Diabetes is a metabolic disease or a condition in which the blood glucose levels remain high for an extended length of time. In other words, it is a condition in which the body cannot adequately use glucose, which acts as a source of energy for body cells.

‘Insulin’ is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. In 2019, the International Diabetes Foundation’s,’ Diabetes Atlas’ ranked India in the top ten countries for people with diabetes. The most affected organs by diabetes include kidneys, heart, blood vessels, nervous system, and eyes.

If you have diabetes, you need to limit more than just sugar. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, uncontrolled blood sugar, and weight gain can all be caused by eating too much fat, sodium, carbohydrates, and calories. Limit your intake of starchy vegetables such as beets, maize, peas, sweet potatoes, and white potatoes.

Food items that are not good for diabetes are mentioned below :

Avoid coffee drinks 

A simple cup of coffee with a splash of milk or even half-and-half can be a low-calorie beverage ideal for people with diabetes. However, many coffee shop drinks are comparable to extravagant desserts in calorie, carb, and fat content. A 16-ounce Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha has 430 calories and 55 grams of carbohydrates.

Avoid junk foods 

Saturated fat, salt, carbs, and calories exist in French fries. Even while most fast-food establishments now offer trans-fat-free fries, this does not imply that they are healthy. You don’t have to remove french fries from your diet entirely, but you should eat them less frequently and consider sharing while dining out. Saturated fat, the major cause of high cholesterol, is abundant in giant, cheesy hamburgers. For someone with diabetes, this is a triple threat when combined with the bun and fries.

Avoid alcoholic drinks 

Drinking too much alcohol might cause your blood sugar to dip dangerously low. This is due to the fact that alcohol impairs your liver’s capacity to create glucose.

Food items that are good for diabetes are mentioned below:

Green leafy vegetables

Leafy greens, such as spinach and kale, have a good supply of potassium, vitamin A, and calcium from plants. This anti-inflammatory chemical aids in blood sugar regulation and protects blood vessels from diabetes-related damage.

Quinoa is a protein- rich food 

Quinoa is also regarded as a complete protein since it includes all nine necessary amino acids required for muscle growth, which is uncommon among plant-based proteins. It’s also high in minerals like iron and magnesium. This protein-rich whole grain can be used in place of white pasta or rice.

Consume dairy products 

Dairy foods are a fantastic source of protein to keep hunger at bay, in addition to supplying calcium and vitamin D for healthy bones. Milk, cheese, and yogurt have all been demonstrated to help regulate blood sugar levels, and consuming a lot of these dairy products may lower the risk of diabetes.