Rising Dea.ths from Diabetes: Doctors Warn — It’s Better to Go Hungry Than to Eat These 7 Vegetables

People with diabetes are often advised by doctors to “eat more vegetables.” However, in reality, not all vegetables are suitable.

In daily life, one of the most common pieces of advice is to eat plenty of green vegetables. Vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber — nutrients the body needs for good digestion, constipation prevention, and weight control.

People with diabetes are also frequently told to “eat lots of vegetables.” However, not every type of vegetable is appropriate. Some vegetables, when eaten in large amounts, can cause blood sugar to rise rapidly and even become difficult to control.

Below are vegetables that people with diabetes should not eat in excess:

• Taro: Taro is nutritious but very high in starch. Once in the body, starch is converted into glucose, causing a noticeable rise in blood sugar. People with diabetes should not treat taro as a regular vegetable and should strictly limit their intake.

• Water caltrop (Chinese water chestnut): This tuber is also high in starch and can easily raise blood sugar levels. In addition, it contains a large amount of potassium. Diabetic patients with kidney disease who consume too much may face an increased risk of hyperkalemia, which can be dangerous.

• Lotus root: Lotus root contains a high amount of carbohydrates. If eaten, fresh lily bulb is a better alternative, as it contains less sugar than dried or processed forms.

• Beetroot: Although beet leaves are considered green vegetables, beetroot itself contains a high level of natural sugars. Eating too much can cause blood sugar to spike after just one meal.

• Potatoes: Potatoes are rich in starch. People with diabetes may eat them, but only in small amounts. Potatoes should never be treated as a “free” vegetable substitute.

• Pumpkin: Pumpkin is rich in vitamins A and C and can support insulin activity, but it also contains a relatively high amount of sugar, especially mature pumpkin. If eaten, the amount of starch in the main meal should be reduced to avoid blood sugar spikes.

• Chinese yam (purple yam): Although yam may help stabilize blood sugar and blood lipids, it still contains a significant amount of starch. Therefore, people with diabetes should not overconsume it.

Although most vegetables help with blood sugar control, the vegetables listed above should not be eaten as ordinary vegetables. People with diabetes should prioritize celery, mustard greens, choy sum, napa cabbage, lettuce, and similar vegetables. These help lower blood sugar, stabilize blood pressure and blood lipids, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.