Our Spend Smart. Eat Smart. team often gets the request to mark which of our recipes are ‘diabetes-friendly’. We want to share why this is not something we do.

A healthy eating pattern for people with diabetes is similar to that of the general population: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy. Diabetes-friendly does not have a formal definition, but it is assumed that people are looking for recipes lower in carbohydrates. People with diabetes need to be more mindful of how many carbohydrates they eat and drink at meals and snacks to help maintain a stable blood sugar (or blood glucose). Eating too many carbohydrates, which are broken down into glucose, can cause their blood glucose to spike. However, the right amount of carbohydrates for people with diabetes to eat at meals and snacks is going to vary by person. This can be affected by various things including the size of the person, their activity level, and what else they have consumed during the day. A recipe that might not be best for one person could be fine for another person. Also, people with diabetes might be able to eat a smaller amount of a higher carbohydrate food and still be able to maintain their blood glucose.

All of our recipes have a Nutrition Facts label, which provides information on a variety of nutrients in the food. This allows people with diabetes, or other health conditions, to determine which recipes will best meet their needs. To learn more about how to read the Nutrition Facts label, watch our Reading the Food Label video. For reliable information on diabetes, talk to your healthcare provider or visit the American Diabetes Association website.