When you've been diagnosed with diabetes, it can suddenly feel like your food options are limited and your favorite foods are out of the question. Although diabetes can lead to a restrictive diet, careful monitoring of your carbohydrate intake can usually yield good results for diet-controlled diabetics. You may find that you are no longer able to have your cake and eat it, too, as you avoid certain foods that can cause a blood sugar spike.
Sugary Foods
The most obvious food that you should avoid are sugary ones such as candy, cakes and cookies. All of these contain too many carbohydrates, which can result in a blood sugar spike. Pay special attention to the nutritional information. You may find you're able to consume a small amount to satisfy your sweet tooth, but leave the rest alone for someone else to enjoy.
Alcohol
Alcohol is full of sugar that the blood has to process and can even cause diabetes to worsen. The American Diabetes Association warns that drinking alcohol when you have diabetes causes a severe dip in your blood sugar, as the liver will not release glucose until the alcohol has been cleared from the body. The ADA recommends never drinking more than one drink per day and avoiding it completely if possible.
Processed Foods
When at the grocery store, diabetics should avoid those center aisles that contain processed foods containing white sugar and flour. These can cause an unsafe spike in blood sugar, and what's more, they are hard to regulate due to processing and preservatives. If you can, consume fresh or natural foods so you have a better idea of nutritional content.
Rice Cakes and Crackers
Thought often used as a diet aid, rice cakes and crackers are unsafe for diabetics. While low in calories, they are packed with simple carbohydrates, which diabetics must monitor carefully. As a diabetic, if you are trying to lose weight, you should visit your health care provider about a weight loss regime; rice cakes are not a good way to cut calories.
Fruits
Diabetics can enjoy fruits within reason, but should avoid them at certain times of the day. While Carol Willett, R.D., from the Mayo Clinic acknowledges that "sweet" fruits like mango don't have a higher sugar content and don't need to be avoided completely, she does recommend that you monitor your intake to 15 carbohydrates per serving. Consuming fruit after lunch is also a good way to control blood sugar; your sugar may already be high first thing in the morning, and you should avoid fruits then.
Soda
Soda is a virtual landmine for diabetics. It is filled with sugar and sweeteners that should be avoided at all costs. Diet sodas, however, are safe for diabetics, and on the list of "free foods" that you can consume. Diet soda contains no carbohydrates.
Fatty, Fried Foods
Because of their inability to properly digest and absorb sugars, diabetics are at a greater risk for weight gain. Choosing fatty or fried foods is a poor choice for diabetics, and they should be avoided. You don't have control over the nutritional facts of breading and oil, and a lean protein source is a much better choice.
