Blood Glucose Testing And Log Sheets | Managing Childhood Diabetes [e1e3a2]

2025-09-13

Managing High Blood Sugar Levels: Foods to Avoid

High blood sugar levels can have devastating effects on overall health, increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. To manage high blood sugar levels effectively, it is essential to understand which foods are detrimental to this condition.

The Hidden Dangers in Your Pantry Certain food groups contribute significantly to rising blood sugar levels due to their high glycemic index (GI). The GI measures how quickly a particular food raises blood glucose levels after consumption. Foods with higher GIs cause rapid spikes, whereas those with lower GIs lead to more gradual increases.

Examples of foods with high GIs include:

  • White bread: 70-80
  • Refined pasta: 50-60
  • Processed breakfast cereals: 65-75
  • Sugary drinks like soda and sports beverages

Consuming these food items regularly can cause a surge in blood sugar levels, which may lead to health complications.

Sugary Treats and High Blood Sugar Processed baked goods are another culprit contributing to rising high blood sugar. Products containing refined sugars not only raise blood glucose but also have minimal nutritional value. Some common examples include:

  • Donuts
  • Pastries
  • Muffins
  • Cakes

Eating these foods often leads to rapid spikes in insulin levels, which can impair the body's ability to regulate blood sugar effectively.

Hidden Sources of Refined Carbohydrates It is essential to be mindful of hidden sources of refined carbohydrates that may not necessarily taste sweet but still contribute significantly to rising high blood sugar. These include:

  • Processed snack foods
  • Canned goods, such as soups and beans
  • Baked goods, including those marketed as "health food"

Be aware of these items in your diet and opt for whole, nutrient-dense foods instead.

Processed Meats: Unhealthy Choices Consuming processed meats regularly has been linked to increased blood sugar levels. These products contain preservatives like nitrates and nitrites that can harm insulin blood sugar hunger sensitivity.

Some examples include:

  • Sausages
  • Bacon
  • Ham

When making dietary choices, select lean proteins sources such as poultry, fish, or plant-based alternatives instead.

Refined Starches: More Hidden Dangers Foods with high glycemic indexes are not the only contributors to rising blood sugar levels. Refined starch foods like corn on the cob and white potatoes also raise glucose levels in a more significant manner than whole counterparts.

Understand that consuming these refined food sources regularly will negatively affect overall health, making it 1hr post prandial blood sugar essential for them to be part of your "frequently avoided" list instead.

Foods High in Added Sugars A range of products contains high amounts of added sugars. Consuming foods rich in sugar not only raises blood glucose levels but also leads to increased calorie intake without providing any nutritional benefits.

Examples include:

To keep your diet healthy and on track, it is crucial to consume whole food items instead of their processed or sugary counterparts.

This eight-part, new-onset diabetes video series is used by Beaumont Health, along with the Managing Childhood Diabetes binder and the hospital educational checklist. This video reviews how to use a lancing device and blood glucose meter to test blood sugars. It provides an explanation of how to complete the blood sugar log sheet, as well as how to utilize the log sheet to watch for patterns of high and low blood sugar trends. NOTE: These videos are Beaumont guidelines to diabetes management. Please follow your child’s individualized care plan and call your endocrinologist with any questions.
Blood Glucose Testing and Log Sheets | Managing Childhood Diabetes