
The Worst Breakfast Foods for Diabetics
Type II diabetes occurs when the processing of blood sugar is inhibited, which can cause a myriad of symptoms including extreme fatigue, weight fluctuations, and excessive thirst or hunger. In addition to these symptoms, patients with diabetes also struggle with wound healing and will notice that wounds of any kind take much longer to heal, with a much greater risk for infection. To combat some of these symptoms, doctors will recommend diabetics follow a low sugar diet and avoid these breakfast foods:
1. Fruit on the bottom yogurt
Yogurt and fruit are thought of as relatively healthy foods. However, yogurt with fruit on the bottom contains more sugar than anyone should eat in an entire day. Plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt with fresh fruit is low in sugar and is a fantastic alternative. All fruits do have sugar, and for people sensitive to this, avoiding bananas and grapes in favor of raspberries, strawberries, and cantaloupe can help cut down on sugar intake.
2. Cinnamon rolls
Cinnamon rolls are delicious, with their gooey icing and soft insides baked to perfection. However, the tastiness may not be enough to justify the health risks cinnamon rolls pose for people with diabetes. The high carb content topped with icing is a recipe for a blood sugar disaster.
3. Bagel with cream cheese
Bagels are considered healthier than their alternatives, including donuts, croissants, or other pastries. However, bagels have a very high carbohydrate count, and within the human body, simple carbs like those found in bagels get converted to sugar. The high carb levels in a bagel are equivalent to 3-4 slices of bread! If plain and used sparingly, Cream cheese is a good topping choice for people with diabetes, but they should be careful to use only a single serving a day.
4. Sugary cereals
Sugary cereals, while fun to eat and often crave-worthy, are one of the worst offenders on the market for those with diabetes. The combination of carbohydrate-heavy pieces and artificial colors and sugar is a health crisis in the making. People with diabetes can find whole-grain cereal options that are unsweetened. If eaten in moderation with only a small amount of milk, this is an excellent alternative to sugary cereals.
5. Sweetened juices
While juice is touted as healthy and full of vitamins, it is also loaded with sugar. Orange juice and apple juice have incredibly high sugar levels, and while they may be a good way to get some vitamin C, the benefits are outweighed by the unhealthy sugar and carb levels. A much better choice for anyone with diabetes is to reach for a piece of fresh, low sugar fruit.