About 24 million Americans are living with diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetes is a condition where the patient's body cannot control blood sugar, or blood glucose. People can be born with diabetes, or they can develop diabetes later in life. A person who was born with diabetes must use insulin to control glucose; someone who develops diabetes later in life may be able to maintain glucose levels with diet, and without the use of drugs. Knowing which foods to avoid can help a person control blood sugar and avoid dangerous spikes in his glucose levels.
Fatty Foods
A person with diabetes should avoid fatty foods whenever possible. Fat is present in certain foods in the form of triglycerides and cholesterol, among other things, according to University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Hamburger, butter, cheese and bacon are all high in fat and should be avoided by those with diabetes.
Alcohol
MedlinePlus suggests a person with diabetes should avoid alcohol. MayoClinic.com explains the pancreas has two jobs to perform -- removing toxins from the body and regulating blood sugar by producing insulin when blood glucose levels are too high. When a person who takes medication to lower blood pressure decides to drink, his pancreas may be too busy removing alcohol to regulate blood sugar.
Salt
Salt raises blood pressure, which puts a person with diabetes at more risk for heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. Someone with diabetes should cut the amount of salt called for in recipes by half, and substitute with other spices to bring out flavor in foods. Watch for packaged foods that contain excess salt.
Sweets
Sweets are high in fat and sugar, and should be avoided by those trying to control blood glucose levels. Choose smaller portions of sweets, and use sugar substitutes when cooking desserts at home.
Processed Foods
Read labels carefully before purchasing processed or packaged foods. Processed foods tend to raise blood sugar more than non-processed foods. Many of these products have additives, salts and sweeteners that can disrupt blood glucose levels. Yogurt, for example, is naturally sweet but may have added sweeteners. American Diabetes Association suggests avoiding special or diet foods from the grocery store. These foods don't reduce fat or calories enough to effectively replace fresh foods that are naturally low in fat and calories. Choose whole, fresh fruits over fruit juices. Juices typically have more sugar than their fresh counterparts. If juice is chosen, avoid those with added syrups and sweeteners
