harmful to the body as regular fruit-flavored yogurt because there is a possibility of it having more sugar than ice cream.

3. Fast food
It is well understood that fast food or junk food is not good for health. However, we only tend to look at the calories and fat in these foods. The truth is that these also contain an abnormal amount of sugar, making it harmful for people who have diabetes. Some of the burgers available in the market could contain higher refined carbohydrates than what we will find in a typical candy bar. Thus, even if fast food is the only option for you, it is suggested to keep the servings to a minimum.

4. Sugar-sweetened drinks
It is no secret that drinks that are artificially sweetened are harmful to you. However, the extent of harm that these can cause, especially to diabetes patients, is not known to many. Drinking up to two sweetened drinks every day can lead to a 26% increase in type 2 diabetes. Thus, one should always prefer water to keep oneself hydrated. Also, when drinking tea or coffee, try to keep sugar content as low as possible.