Foods to Steer Clear of If You Have Diabetes

11. Dried Fruit

Dried fruit and foods containing dried fruit should be avoided by individuals affected by diabetes. Fresh fruit is an abundant source of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. However, the pitfalls to fresh fruit, including inconvenience, preparation, and short shelf life, can cause an individual to choose dried fruit instead. Dried fruit is still fruit, but the water in the fruit has been removed. The process of doing so is called dehydration and can be accomplished by hot air drying, solar drying, or oven drying. Other methods include freeze drying, microwave drying, heat pump drying, and vacuum drying. During the dehydration process, the fruit undergoes numerous chemical and physical changes. The changes can differ slightly from one method to the next, but the core result is similar amongst them all. Dried fruit reduces in size considerably when the water is removed from it, which results in a much smaller piece of fruit that contains the same amounts of vitamins, minerals, and sugars. The higher concentration of sugar is what poses a problem for diabetes patients. Individuals are also likely to eat a larger portion of dried fruits than fresh fruit because fresh fruit contains water that fills them up quicker.

12. French Fries

Diabetes patients are always advised to avoid fatty, oily, starchy foods such as french fries to effectively manage their disease. Carbohydrates are macronutrients necessary in an individual's everyday diet, but many overindulge in them without understanding what happens once they enter the body. All carbohydrates are broken down in into sugar, and insulin transports this sugar to the cells around the body for energy. This process is impaired in those affected by diabetes, causing the glucose to build up in the blood until it is mediated naturally or through medication. Not all carbohydrates are equal. Complex carbohydrates that have abundant sources of fiber are metabolized into glucose at a slow rate, which gives the insulin in the body (natural or through medication) more time to remove it from the blood. However, sweet foods, starchy foods, white bread, and potatoes represent simple or refined carbohydrates. These types of carbohydrates are metabolized into sugars at a much faster rate than complex carbohydrates. The fast metabolism does not allow insulin to perform as effectively because it is unable to remove glucose from the blood as faster than it is being generated. This impairment leads to increased blood sugar levels even in healthy individuals, which can be detrimental for those with diabetes. French fries are rich in simple and refined carbohydrates, which results in a sharp blood sugar spike.