With all the myths and media hype about low-calorie sweeteners that are swirling around, if you are a person with diabetes, I bet you wonder if you’re wise to use them. As a long time dietitian and diabetes educator with extensive expertise in the research and practical use of low-calorie sweeteners, it’s important to me that you have accurate knowledge on this topic.

Most kids, from toddlers to tweens and teens, need to snack between meals for two key reasons: One, and particularly true for younger children, is their stomachs are small and they’re typically not able to consume enough food at three meals to get the energy (calories) they need.

Check out my Splenda Living blog focused on the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans on Chlosterol and "Good & Bad" fats.

Is there ‘a diabetic diet’? NO!

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and this has been true since 1994 – nearly 20 years, there is no one diabetic diet that represents THE prescription for THE way ALL people with diabetes should eat.  

Are there ‘diabetic foods’ which people with diabetes should buy? NO!

Foods labeled ‘diabetic’ or ‘diabetic-friendly’ carry a halo of being better-for-you than unprocessed, unadulterated and unlabeled foods. But, it’s just not so. 

So, then what’s the eating plan for people with diabetes today?

The nutrition recommendations from the American Diabetes Association, last updated in 2008, echo the healthy eating recommendations of the United States Dietary Guidelines for Americans last revised in 2010.

These recommendations reflect the growing body of evidence that a plant-based eating plan can help people achieve and maintain a healthy body weight and prevent and manage chronic diseases, like diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.

I appreciate Diabetes Forecast’s effort at tackling the great carbohydrate debates in: Are Carbs the Enemy? (March 2011). How appropriate! It’s National Nutrition Month with the theme – Eat Right with Color (it’s hard to create a color palate without fruits and vegetables!).

I also appreciate the dual challenges, for people with prediabetes and diabetes, of glucose control and healthy eating. Goals which can often seem at odds.

For people with type 1 or 2 diabetes carbohydrate, or carb, counting has evolved to be the most common method taught to help you plan meals and, if you take insulin, gauge your insulin doses. Carb counting is based on research showing that it’s the total amount of carbohydrate you eat that most impacts your blood glucose levels after you eat. (Check out two of my articles about the fine art of carbohydrate counting in Diabetic Living magazine Solving

Check out my guest blog posted on skinnyandthecity.com on 11/18/09 Take Action to Beat Type 2. Please read the comments - already some heartwarming stories of people's efforts and challenges to Beat Diabetes.

Confused about, as a client referred them: “those sugar alcohols”? If so, check out my cut to the chase answers below:

What are Sugar Alcohols?
Sugar alcohols, also called polyols, are neither sugar or alcohol. They’re called sugar alcohols because part of their structure resembles sugar and part alcohol. Keep in mind they do contain carbohydrate.