5 foods that spike blood sugar and cause excess belly fat in diabetes

A careful balance of lifestyle habits, including your diet and fitness regime, is essential to control type 2 diabetes along with proper medication. But it can be extremely tricky when it comes to navigating proper nutrition, especially with foods that seem healthy but can actually wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels and increase the risk complications associated with diabetes. Wrong food choices can make it difficult to lose or maintain weight.

If you’ve just been diagnosed with diabetes and are confused about what to eat and what to avoid, here’s a list of foods you should avoid to help prevent blood sugar spikes and other serious consequences. These foods can also promote excess belly fat and potentially harmful cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Sugary beverages
Sugary beverages and type 2 diabetes


For people with diabetes, sugary beverages - such as carbonated soft drinks, fruit punch, and other sweetened drinks - are the worst drink. They are loaded with fructose, which is strongly linked to insulin resistance and increased risk of obesity, belly fat, fatty liver and heart disease.

Trans fats
Trans fats and diabetes

Research shows reducing intake of industrially made trans fats helps lower the risk of heart disease. Found in found in margarines, peanut butter, creamers, and spreads, trans fats are also linked to increased inflammation, insulin resistance, and belly fat. 


Fruit smoothies
Fruit smoothies for diabetes

Sure, they seem healthy but smoothies, on the other hand, have most of the fibre removed when they are made. Plus, it’s very easy to drink large amounts at once, which means you could be consuming a lot of extra calories, carbs, and sugar.

White bread
White bread and diabetes

White bread is high in carbs and low in fibre. Eating white bread and other refined-flour foods can lead to elevated blood sugar levels in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Instead, opt for bread that is made of whole grain.


Dried fruit
Dried fruit and diabetes

Fresh fruits are packed with nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fibre, and antioxidants that fill you up and boost overall health. But when the fruit is dried, its sugar content becomes more concentrated, which can spike your blood sugar. Replace dried fruit with fresh fruits low in sugar for better sugar control.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet