Image via WikipediaIf you are at risk for diabetes, or already have been diagnosed with
diabetes, you need to know what foods to avoid that will cause a spike in
your blood sugar levels. This list gives a general guide to what foods to
limit if not remove from your diet. If you live in South Carolina and have recently been
diagnosed with diabetes see: South Carolina Living With Diabetes to see if you qualify for health care assistance.
White flour- White flour is a simple carbohydrate, meaning the body quickly
converts it to glucose. White bread, hamburger buns, hot dog buns, pastries,
pasta, doughnuts, bagels, cakes, biscuits, etc are all known to spike sugar levels.
Look for whole wheat bread, whole grain products and high fiber content as alternatives.
Fruits and fruit juices- Grapes, pineapples, raisins, watermelon,canned fruit,
bananas,apricots, all cause blood sugar spikes. Beware of products that are labeled "no sugar added" as this is by no means a statement that the product isn't high in sugar. It simply means no additional sugar was added so always check the sugar and carb count on the package. Avoid also processed tomato sauces that are loaded with extra sugar. Tomatoes are naturally high in sugar to begin with so be careful of your intake. When cooking, use plain canned diced tomatoes and crushed tomatoes which have much less added sugar, and once spices are added taste just as good as off the shelf pre made sauces like Prego, etc.
Vegetables and other foods- Stay away or limit your servings of these high starch veggies like potatoes, corn, canned yams,summer squash, sweet peas, white rice. Research has recently been
done that show healthy extra servings of green leafy vegetables can cut a persons risk of developing type 2 diabetes. High in fiber and loaded with vitamins opt for fresh spinach, collards, bok choy, swiss chard, broccoli, cabbage,turnip greens, peppers, mushrooms, eggplant, cauliflower, broccoli, pea pods and asparagus, will keep that sugar in normal range. Make sure at least half of your plate is dedicated to these healthy veggies and as always check your sugar levels often to help you figure out what foods trigger sugar spikes.
For great low carb recipes see: The Low Carb Kitchen
