Everyone knows that there are different levels of severity in diabetes. Regardless of the severity of the condition, dietary control should always come first. The foundation of diabetes treatment lies in controlling diet, combined with medication to achieve the desired blood sugar-lowering effect.
Diabetics should avoid high-sugar foods, which is commonly known. People are used to avoiding such foods, but today we want to share that besides high-sugar foods, there are other foods that need to be avoided.
Diabetes Patients: Best to Avoid These 3 Types of Foods
Avoid high-salt foods for diabetes patients
Nowadays, people no longer worry about being well-fed; they pursue taste preferences, including high-salt foods. However, when blood sugar levels rise, it is advisable to avoid high-salt foods to prevent the inhibition of insulin secretion. Excessive salt consumption leads to delayed sugar breakdown and increases appetite unknowingly, causing intake of excess calories.
High-salt foods can also make blood pressure unstable, so it’s best for diabetes patients to avoid high-salt foods.
Avoid fried foods for diabetes patients
Having deep-fried dough sticks or cakes with soy milk may seem like a perfect combination, as fried foods can generate heat, but soy milk can reduce heat. However, fried foods are high in calories, carbohydrates, and produce a significant amount of fat during preparation.
Foods like deep-fried dough sticks are considered junk food. It’s recommended that diabetes patients avoid fried foods to prevent worsening their condition.
Avoid alcohol for diabetes patients
Diabetes patients should steer clear of alcoholic beverages, as alcohol can react with blood sugar-lowering medications, causing discomfort. Excessive alcohol consumption can also impact the effectiveness of blood sugar-lowering drugs and may increase the risk of diabetes complications over time. Hence, these three types of foods should be avoided.
Follow these 5 tips daily to help stabilize blood sugar
Eat meals at regular intervals. In terms of meals, diabetes patients are more sensitive than normal individuals. Overeating can lead to increased blood sugar levels, while eating too little or skipping meals can result in low blood sugar. Diabetics should eat meals at regular intervals and in moderate quantities, avoiding excessive indulgence and sticking to a light diet.
Consume whole grains. Whole grain foods are rich in dietary fiber, enhancing satiety. The slow absorption of whole grains in the stomach helps delay the rise in blood sugar levels, contributing to stabilizing blood sugar. Adding some whole grains when making porridge or steamed buns can further assist in maintaining stable blood sugar levels.
Engage in regular exercise. Diabetes patients may feel more fatigued, making them reluctant to exercise. However, suitable exercise is one of the measures to prevent and manage diabetes complications. Diabetics should choose activities that suit them, such as walking, practicing tai chi, or dancing in the square to prevent excessive fatigue and aid in removing toxins and waste from the body.
Maintain a positive mindset. After developing diabetes, it’s crucial to maintain a positive and optimistic mindset to help stabilize blood sugar levels effectively. A positive outlook also boosts immune function, resistance, and aids in preventing diabetes complications, promoting a healthier body.
Monitor blood sugar levels daily. Diabetes patients should monitor their blood sugar levels daily and keep records. This practice helps doctors adjust blood sugar-lowering medication dosages based on your sugar level fluctuations. Monitoring blood sugar levels daily allows for timely adjustments in diet and aids in preventing diabetes complications.
Three Natural Blood Sugar-Lowering Foods, Rotate for Safety
Cucumber. Cucumbers help in clearing heat and quenching thirst, with low sugar content ideal for diabetes patients as an alternative food. Consuming cucumbers provides a range of vitamins, beta-carotene, fiber, minerals, and helps inhibit the conversion of sugar into fat, contributing to stabilizing blood sugar.
Water spinach. Water spinach has high nutritional value, rich in various trace elements, which when frequently included in your diet, helps stabilize blood sugar levels inside the body and aids in stimulating insulin secretion, assisting in the treatment of diabetes.
Hawthorn. Apart from being a commonly consumed fruit, hawthorn aids in promoting digestion. Eating some hawthorn can help improve nutrient absorption and quickly lower blood sugar levels, stabilize blood sugar, and prevent diabetes complications.
