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The Diabetes and Celiac Diet (continued)

Follow a whole-food meal plan. A gluten-free dinner consisting of a serving of protein (broiled or baked), steamed vegetables, a small serving of brown rice, and a small piece of fruit for dessert can also work well for managing your diabetes.

Buy gluten-free products. Health food stores and most mainstream grocery stores now carry gluten-free products. If your diabetes management plan allows for pasta, rice pasta is an excellent substitute, since the taste is very similar to wheat pasta.

Watch your blood sugar levels. A diagnosis of celiac disease necessitates what may be a pretty dramatic change in your daily sources of carbohydrate. This means you're going to experience variations in your usual blood-sugar patterns, so be extra vigilant in testing.

Continue to track your calories and carbs. Some gluten-free foods such as rice may be calorie- and carbohydrate-dense. Don't assume a sandwich made with gluten-free bread has the same amount of carbohydrates as one made with regular bread.

Don't be afraid to dine out. Consult directories of gluten-free restaurants, at sites such as the Gluten-Free Restaurant Awareness Program. If a restaurant isn't advertised as gluten-free, ask your server to tell the chef that you can't have wheat, and find out how dishes are prepared. And be creative -- some restaurants may allow you to bring gluten-free products for the chef to prepare.