According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, people with diabetes either produce an inadequate amount of insulin, or their bodies are unable to use insulin properly to transport blood sugar from the bloodstream into cells. As a result, their blood sugar remains abnormally high for long periods of time. Diabetes increases your risk of stroke, heart disease and high blood pressure. If you have diabetes, you should be knowledgeable of foods that are high in sugar and avoid them in your diet.
Sweets and Desserts
If you have diabetes, you should avoid sweets and candies, including cookies, cakes, pies, lollipops, gummy candies, chocolate bars and baked goods, according to the Cleveland Clinic. These foods are high in both sugar and cholesterol and can cause your blood sugar levels to rise significantly, sending your body into a hyperglycemic state. The American Diabetes Association notes that people with diabetes can occasionally eat limited amounts of sweets and maintain a healthy diet by reducing intake of other foods that contain high amounts of carbohydrates.
Fruit Juices and Soda
You should avoid fruit juices and beverages such as soda, commercial coffee drinks and other drinks that are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup as much as possible. Most processed fruit juices contain only a slight percentage of real juice and contain added sugar. You should also avoid fruit juices like grape and pineapple, as they have very high sugar contents, or keep your consumption to a minimum to avoid diabetes complications. Remember that a product label that states "no added sugar" does not mean sugar free. Check the nutritional information to be certain of exactly how much sugar you are consuming in these products.
High-Glycemic Fruits
Although fruit is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, it is also high in sugar. If you have diabetes, you should avoid most fruits or consume them only in moderation, according to the Mayo Clinic and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Avoid fruits with the highest glycemic index and glycemic load. Glycemic index is a measure of a food's effect on blood sugar. High GI foods are those with a glycemic index between 70 and 100, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dried dates, raisins and watermelon fall into this range. Canned fruits preserved in sugar syrup are very close to this range as well.
References
- Cleveland Clinic: Diabetes and the Foods You Eat
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Diabetes and Nutrition
- Medline Plus: Diabetic Diet
- Mayo Clinic: Diabetes Diet: Create your Healthy-Eating Plan
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Diabetes, Heart Disease and Stroke
- American Diabetes Association: What Can I Eat
