If you want to maintain balanced blood sugar levels, you should limit your sugar intake. Carbohydrates are also a culprit in spiking blood sugar levels. Low-carbohydrate diets generally limit sugar and carbs to stabilize blood sugar and insulin levels to train your body to use fat for energy, rather than carbohydrates to target fat loss. Diabetics have to regulate their blood sugar levels for health since their bodies can't produce sufficient amounts of insulin. If you wish to maintain balanced blood glucose levels, you should restrict certain foods from your diet.
Pizza
Pizza will raise your blood sugar, particularly fast food pizza options. Fast food pizza restaurants generally use white dough, which is a simple carbohydrate and will spike up your blood sugar alone. Add in the pizza sauce that is full of hidden sugar and your blood sugar will raise even higher. Also be cautious of some toppings that contain sugar, such as pineapple. Bread sticks that often accompany pizza are high in simple carbohydrates as well. Dessert pizzas are even worse for your blood glucose levels. There, the white dough crust is topped with sugary icing and other candy toppings.
Sugary Desserts
Desserts that are high in sugar may appeal to your sweet tooth, but they will spike your blood sugar levels. When sugar enters your body, your blood sugar shoots up, which may cause a temporary increase in energy accompanied with a crash in your energy. When your energy gets low, your body will crave sugar again to raise your energy back up and so on. Consuming sugar in moderation is difficult, so unless you do not give into your cravings, you may want to limit sugar altogether. Desserts that are high in sugar include pastries, cakes, candy bars, hard candy, ice cream and pies. Sugar substitutes don't raise blood sugar as much as sugar, so you can make desserts at home and replace sugar with natural sugar substitutes, such as stevia.
Simple Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates break down into glucose when they enter you body so they significantly raise your blood sugar levels. Simple carbohydrates contain natural sugars and added sugars during manufacturing. Diabetics should restrict intake of simple carbohydrates altogether. Simple carbohydrates include doughnuts, white rice, refined pasta, white bread, white bagels and cakes. Whole grains are healthy alternatives to simple carbohydrates, such as 100 percent whole wheat options of bread, pasta, bagels and tortillas. However, these complex carbohydrates will still slightly raise your blood sugar.
Starchy Vegetables
Starchy vegetables are simple carbohydrates and will boost your blood sugar. Avoid consumption of potatoes, yams, beats and butternut squash. These vegetables are often paired with rolls or bread and butter, which will add to the elevation of your blood sugar. Replace starchy vegetables with non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and kale.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Low-Carb Diet; May 1, 2010
- MayoClinic.com: Is the Glycemic Index Diet Useful for People with Diabetes?; Maria Collazo-Clavell, M.D.; March 11, 2010
- MayoClinic.com: Diabetes: Create Your Own Healthy Eating Plan
- MedlinePlus: Carbohydrates; Feb. 28, 2011
- MayoClinic.com: Can I Use Artificial Sweeteners If I Have Diabetes?; Maria Collazo-Clavell, M.D.; Sept. 2, 2010
