Research shows that bread, potatoes, and some other starches actually produce blood glucose responses similar to those from sucrose, honey, molasses, and fruit juices. Foods containing large quantities of sugar should be limited because they often contain too much fat, have little nutritional value, and lack fiber. Artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, saccharin, or sucralose have proven generally safe for diabetics use. The diabetic may also occasionally use fructose in small amounts as a sweetener since fructose produces a smaller rise in blood glucose levels than sucrose. Diabetics should also limit soft drinks and fruit juices that contain high-fructose corn syrup.
Adequate fiber is important for weight management because it satisfies hunger with fewer calories.
It also lowers blood sugar levels after meals and improves glucose tolerance. Fiber also reduces the amount of medication required to control blood sugar. Foods high in soluble fiber, such as oats, barley, beans, and apples are especially valuable because soluble fiber decreases LDL and total cholesterol blood levels. Fiber increases the excretion of lipids from the body by binding the bile acids, lipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides in the intestinal tract. The fiber in beans play an important role in the diabetic diet, because it prevents the usual high blood glucose peak caused by simple sugars and refined starches.