

Doing so will help keep your blood sugar levels in check on a vegetarian diet. Davis also recommends not eating too many simple carbohydrates like potatoes, pasta and white rice. "You should also avoid adding dairy and sweeteners as these can affect your blood sugar."įinally, if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, make sure you're eating enough protein. "If you must have your caffeine fix, black coffee generally has less of an impact on blood sugar levels, but it can affect people differently," explains Dr. While diet soda is a lower calorie and lower carbohydrate alternative to regular soda, it should still be consumed in moderation. When it comes to drinks, water is the best substitute for regular soda and other sugary beverages. "The key is knowing the appropriate serving size for the type of fruit you're eating."įor example, one serving of carbohydrates is 15 grams, which is equal to: "Some fruit is higher in sugar than others," explains Dr. You might be wondering if it's OK to eat foods containing natural sugars, like bananas or strawberries, if you're a person with diabetes.

While there is no one-size-fits-all "diabetic diet", making certain changes to the way you eat can help to reduce blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure and improve your cholesterol levels – all of which can help reduce your risk of future heart disease. If you have diabetes or are pre-diabetic, your doctor may have talked to you about your diet.
