Diabetes is a long-term condition characterized by insufficient insulin production or inefficient use of insulin. This permits elevated glucose levels in your bloodstream, which can produce symptoms such as fainting, dizziness, mental confusion, fatigue and extreme hunger and thirst. Diabetes is also characterized by high cholesterol, which may promote heart disease. Untreated diabetes may lead to coma or death. Proper diet is essential for preventing and managing diabetes -- certain foods may increase diabetes risk and trigger or worsen symptoms.
Fast Foods
Heavy reliance on fast foods such as hamburgers, french fries, fried chicken and onion rings may increase diabetes symptoms, as well as the risk of diabetes development. People who consume fast food twice per week may have twice the risk of developing diabetes, compared with those who eat fast food less than once per week, according to "The Lancet." This may be because fast foods are high in saturated fats and sugar and low in dietary fiber. Fast foods are also high in calories, which may promote obesity, another risk factor for diabetes.
Soft Drinks
Soft drinks are high in calories, which may increase weight gain and the risk of diabetes. They are also loaded with refined sugars, which may cause blood glucose spikes, triggering the symptoms of diabetes. Consuming more than one 12-oz. soft drink per day may increase your diabetes risk by up to 85 percent, according to the "Journal of the American Medical Association."
White-Flour Products
White-flour products include white pastas, breads, bagels, pastries, cakes, tortillas, muffins and snack crackers. The process used to refine grains strips them of their dietary fiber and nutrients. It also turns these foods into simple carbohydrates, which can cause rapid blood-sugar spikes and crashes. Blood glucose fluctuations can impair your body's ability to use insulin and can trigger fatigue, headaches and confusion, according to Phyllis Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Opt for whole-grain products, which have a less severe effect on blood glucose levels.
Red Meats
Red meat products, such as bacon, ground beef, sausage, ham and stew beef are high in saturated fats. These fats can elevate low-density lipoproteins and triglycerides, which are the elements of cholesterol that can deposit plaque along the walls of your blood vessels and arteries. This can lead to diabetes-related coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke, according to Balch.
References
- "The Lancet": Fast-Food Habits, Weight Gain and Insulin Resistance; Mark Pereira et al.; January 2005
- "Journal of the American Medical Association": Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, Weight Gain and Incidence of Type-2 Diabetes in Young and Middle-Aged Women; M.B. Shulze et al.; 2004
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.; 2010
