Diabetics need to eat healthy to maintain normal blood sugar levels, maintain a healthy weight and prevent diabetic complications. An unhealthy diet can lead to blood sugar that is too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia) as well as vision problems, nerve and kidney damage and skin disorders. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) says all foods can fit into a healthy diet for diabetics but some should be limited more than others for optimal disease management.
Sugar
Diabetics who eat too much sugar increase their risk of hyperglycemia. The ADA recommends saving sugary foods like desserts, cookies, cakes, pastries, and candies for special occasions. Beverages like soda, sports drinks, milkshakes, sweetened tea and coffee, fruit drinks and blended beverages should also be limited for occasional consumption. Other foods that contain sugar and should be portioned carefully include carbohydrates like rice, bread and pasta, starchy vegetables like potatoes, peas and corn, fruit and fruit juices, and snack foods like crackers and chips.
Ingredients that indicate the presence of sugar include table sugar, honey, brown sugar, molasses, fructose, maple syrup, cane sugar, agave and confectioners sugar. Artificial sweeteners are okay for diabetics because they are low in calories and do not raise blood sugar. Examples of artificial sweeteners include isomalt, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, ascelfume potassium, aspartame, saccharin, sucralose and stevia.
High Fat Foods
Fat is high in calories, which can lead to weight gain, obesity and chronic conditions that complicate diabetes management. Saturated and trans-fats in particular increase the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. The ADA encourages diabetics to limit butter, lard, margarine, shortening, fat from meat, chicken skin, cream, ice cream, partially hydrogenated oils, coconut and palm oil, gravy made from meat drippings and chocolate because these are high in saturated and trans-fats.
Other high-fat, high-calorie foods that should be limited include deep-fried foods, commercially prepared baked goods, fast foods, high-fat cheeses and condiments like mayonnaise, salad dressing and sour cream. The healthiest fats for a diabetic come from olive and vegetable oils, avocados, nuts, sesame seeds and fish.
Alcohol
According to the ADA, alcohol can cause hypoglycemia, dizziness, disorientation and fatigue, particularly when combined with blood sugar-lowering medications or consumed on an empty stomach. Diabetics should consume alcohol only if blood sugar is well controlled. The ADA recommends that alcohol be consumed with food and limited to one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. One drink is defined as 5 oz. of wine, 12 oz. of beer or 1 ½ ounces of hard liquor.
