12 Foods to Limit or Avoid in a Type 2 Diabetes Diet

Other unhealthy beverages, such as coffee drinks, are seemingly ubiquitous. For example, one popular medium frozen coffee drink packs a whopping 54 g of carbs, the majority of which come from the drink’s 51 g of sugar. So before you place your next to-go order, see if the item’s nutritional information is listed on the menu so you can choose smarter.

You shouldn’t have to ditch coffee completely — try enhancing a regular coffee with sugar-free hazelnut syrup, some vanilla extract, or a dash of cinnamon. If you crave a little richness, Randall recommends using a few drops of half-and-half.

Fried foods are usually breaded, which can add up to lots of carbohydrates, unhealthy fats, and calories, says Kimberlain. Too much fat in your diet can lead to weight gain, she adds, which can worsen type 2 diabetes. Weight gain also increases your risk of heart disease, a risk that’s already elevated when you have diabetes, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Rather than eating breaded and fried favorites like chicken nuggets, shrimp, okra, and onion rings, Randall suggests roasting or baking these foods without the breadcrumbs. Try a coating of fresh herbs or spices. If you must have breading, coat the foods with whole-grain crumbs, and bake them instead of frying — “that’s a happy medium,” she says.