Diabetes is a chronic condition that interferes with the body’s ability to process blood sugar, or blood glucose, properly. If not managed, it can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, vision loss, and other serious complications. Fortunately, one can achieve and maintain healthy blood sugar levels and prevent these complications by simply limiting or avoiding foods that can cause a spike in blood sugar. Accordingly, we’ve listed below the worst foods for people with diabetes.

6 foods to avoid to successfully manage diabetes

Cakes
When trying to control diabetes, cakes and pastries are a strict no-no. These desserts are loaded with sugar and low-quality carbohydrates. Cakes provide little to no nutritional value while causing a sharp spike in blood sugar levels. Besides, they contribute to weight gain and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Raisins
Dried fruits, like raisins, contain a higher concentration of various nutrients, including sugars, than their fresh counterparts. Since the dehydration process also removes the water, it becomes easier to eat large quantities of raisins at a time. This can cause a severe spike in blood sugar. It’s best to replace dried fruits with fiber-rich whole fruits.

White bread
White bread is made with low-quality, refined carbohydrates. The body can quickly absorb these carbs and convert them into glucose, causing a rise in blood glucose levels. It’s also important to avoid other refined carbs, such as white rice and white pasta, and switch to whole grains like brown rice, oatmeal, and whole-grain bread.

Full-fat milk
Full-fat milk is rich in saturated fats, which can raise the LDL or bad cholesterol level and increase the risk of heart disease. Studies have also found that saturated fats may worsen insulin resistance, which makes full-fat milk one of the worst foods for diabetics. Those who want to consume dairy must opt for low-fat or fat-free versions of milk and other dairy products.

French fries
French fries tend to soak up oil, thereby increasing the calorie content. Plus, they’ve been found to cause a spike in blood sugar and keep its levels high for a long time. Moreover, they contain trans fats, the unhealthiest type of fat that has been linked to a slew of diseases.

Sauces
Sauces and other condiments, such as tomato ketchup and salsa, pair well with a wide variety of dishes. Although they appear harmless, they contain lots of sodium, carbohydrates, fat, and calories. To manage diabetes, one should strictly limit or completely avoid condiments if possible.