Have you just learned you have diabetes? Or have you been living with the condition for years? In either case, you probably know how important what you eat is to managing your blood sugar.

Being consistent in the timing and amount of food you eat each day will help you keep your blood sugar within your target range. By controlling when you eat and how much you eat, you can influence the peaks in blood sugar levels that arise after eating and the lows that occur when you haven't eaten for a while.

Diet, weight management, exercise and, in some cases, medication, are the main treatment tools for diabetes. Of these, diet can be the most difficult to manage because people often view it as restrictive. But the best diet for diabetes management is no different from what's prescribed for all people, regardless of their health condition.
 

 
When you're overweight, your cells don't respond as well to insulin. Insulin is necessary to shepherd sugar (glucose) from your bloodstream into your cells. Your cells depends on this sugar for energy. Your doctor will set a daily calorie goal to help you lose weight if you're overweight or maintain a healthy weight if you aren't. Losing weight will improve your body's response to insulin — either your body's own insulin or the insulin you inject.

One way to control calories is to base your diet on the exchange system. In the exchange system, foods are grouped into starches, vegetables, fruits, meats, milk products and fats. Within each group, foods are portioned so that you'll know how much you can eat of each and get the same amount of calories, carbohydrates and other nutrients.
An exchange is basically one portion of a food type. You can exchange or trade foods within a group because they're similar in nutrient content and the manner in which they affect your blood sugar.

Your dietitian will recommend a certain number of exchanges from each food group based on your personal needs and preferences. You and your dietitian will decide how to spread out the exchanges during the day to manage your blood sugar and to avoid eating too much or too little at a meal.
 

The main influence on your blood sugar is the amount of carbohydrate you eat. The carbohydrate group includes whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits and milk — nutritious foods that are part of a healthy diet for all people.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) describes three types of carbohydrates:

Sugars. Also called simple carbohydrates, these include sweets such as table sugar, honey, jelly and candy. Milk and fruits also contain simple natural sugars.
Using a modest amount of sugar may not interfere with your blood sugar control — as long as you substitute a sugary food for a starchy food that contains an equal amount of carbohydrate.


Starches. Also known as complex carbohydrates, starches include legumes and starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, and grains. Legumes, such as beans, peas and lentils, are also a good source of protein and fiber. On average, one serving of legumes contains 6 grams of fiber, which is about one-fourth of the total daily amount recommended for all adults.

More tips for capitalizing on carbohydrates are:

Aim for 50 percent to 60 percent of your daily calories from carbohydrates. Depending on your calorie needs, that might include six or more servings of starches, two to four servings of fruits, two to three servings of milk or milk products, and three to five servings of vegetables.

Emphasize high-fiber carbohydrates. The more fiber the food contains, the more slowly you digest it and the more slowly your blood sugar level rises. Aim for about 25 grams of fiber each day, the same amount recommended for all adults.
Control serving sizes. If you eat more carbohydrates than usual, you may not have enough insulin available to transport the excess sugar into your cells, causing an increase in your blood sugar level. Controlling your serving sizes will also allow you to manage your calorie intake and weight.
Think about timing. One way you can help control your blood sugar is by eating the same amount of carbohydrates at similar times throughout the day.
Limit alcohol. Does your blood sugar stay within your target range most of the time? If so, an occasional alcoholic drink at mealtime probably won't harm you. Examples of one drink are a 5-ounce glass of wine, 12 ounces of beer and 1 1/2 ounces of distilled spirits. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. This means that men with diabetes should drink no more than two drinks a day, and women should have no more than one.
 
It's OK to enjoy an occasional drink during or after your meal. But don't exceed your limit or drive after drinking.

 
Blood sugar is measured by determining the number of milligrams of glucose in a deciliter of blood (mg/dL). The amount of sugar in your blood naturally fluctuates, but within a narrow range. The normal range is between 70 and 100 mg/dL — the level most people have after fasting overnight. That's about equal to 1 teaspoon of sugar in a gallon of water.
 
If your blood sugar is consistently 126 mg/dL or higher after fasting overnight, you have diabetes. At one time, a diagnosis of diabetes required a fasting blood sugar level of at least 140 mg/dL. The standard was lowered in 1997 after a review by the American Diabetes Association showed that by the time blood sugar reaches that level, some people already have sustained organ damage.
 
If your fasting blood sugar is between 101 and 125 mg/dL, you have impaired glucose tolerance, more commonly known as borderline diabetes or prediabetes. Because it's a sign that you're at high risk of developing full-fledged diabetes, borderline diabetes must be taken seriously. See your doctor regularly and take steps to control your blood sugar.
 

Monitoring your blood sugar: Why, when and how

The type of diabetes you have and the treatment plan your doctor prescribes determine the frequency and timing of your blood sugar tests.

Type 1 diabetes
If you have type 1 diabetes or otherwise take insulin, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends you test your blood sugar at least three times a day. Any change in routine — exercising more than normal, eating less than usual or traveling — is another good reason to test your blood sugar.

Type 2 diabetes
If you take oral medication alone or oral medication and insulin to manage your diabetes, the ADA recommends you test your blood sugar once a day. In general, if you're able to control your blood sugar with diet and exercise — without the use of medication — you don't need to test your blood sugar as often as people with type 1 diabetes who take insulin or people with type 2 who take medication. Your doctor and health care team will help you establish a monitoring schedule that's best for you.
 

Blood glucose monitors are generally precise. Inaccurate readings often stem from human error. If you think your reading is inaccurate, ask yourself these questions:

Did you apply enough blood to the test strip?
Did you add more blood to the test strip after the first drop was applied?
Did you time the test accurately?
Did you have dirt or other substances on the finger that you pricked?
Are your test strips fresh?
Did you calibrate your meter for the test strip you used?
Is the test window of your meter dirty?
Is your meter at room temperature?
Does your meter need new batteries?
Is your meter damaged?

Save the manufacturer's instructions that come with your monitor. Following those instructions, perform a quality control test of your equipment to make sure the results are accurate.