Junk Food and Diabetes

Junk foods are everywhere. You see them in vending machines in airports, rest stops, stadiums, and hotels. They’re sold at movie theaters, gas stations, and bookstores. If that weren't temptation enough, there’s the incessant advertising and marketing of junk foods on television. Wherever you go you can buy a quick junk food meal or snack.

Junk Food and Diabetes

How are junk foods connected to diabetes? The easiest answer is that the consumption of excess sugars and fats in these foods can contribute to weight gain, and excess weight is associated with diabetes.

In fact, one of the top risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes is being overweight. When you carry too much weight, especially around your midsection, your body cells can become resistant to insulin, a hormone that helps the body move sugar out of the blood and into the cells. Because the cells are unable to use the insulin properly, your pancreas mistakenly interprets this as a need for insulin, and so it pumps out more. Eventually the pancreas wears out and is unable to produce enough insulin to help the body use glucose, and you develop diabetes, a condition which causes sugar to remain in the blood.

Junk foods are usually high in calories, and highly processed.  They tend to have few vitamins and minerals, and are usually low in fiber.  Junk foods often contain large amount of added sugar, and high in saturated fats and trans fats.

Saturated & Trans Fats

A growing body of research shows that saturated and trans fats, which are found in abundance in junk foods, are associated with the development of insulin resistance. One study found that those who ate twice weekly at fast-food restaurants, where the menu is filled with fatty options, had a two-fold risk of developing insulin resistance over those who ate at fast food restaurants less than once a week.

Avoiding Junk Food

If you have diabetes already, you may be wondering why it’s so important to avoid the sugars and fats found in junk foods. The most obvious reason is because keeping your weight down—and avoiding sugary foods—will help you to control your blood sugar. The American Diabetes Association recommends limiting these foods since they usually take the place of other more nutritious foods.  An additional reason is that if you have diabetes, you already have a higher than average risk of having a heart attack or stroke, and unhealthy fats will only increase those chances.

It’s much harder to break a junk food habit, though, than many other bad habits. You don’t have to smoke or drink alcohol to live, for example, but you do have to eat. And even if you avoid the foods that are obviously laden with sugars and fats—such as cakes and fried dishes—fats and sugars can lurk in foods where you least expect to see them. Tortilla chips, Chinese noodles, muffins, croissants, and that cream you splash in your coffee may be high in simple sugars and contain harmful fats. Sugar also shows up in flavored yogurt and condiments like salad dressings, mayonnaise, and ketchup.

Many people with diabetes find that the best way to control the intake of harmful fats and sugars is to become an educated consumer. This includes learning how to read labels to spot the addition of fats and sugars and, whenever possible, cooking at home in order to control ingredients. If you enjoy eating out, it’s best to avoid fast food restaurants. If you do occasionally indulge, the American Diabetes Association has these tips for making your fast food dining healthier:

Don’t fall into the trap of ordering a deluxe or super-sized food option because it’s a good money value. It may save you money, but it doesn't save on calories, sugar, or fat consumption.

Avoid fried foods, and opt instead for grilled or broiled. Choose lean meats such as turkey or chicken breast.

Watch the condiments. Mustard is healthier than mayonnaise, ketchup, or rich sauces.

In the morning, stick with buns, bread, or English muffins, which are lower in calories and fat than croissants or biscuits.
Order your burger without cheese, which has additional calories and fat.

Salad bars are good, but limit the high fat toppings such as dressings, bacon, cheese, and croutons. Load up on carrots, peppers, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, and celery instead.

If eating pizza, choose thin crust and veggie toppings.

In Mexican fast food restaurants, choose bean burritos, soft tacos, fajitas, and other items that are not fried and select chicken over beef. Go for just a little cheese, sour cream, and guacamole; instead pile on the lettuce, tomatoes, and salsa.

When eating Chinese, avoid fried options and sauces. Choose chicken dishes with lots of vegetables.