10 Worst Foods for People with Diabetes

Foods to Avoid with Diabetes

You or someone you know probably has diabetes. In the United States, an estimated 30 million people are living with diagnosed type 2 diabetes. But diabetes is actually a lot worse than that. Another 80 million people are living with diabetes, or prediabetes, but don't know it.

Left unchecked, it's a condition that can lead to nerve damage, poor circulation, vision loss, kidney disease, heart disease, and other health problems.

If you want to avoid diabetes or protect your health if you already have diabetes, clean up your diet. Foods that cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels are ones you should avoid.

Some of the worst foods for diabetics include:

1. Sugary drinks (soda, energy drinks, coffee with creamer)
2. Foods containing trans fats (found in margarine, creamers, crackers, muffins, fried foods, other baked goods)
3. White bread, pasta, and rice
4. Yogurt containing high-fructose corn syrup
5. Sugary breakfast cereals
6. Natural sweeteners like honey, agave, and maple syrup
7. Dried fruit
8. Packaged snack foods like pretzels and crackers
9. Fruit juice
10. French fries

So what should you eat if you have diabetes or want to avoid it? It’s not that complicated. Here’s what food writer Michael Pollen recommends: “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.” That’s the recipe to prevent or manage diabetes. A Diabetic-Friendly diet should mainly include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats or poultry, fish, nuts and seeds, and legumes.

Need to take a trip to the grocery store to eat a Diabetic-Friendly meal plan?

That’s not a bad idea. But if you’re looking for an easier way to adopt a Diabetic-Friendly diet, just take a look at the menu. You’ll find a long list of meals and entrees on the Diabetic-Friendly menu that take only minutes to prepare, and won’t cause a rapid spike in blood sugar levels.