Welcome to Your Diabetes Diet Course

Carbs are the sugars and starches in food, like bread, rice, fruit and beans. Think of them as dry kindling. They burn fast, so your blood sugar rises quickly.

Protein and fat are more like logs. They burn slowly. So rice can raise blood sugar faster than cheese does.

Low carb plans cut carbs back. Keto cuts them much further.

A slice of bread, a bowl of rice and an apple sit on a tray beside a tally board for the meal. Bread is marked first and adds two carb tokens to the tally. Rice adds three more, then the apple adds two more, until the tally shows how the carbs add up across the whole meal.

Each eating pattern has its own focus, like tools in a kitchen drawer.

Mediterranean eating leans on vegetables and olive oil. It is moderate in carbs, not low carb.

Plant-based eating centers on plants. Portion-controlled eating centers on how much you eat.

No single eating pattern suits everyone, so this course explains the options. It is for adults with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. It is also for the people who support them.

Your health needs, medicines and daily routine all shape what fits you. A target is a goal your doctor or dietitian sets for you.

Key takeaways

• Carbs are the sugars and starches in food, and low carb and keto cut back on them.
• Mediterranean, plant-based and portion-controlled eating each have a different focus.
• Your health needs, medicines and routine help decide which pattern fits you.

Try it

Write down yesterday's meals and circle the foods that are mostly carbs, like bread, rice or fruit.