12 Foods to Limit or Avoid in a Type 2 Diabetes Diet

Type 2 Diabetes is an increasingly recognized health problem in the United States, and the obesity epidemic is worsening it. A diet that explores the best and worst foods for Type 2 Diabetes is helpful for people with this condition.

Healthy Diet for Type 2 Diabetes

Eat a Balanced Diet. It is essential that people who have type 2 diabetes eat nutritious, balanced meals and snacks every day. People with diabetes do not need to restrict themselves from all carbohydrates. But they should intake a limited amount of it. Carbohydrates should never exceed 50 grams per day. Losing weight is also a concern of this diet if you have type 2 diabetes. Weight loss results when patients make every effort to eat a healthy diet and exercise daily. There is no quick fix for weight loss, but exercise and a healthy diet are essential to achieve weight loss goals.

12 Foods to Limit or Avoid in a Type 2 Diabetes Diet

1. Fruit Juice

The main ingredients in fruit juice are fructose (which is found in all fruits) and glucose. Fructose is toxic to the liver, and glucose can make people with diabetes extremely hyperglycemic while they eat it. For this reason, people with diabetes must avoid all types of fruit juice. Other problems associated with fruit juice are the tendency to cause GI distress when consumed as a drink.

2. Sugar-Free Jell-O

Jell-O is a gelatin dessert product made from sweeteners such as corn syrup in standard forms, including gelatin mix, instant puddings, and jelly desserts. For this reason, even sugar-free jello is not recommended for people with diabetes. Sugar-free jello also contains harmful ingredients that may cause distress to a type 2 diabetic patient.

3. Soda and Carbonated Beverages

Drinking sugary beverages like soda or sparkling water is not recommended for people with diabetes. Sodas can lead to excessive weight gain due to excess calorie intake, leading to obesity. Soda also has a high glycemic index, which can potentially cause hyperglycemia in people with diabetes. Carbonated beverages are even more unhealthy for the person with diabetes. Not only are they empty calories, but they often have an elevated level of phosphoric acid, which can raise blood glucose levels in people with diabetes.

4. White Bread

Some people with diabetes may be able to tolerate wheat or other starches, but many cannot. White bread is also a portion of fast food. But it also contains a few nutrients that can help with blood glucose control in diabetics. Eating white bread is also a high risk for people on a diet.

5. French Fries

French fries are deep-fried potato wedges prepared by salting and then cooking them in various oils until they are crisp and brown (sometimes mixed with seasonings). The main ingredients of French fries are potatoes. Potatoes can cause problems with blood glucose control for people with diabetes. French fries are one of the worst carbohydrates for people with diabetes.

6. White rice

White rice is a refined carbohydrate stripped of the nutrient-rich bran and germ portions of the grain. To make white rice, whole grain brown rice is milled to remove its natural fiber and nutrients, which can cause blood glucose levels to spike and fall drastically. Brown rice is a whole grain that does not have these problems, so substituting brown for white will help a person control his blood glucose levels.

7. Beans, Peas, and Lentils

Beans, peas, and lentils are carb-containing legumes typically prepared in a stew or similar way. These legumes are carb-friendly dishes when we prepare them by limiting or eliminating sugar. But if eaten in moderation, they can also be a great source of complex carbohydrates.

8. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes contain various nutrients, including vitamins A, C, and manganese. They also have a moderate carbohydrate level from the naturally occurring sugars. For this reason, people with diabetes should limit their sweet potato intake to one medium-sized sweet potato daily.

9. Corn Tortillas

Grinding corn kernels into flour is the first step to creating corn tortillas. Corn tortillas contain a moderate level of carbohydrates, but when people fry them in unhealthy oils, it can lead to weight gain and diabetes complications. Though many people love to eat it, its effects on blood sugar make it a food not feasible for a person with diabetes.

10. White flour items

White flour is composed of wheat flour stripped of its bran and germ portions, resulting in a carbohydrate-rich food that provides little nutritional value due to its removal of fiber and nutrients. In addition, white flour is enriched with artificial chemicals and additives that can harm a person's health. For these reasons, people with diabetes must avoid items made from white flour.

11. Fad Diets

Fad diets have high levels of carbohydrates without providing nutritional value other than "quick weight loss." Diets such as cabbage soup or lemonade diet have no nutritional value. Fad diets are not for people with diabetes because they can lead to severe complications in health, including dehydration and food cravings for high-carbohydrate foods. These cravings can be very dangerous for such people.

12. Extreme Low-Carbohydrate Diets

Extreme low-carbohydrate diets are the opposite of fad diets and seek to reduce carbohydrate intake to nearly zero. These diets can lead to extreme weight loss and quick drops in blood glucose levels, which can be dangerous for people with diabetes. They should stick to a moderate carbohydrate diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Conclusion

Hence, the given information shows that there are several foods that people with diabetes should avoid. Type 2 diabetes patients should not eat some of these foods at all as they can show severe side effects. There are also some foods that people with diabetes can eat to control their blood glucose levels. Therefore, we can see that foods have different effects and are good or bad for a person with diabetes. People with diabetes need to keep an eye on their foods and calories.