A lifelong diabetic diet often accompanies a diabetes diagnosis. While groups like the American Dietetic Association claim that all foods are acceptable in moderation in any diet, the American Diabetic Association (ADA) recommends that people with diabetes limit their intake of sugar, refined starches, and saturated fats. If you want to win the fight against diabetes by controlling blood sugar and losing weight, there are a few foods that you may want to consider cutting out of your diet.
Soda
In terms of nutritional content, soda is a nutritional wasteland. Composed of sugar in the form of high fructose corn syrup and devoid of vitamins and minerals, soda doesn't have a lot to offer a diabetic outside of a sweet taste on the tongue. A 20-oz. bottle of cola contains 65 g of pure sugar. Intake of sugar, which can lead to blood sugar "spikes" should be limited in a diabetic diet, the ADA claims. However, diet sodas may not be safe either. According to the Obesity Panacea website, people who drink diet sodas regularly are at a much higher risk of obesity --a factor, which makes diabetic blood sugar more challenging to control. Your beverage of choice should be pure water as it has no calories or sugar.
Refined Grains
Refined grains have a high glycemic index (GI), which may result in blood sugar peaks and valleys, the ADA reports. The GI is a measure of how rapidly a carbohydrate ends up in your body. Foods with a low GI should be emphasized on a diabetic diet as they help keep blood sugar under control. Refined grains like white rice, white bread, and sweets are high on the GI, according to the ADA. To get your grains, opt for whole grains like bulgur, whole wheat bread and brown rice which tend to have a lower GI than their refined counterparts.
High Fat Meats
The fat in meats like bacon, steak, and pork are predominantly the artery-clogging saturated fat variety, the ADA reports. Although these foods contain no sugar, they can increase your risk of suffering from the leading killer of people with diabetes -- heart disease. The ADA recommends that less than 7 percent of your calories come in the form of saturated fat. For example, if you eat a 2000 calorie diabetic diet, you should eat no more than 15 g of saturated fat per day. Alternatives to high fat meat include lean chicken, turkey, or vegetarian protein sources like tofu, lentils and legumes.
