People with diabetes must pay close attention to their dietary intake, portion sizes, and meal frequency. What you eat, or more specifically the carbohydrates (or carbs) in the food you eat, are the body’s main source of glucose. Foods high in dietary carbohydrates include sugar, starchy foods like potatoes and pasta, and grain-based foods like breads and cereals. Carbohydrates can also be found in dairy products and fruits and vegetables, as well as many beverages.

Diabetes does not mean that these carbohydrate-containing foods must be completely cut out of the diet; in fact, many of these foods contain nutrients that are essential to good health. However, their intake must be carefully controlled and other blood glucose lowering tools such as exercise should be used to balance out their effects. For most people, special treats such as a slice of birthday cake can be an occasional indulgence as long as portions are controlled and they’re figured into the overall daily carbohydrate and calorie allowance. Careful postprandial (or after-meal) blood sugar monitoring and logging is an excellent tool for understanding the impact of new foods on blood glucose levels.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that approximately 50 to 60% of total daily calorie intake should be in the form of carbohydrates. Some people will find this range is just right, but others may find that this amount hampers their diabetes control. Working with your diabetes care team to discover how different foods and carb levels impact your control is the best way to determine your optimal daily carb intake level.