Diabetes is a disease that limits a person's ability to move sugar from the bloodstream into the cells that need it. The Mayo Clinic states that complications from uncontrolled diabetes include heart attacks and strokes. People with diabetes need to make sure to get a healthy balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat. They also need to make sure that the food choices they make are nutritious, good for blood sugar levels and heart healthy. Certain foods should be avoided by diabetics, because they can spike blood sugar levels and otherwise put a diabetic at risk.
Whole Milk
Whole milk is one food that is not recommended for diabetics. The reason is that whole milk contains saturated fat, according to the Mayo Clinic. Since diabetes already increases a person's risk of heart disease and strokes, foods and beverages with saturated fat like whole milk should be limited as they can lead to heart problems. The Mayo Clinic recommends using low fat milk instead of whole milk, which is high in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol.
Potatoes
Even though potatoes are a vegetable, they should be limited by diabetics because of how quickly they spike blood sugar levels. The Life Clinic Personal Health Management website states that potatoes are high in carbohydrates and the type of carbohydrate in potatoes is converted to sugar in the body quickly, such as under three hours. Foods with protein, like chicken, usually take up to six hours or more to digest, according to the Life Clinic Personal Health Management website. The faster a food turns into sugar in the body, the more difficult it is for diabetics to move the sugar from the bloodstream into the cells, and the more side effects they may experience. While diabetics do not need to avoid all potatoes forever, they should be limited in favor of sweet potatoes, brown rice and protein-rich foods, like fish and chicken.
Sugar-Free Chocolates
Even though sugar-free chocolates may seem ideal for a diabetic because they do not contain sugar, they also have some serious drawbacks to consider. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), sugar-free sweets like chocolates usually have sugar alcohols added to make them taste sweet. Sugar alcohols are low-calorie sweeteners, such as sorbitol and maltitol. The ADA says that sugar alcohols can cause gastrointestinal problems, such as cramping and diarrhea. They are also confusing for diabetics because although sugar-free chocolates do not contain sugar, they can still be high in calories and fat. The ADA explains that diabetics sometimes feel foods with sugar alcohols can be consumed as much as they want, when--in reality--they should be limited.
Bacon
Bacon is not recommended for diabetics for a few of the same reasons that whole milk should be avoided. Bacon is a red meat and is high in saturated fat and cholesterol. It is also high in calories. Since weight gain contributes to diabetes, the Mayo Clinic recommends limiting foods like bacon in favor of healthier foods, like fish.
