10 Foods With Hidden Sugar Diabetic Seniors Should Avoid
Home care assistance can help diabetic seniors avoid foods with hidden sugars.
If your senior parent has diabetes, they must limit the amount of sugar they eat to help stabilize their blood sugar. But, even if your mom or dad tries to eat healthy and watch their sugar, they may be eating foods with hidden sugar.
It’s common for food companies to add sugar to foods that generally don’t have sugar to improve the taste and get people to buy their products. When seniors who are diabetics eat these foods, it can be difficult for them to control their blood sugar.
If your senior parent has home care assistance to help them with meals, their care provider can help them look for hidden sugars in food. A home care assistance provider can also check labels and help your mom or dad shop to make sure they are choosing foods without hidden sugar.
Some of the foods that typically have hidden sugar in them that home care assistance should limit in their diet are:
1. Salad Dressings
Many store-bought salad dressings, especially sweet varieties like French or Thousand Island, contain added sugar. Even “light” or “low-fat” dressings can have sugar. It’s better to use olive oil, vinegar, or a homemade dressing without sugar if your mom or dad has diabetes. You can also look for dressings that specify they are sugar-free.
2. Flavored Yogurt
Flavored yogurts, especially fruit-flavored ones, can be packed with sugar. A single serving can have as much sugar as a candy bar. Choose plain Greek yogurt instead and add fresh fruit for natural sweetness. Your mom or dad can also add dry, sugar-free gelatin powder to yogurt to add flavor without adding sugar.
3. Tomato Sauce
Store-bought tomato sauce often contains added sugar to balance the acidity. Even pasta sauces labeled “natural” or “organic” may have sugar. Check the label and choose no-sugar-added or homemade tomato sauce.
Store-bought sauces often have sugar added, so make sure that your mom or dad’s home care assistance provider is helping them check the ingredients of sauces before buying them.
4. Cereal
Many breakfast cereals, even those marketed as healthy, have hidden sugars. Granola, oatmeal, and whole-grain cereals may contain added sugar to improve flavor. Look for cereals labeled “no added sugar,” or make your own with oats and nuts.
5. Canned Fruit
Canned fruit often comes packed in syrup, which is loaded with sugar. Even if the label says “in juice,” the fruit can still have added sugar. If your mom or dad likes canned fruit make sure they are buying canned fruit that is only packed in water, not syrup or juice.
6. Bread
Some types of bread, especially white bread, whole wheat bread, and bread labeled as “multigrain,” can have added sugars. These sugars help improve texture and taste. Choose whole-grain or sugar-free bread options. Low-carb breads often don’t have added sugar.
7. Condiments
Common condiments like ketchup, barbecue sauce, and sweet mustard often contain hidden sugar. A tablespoon of ketchup can have around 4 grams of sugar. Seniors who have diabetes should avoid store-bought condiments unless they are labeled sugar-free.
8. Fruit Juices
Fruit juices, even 100% fruit juice, can be very high in sugar. Drinking a glass of orange juice can give you as much sugar as eating several pieces of fruit. If your parent likes fruit juice, dilute it with water or use fruit to make fruit-infused water that they can drink that has the flavor of fruit but no sugar.
9. Frozen Dinners
Many frozen meals, especially those with sauces, contain hidden sugars. These meals are often processed, and the sugar is added to improve taste and preservation. Choose fresh or frozen meals with no added sugar, or make homemade meals.
10. Granola Bars
Granola bars may seem healthy, but many are packed with added sugar. Even those that are labeled as “low-fat” or “whole grain” can have high sugar content. Look for bars with little to no sugar added, or have just granola and some Greek yogurt for a snack. ‘
If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care Assistance in Herndon, VA, please contact the caring staff at Butters Home Health Care today. (703) 371-2113