People with type 2 diabetes may be able to lower their blood sugar levels by avoiding high-fat foods. The condition could be caused by the body not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the body not reacting to insulin. Without enough of the hormone, the body struggles to convert sugar in the blood into useable energy. High fat foods can be bad news for people with diabetes because fats slow down the absorption of glucose. A high fat diet can also lead to weight gain and other health problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
You could lower your blood sugar levels by eliminating these high-fat foods.
- Butter & margarine. Butter is made from cream – animal fat – which means it’s high in saturated fat. As for margarine, many brands contain trans fat (also known as hydrogenated fats). These are the worst type of fats and can increase your cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease. Instead, you could swap it for avocado – they’re a great source of healthy monounsaturated fats, which many diabetics are lacking. Avocados are also rich in magnesium – studies have shown that this mineral can help control blood sugar levels and reduce type 2 diabetes risk.
- Potato chips
Instead, swap them for homemade kale chips – kale can lower cholesterol, is a good source of dietary fiber and contains vitamins A, K and C as well as antioxidants.
- Vegetable oil
Instead, swap it for olive oil – olive oil helps reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in diabetics. It’s also been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. This is because it contains natural antioxidants that delay gastric emptying.
- Fried foods
Fried foods have a lot of calories and fat, which not only helps you put on weight but also increases your cholesterol levels, which in turn increases your risk of heart disease.