Diabetes is a disease that can occur in both children and adults , causing sugars to be inadequately processed in the body.

Not only does this create potentially very harmful health problems, it also affects many people. That’s why it’s important for people with diabetes to watch their diet.

In this article we will learn about some of the forbidden foods for diabetics , which can make the disease cause a crisis in the sugar levels used by the body.

Prohibited foods for diabetics that can harm your health

Diabetes has a detrimental effect on health throughout the human body, preventing blood glucose levels from being adequately controlled by the body.

The diet of people with diabetes should be very strict, taking into account that the risk of not following treatment properly, including the diet, could have serious consequences for the person’s life.

Below is a list of foods that are prohibited for diabetics, or at least should not be consumed frequently by people with this medical condition.

1. High sugar candy

The risk of consuming this type of candy includes not only the high content of glucose, but it can also lead to an increase in bad fats in the body. Overweight is especially dangerous for people with diabetes .

2. Ethyl alcohol

Alcoholic beverages cause, among other things, the liver to stop producing glucose . This is a serious circumstance for the diabetic and can lead to hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar).

The consequences range from tremors and excessive sweating to sudden dizziness.

3. Some types of fruit

Although fruit can be an ideal substitute for sweets, there are some exceptions which pose a risk to the health of the subject. These exceptions include all those fruits that contain a high percentage of sugar . Let’s look at some examples.

  • The pineapple.
  • The fig.
  • The plum.
  • Fruits of syrup.

In general terms, fruits that are very ripe are not recommended for diabetics, as their sugar level increases.

4. Refined flours

Foods containing this type of flour have the characteristic of having a high percentage of carbohydrates , which cause an increase in the level of blood glucose in people, something obviously harmful for the diabetic.

Some of these foods are as follows:

  • The industrial buns.
  • The pizza.
  • The cakes.
  • The croissants.
  • The white bread.
  • The doughnuts.

5. High-fat foods

These foods represent a risk factor in terms of exaggerated weight gain, depending on the person’s metabolism this risk will be higher or lower .

As we have seen before, for people with diabetes obesity is particularly dangerous. Therefore, fatty foods should also be avoided; some of these are

  • French fries (homemade or artificial)
  • The artificial snacks .
  • Meats and fries.
  • The empanadas.
  • Popcorn with butter .

In general terms, fried foods or high-fat meats pose this risk for the diabetic.

6. Sugared drinks

It is not recommended for people with diabetes to drink beverages containing a high percentage of sugars, due to the imbalance it causes in the glucose level.

Exaggerated consumption of soft drinks, sweet juices , and in general any sugary drinks should be avoided.

7. Artificial sauces

Artificially processed sauces usually contain chemical sweeteners that are particularly harmful in the case of diabetes.

Some others are processed with honey or some other ingredient with high levels of sugars in its composition, which is equally dangerous for the subject.

8. Salts

Salty foods can also pose a risk for the diabetic. The ideal is to eat as lightly as possible, or even avoid salting some foods that already contain natural salts in their composition.

9. Whole milk products

This kind of dairy contains a high level of fats and sugars naturally harmful to the diabetic subject’s body. For example, butter, custard, cream…

The ideal would be to opt for skimmed milk , or the light alternatives that exist on the market (taking care not to add chemicals to change their consistency and flavor).

10. Commercial coffee

Coffee is not particularly dangerous for people with diabetes, as long as it is home-prepared, sweetened with an alternative such as stevia.

On the other hand, commercial, machine-prepared coffees contain up to approximately 500 calories .

Final considerations

People with diabetes can have a full life, in addition to enjoying meals with gusto, as long as they stick to their diet and stay in control with their endocrinologist on a regular basis.

Currently there are quite good treatment alternatives that can provide the diabetic with greater comfort in their treatment, such as insulin pumps, for example. Therefore, taking care of your health is fundamentally a question of habits , and among them, those that have to do with being careful with what you eat cannot be ignored.

Bibliographic references:

  • Elfström, P.; Sundström, J.; Ludvigsson, J.F. (2014). Systematic review with meta-analysis: associations between coeliac disease and type 1 diabetes. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 40 (10): 1123 – 1132.
  • Piero, M.N.; Nzaro, G.M.; Njagi, J.M. (2014). Diabetes mellitus – a devastating metabolic disorder. Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 4 (40): 1-7.