Christina Moore, Contributor
Waking Times

If you are a type 2 diabetic patient, you know it’s important to watch what you put in your mouth. Beverages containing a high amount of sugar content can affect both your blood sugar levels and your weight, both of which can worsen complications of the condition.

There has been a long-standing debate over whether some sugar-free and low-sugar beverages are allowed to diabetic patients for consumption. In the conventional world, where everyone’s primary concern is counting of calories, such drinks are encouraged as the preferred low-calorie or zero-calorie alternative.

However, the world of alternative health has discovered the cons of these drinks, and how they can negatively affect the health of diabetic patients. The following list contains the names of worst beverages and their possible effects on wellbeing:

Energy drinks

These drinks contain a combination of sugar, caffeine, and loads of calories; therefore they can triple the risk for individuals with diabetes. The intake of these ingredients at a single time, especially taurine and caffeine (both of which are known to raise alertness) can significantly increase the heart rate and blood pressure.

Too much caffeine can also result in increased anxiousness and shakiness. This can result in emotional issues and interfere in day-to-day tasks of diabetic patients. According to a study, the consumption of just 250 ml of energy drink can raise anxiety.

Boxed orange juice

Bottled orange juice is marketed as a terrific source of vitamin C, which doesn’t have any reality to it. While orange has been purported for its health benefits, a study conducted by researchers at HSPH (Harvard School of Public Health) revealed that greater consumption of fruit juices was associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

The reason is that during processing, all the fiber is removed and more sugar is added to orange in its liquid form, which increases its glycemic index. The rise in glycemic index makes it pass quickly through the digestive system, which may explain the link between a higher risk of diabetes and orange juice consumption.

Diet soda

Diet soda includes artificial sweeteners that can cause an uptick in insulin levels, according to a study published in Nature. While it may not lead to dangerously low levels of blood sugar, it can still give rise to unwanted complications. The stomach essentially treats the artificial sweetener as real sugar, causing an increase in insulin levels.

Moreover, diet soda provides little nutritional value, and consuming a caffeinated flavor can cause sleeping problems. The caffeine content can also result in side effects, including restlessness and anxiety. Frequently consuming diet soda because of low calorie content than regular soda may also cause obesity issues.

Keeping your blood sugar levels in check

Regardless of the beverages you avoid and consume, you should keep your blood sugar in check, as it is an important part of your diabetes care plan. If you can’t visit the clinic, Dexcom and other CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) solutions will help you keep track of blood sugar and alert you when there are variations in your blood sugar levels.

Such solutions will help you recognize and avoid hyperglycemia (state of high blood sugar) and hypoglycemia (state of low blood sugar) and the health issues they may cause. Keeping these checks throughout the day can help you understand how different beverages affect your blood sugar.

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