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Eating Healthy with Diabetes Today's diabetic diet is very flexible. No longer do we say, "NO SWEETS". Instead, we say "all foods can fit if used in moderation". We now know that almost all types of foods can raise blood sugars. It is the carbohydrate in food that breaks down into blood sugar. The diabetic diet simply tries to limit the entrance of blood sugars from food to help control blood sugar levels. Carbohydrate is found in food as both sugars and starches. So, why don't we say "NO CARBOHYDRATES"?... because, we all need carbohydrates. They are essential, and we could not live without them. Instead, a diabetic diet spreads out carbohydrate intake evenly throughout the day to help prevent high blood sugars. The current diabetic diet is called "Carbohydrate Counting". Carbohydrate grams are counted at every meal and snack. The diet is best when spread out into 3 meals & 3 snacks each day. This allows the grams of carbohydrate to be lower at each meal and snack. An example meal: 3/4 cup ready-to-eat breakfast cereal 15 1/2 cup 1% milk 6 1 slice toast with 1 T. peanut butter 17 4oz. orange juice 15 TOTALS 53 grams of carbohydrate If you are interested in updated your diabetic diet to the "Carbohydrate Counting" diet, ask your doctor for a referral to see a Registered Dietitian. Cynthia L. Hughes, RD, LN Registered Dietitian, Licensed Nutritionist