What Foods Should Diabetics Avoid?

While there is no specific diet for diabetes, people with diabetes should generally limit sugar intake, limit or avoid sodium to keep blood pressure under control, limit starchy vegetables, and avoid high-fat or high-carbohydrate foods.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that occurs when the body either doesn’t produce sufficient insulin or doesn’t use insulin properly causing blood sugar (glucose) levels to rise (hyperglycemia). 

There are three main types: 

• Type 1 diabetes (formerly called juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes) 
  • An autoimmune condition in which little to no insulin is produced by the pancreas
• Type 2 diabetes 
  • Occurs when the body doesn’t use insulin properly, causing blood sugar levels to rise
  • The most common form of diabetes
• Gestational diabetes 
  • Disrupts the way the body uses sugar (glucose) during pregnancy
  • Pregnancy increases the body's need for insulin, but the body is not always able to make enough

There is no specific diet for diabetes. Patients should follow a diabetes meal plan as recommended by a doctor or nutritionist. In general, patients with diabetes should:

• Limit sugar intake
• Limit or avoid sodium to keep blood pressure under control
• Read all nutrition labels carefully: “sugar-free” or “fat-free” products are not necessarily low in calories or carbohydrates

Specific foods diabetics should avoid or limit include:

• Limit starchy vegetables 
  • Beets
  • Corn
  • Peas
  • Sweet potatoes
  • White potatoes
• Avoid certain fruits 
  • Canned fruit in syrup
  • Dried fruit
  • Fresh juices as part of fad cleanses
  • Packaged juices
• Avoid certain starches and carbohydrates
  • Cereal with no whole grains and added sugars
  • Crackers
  • French fries
  • Graham crackers
  • Packaged snacks high in salt and carbohydrates
  • Pastries and confections
  • Pretzels
  • Processed grains
  • White bread
  • White flour
  • White flour tortillas
  • White pasta
  • White rice
• Avoid certain proteins
  • Bacon
  • Beef jerky
  • Deep fried fish
  • Deep fried tofu
  • Fried meats 
  • High fat content meat
  • Hot dogs
  • Nuts with sweet or salty coatings
  • Pepperoni
  • Processed meats of all types
  • Protein shakes or smoothies with added sugar, and too many carbohydrates
  • Salami
  • sausage
  • Sliced pork chops (lean cuts of pork are ok)
• Avoid high fat dairy products
  • Chocolate, strawberry, or other flavored milks
  • Full fat cheeses
  • Low-fat or full fat yogurt
  • Reduced fat or full fat cottage cheese
  • Whole milk or 2% milk
• Avoid certain fats
  • Saturated fats and trans fats should be kept as low as possible
  • Frozen foods
  • Donuts
  • Coffee creamer
  • Packaged and processed foods
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Pastries
  • Margarine
  • Oils that are partially hydrogenated, or do not originate from seeds, nuts, or plant sources
• Avoid certain beverages
  • All sodas, except diet sodas
• All sweetened beverages including: 
  • Coffee with sugar, or flavored coffee drinks such as cappuccino, Frappuccino, etc.
  • Fruit juices
  • Lemonade
  • Tea

Foods to eat include: 

• A variety of eating patterns are acceptable, such as:
  • Low fat
  • Low carbohydrate
  • Mediterranean
  • Vegetarian 
  • Vegan or plant-based
  • Talk to your doctor before starting an extremely restrictive diet, such as a very low carb or “keto” diet
• A diet high in fiber can help keep blood sugar levels under control
• Carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and low-fat milk 
• Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids such as those found in fish, olive oil, and nuts are recommended
• Good protein sources include beans, soy, lean meats, fish, eggs, and nuts
• Drink plenty of water
• Some sugar-free foods, such as sugar-free gelatin and sugar-free gum, do not have a significant number of calories or carbohydrates and are considered “free foods”
  • Any food with fewer than 20 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrate is considered a “free” food, meaning it does not affect body weight or require an adjustment to medication