Q:If you have diabetes, can you eat sweets and/or use sugar in recipes?

A: Yes! Though people continue to think that people with diabetes need to avoid sugar and sweets, today's recommendations suggest that people with diabetes can enjoy sweets and sugary foods in moderation and on occasion. Learn more about the current nutrition recommendations about sugary foods and sweets.

It is okay to have sugar and sweets -
moderation is the key!

To reduce the calories, carbohydrate and impact on blood glucose you can cut down on the sugar you use in recipes. It's easy to cut down in sugar when cooking. Baking is another story because sugar plays a variety of roles in baked goods. It's not just a sweetener. Sugar plays a role in texture, browning and more. If you enjoy cooking and baking start with some diabetes recipes, either from cookbooks or online resources.

Also consider trying recipes that use a sugar substitute, or blend of sugar and a sugar substitute. You'll find recipes on the websites of the manufacturers of sugar substitutes.