Not just sweet foods, pay attention to this diabetes taboo

Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels. Diabetes cannot be cured. However, changing the right diet can help control diabetes symptoms. Apart from being more careful in choosing foods that are safe for blood sugar, diabetics also need to avoid certain foods. What are the foods that are taboo for diabetes? See the list below.

Food abstinence for diabetics

There are several things that cause blood sugar to spike rapidly, one of which is food. Abstinence and should be avoided by people with diabetes foods high in calories from simple carbohydrates and sugars.

Most foods can contain varying levels of calories and carbohydrates. However, for people with diabetes, it is very emphasized to avoid all kinds of food products that are high in calories and sugar.

These foods are classified as foods with a high glycemic index. The simple sugar content of these foods is very easily processed by the body into glucose. As a result, blood sugar levels rise rapidly.

In general, the following are food and beverage restrictions that diabetics should avoid to maintain blood sugar levels, including:

1. White rice and wheat flour based foods

Bread, pasta, and white rice are the most common dietary restrictions for diabetics to avoid. According to the UK Diabetes Association, these foods are a major source of simple carbohydrates.

Among other types of carbohydrates, simple carbohydrates are digested and absorbed the fastest by the body to be processed into glucose or blood sugar. That is why, these types of food tend to make blood sugar spike faster.

Even though it is a taboo, it does not mean that diabetic people should not eat white rice or pasta made from wheat flour. You can still eat it, but limit the portion. You can also replace them with foods rich in fiber and protein.

So that blood sugar does not rise dramatically, you can replace white rice with carbohydrates that are safe for diabetes, such as brown rice, corn, or sweet potatoes. As for white bread and flour pasta, it can be replaced with whole wheat bread or whole wheat pasta which is healthier.

2. Sweet drinks

Not only food, diabetics must also comply with certain drinking restrictions. The types of drinks that should be avoided by diabetics are anything that is sweet or has added sugar, both artificial and natural.

Some examples of drinks that people with diabetes should avoid include soft drinks, syrups, ready-to-drink packaged tea and coffee. In fact, even drinks that "seem" healthy, such as juices and packaged milk you should probably avoid.

These drinks are generally made in factories by adding lots of artificial sweeteners or sugar to preserve and add flavor. Sugar intake is what can raise blood sugar.

To find out how much sugar is contained in a drink, read carefully the composition label and the information on the nutritional value of the product on the package.

Be careful if you don't find "sugar" on the label, it doesn't mean the product doesn't contain sugar at all. There are various other names for sugar in packaged drinks, such as:

• Sucrose
• High fructose corn syrup
• Agave syrup
• Maple syrup
• Dextrose
• Glucose
• Malt syrup
• Maltose
• Galactose

3. Foods rich in trans fats

The next dietary abstinence for diabetics is food that contains trans fats.

Some types of foods rich in trans fats are packaged potato chips, french fries, and fried foods. The combination of cooking oil and high carbohydrates from potatoes can increase blood sugar levels. Trans fats are also mostly found in margarine, jams and preserved foods.

Although they don't actually raise blood sugar directly, trans fats can trigger insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome which is the cause of diabetes. Diabetic dietary foods can also increase the risk of damage to blood vessels and reduce levels of good HDL cholesterol.

Adhering to dietary restrictions high in trans fats can help prevent damage to blood vessels from diabetes. Especially for patients who are also at high risk of cardiovascular disease due to diabetes.

4. Dried fruit

Fruit is a healthy snack for people with diabetes. However, dried fruit is not considered a healthy snack. Dried fruit is a diabetes diet.

Dried fruit is processed in such a way as to remove most of its moisture content, so that what remains is its natural sugar content.

Well, during this drying process, most of the original nutritional and vitamin and mineral content of the fruit can be lost. In addition, producers also tend to add more sugar to preserve and add flavor.

This added sugar actually makes dried fruit have the potential to increase blood sugar levels. Indeed, the average fresh fruit in general also contains sugar. However, when compared to dried fruit, of course, the sugar in fresh fruit is much lower and healthier for diabetes.

5. Honey, agave syrup, and maple syrup

You might think that honey for diabetes, agave syrup, and maple syrup are natural sweeteners that are good for diabetes.

In fact, although they are often used as a substitute for sugar, these three "natural sugars" are actually included in the list of dietary restrictions for diabetics. All three remain equally high in sugar, even the total carbohydrates from these alternative sweeteners can be much higher.

One tablespoon of white sugar has 12.6 grams of glucose. However, it turns out that the glucose levels are 17 grams of honey, 16 grams of agave syrup, and 13 grams of maple syrup.

So, instead of replacing sugar with food sweeteners that are taboo for diabetes, it would be better if you cut back on foods high in sugar.

6. Coffee with the addition of other ingredients

The taste of coffee is bitter, but the ingredients for its flavor enhancers such as caramel, syrup, creamer, milk or whipped cream have high sugar levels. Likewise with packaged coffee mixed with granulated sugar and creamer. That is why coffee with the addition of other ingredients is one of the taboos that diabetics must avoid.

Of course, you can still consume black coffee if it is not sweetened with anything. However, coffee intake must be considered because the caffeine in it can also affect blood sugar levels.

7. Bottled tomato sauce and chili sauce

Tomato sauce, including dietary restrictions for diabetes. According to the USDA, two spoons of tomato sauce is equivalent to 16 grams of sugar. If this is combined with foods that contain carbohydrates, such as rice or fried potatoes, of course, the total sugar consumed will be higher.

However, diabetics can still safely consume tomato sauce by making it yourself at home. That way, you can be more selective in choosing ingredients that are low in sugar or adjusting the sugar composition to a minimum.

8. Salad dressing (dressing)

A bowl of fresh vegetables is not a diet for people with diabetes. However, it's a different story if you pour the vegetables with the sauce dressings, like a salad in general.

Sauce dressings, like mayonnaise, not only contains added sugar, but is also high in salt and fat.

In order to still be able to eat salads healthily, use olive oil and coconut oil as the original dressing.

Food abstinence for diabetics is not just sweet

The assumption that sweet foods are the only taboo for diabetics is not entirely correct.

Regardless of the type of diabetes, people with diabetes can generally still eat sugary or sugary foods and drinks that contain sugar. It's just that, choose the right type of food and measure the portions so you don't overdo it.

If you are still worried about including dietary restrictions in your diabetes diet, consult your doctor or nutritionist. Remember that the principle of abstinence for diabetes is not only about the type of food, but also how to prepare and serve it.

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