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07/02/06 12:47 PM

"What is the highest amount of sugar that a type 2 diabetic can have. I am looking for recipes for my mother-in-law. She likes cake. I have a "Splenda" recipe book and it has a few cake recipes in it and they ahave like 2 - 4 grams of sugar. Is this acceptable? Thanks for your help. Vickie "
Asked By: vrayparrish  
Category: Food and Nutrition

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Expert Answers (1)

01/11/12 02:46 PM

Hi Vickie,

How kind of you to be looking out for your mother-in-law. People with diabetes need to count total carbohydrates (not sugar grams), so that's a better way to gauge those recipes. That said, 4 grams of sugar is equal to a teaspoon. And a teaspoon of sugar contains 4 grams of carbs. That's not much at all, but just remember it's equally important that she eat a healthy, whole foods diet and consider cakes and other nutritionally empty foods special occasion treats.

How many carb grams per day can a person with diabetes have? There is no universal "right" or "safe" amount of carbs. Every person's situation is different. Some people find they can keep their blood sugar in good control and feel their best on a very low carbohydrate diet (for example, 60g or fewer per day). Others do similarly well on higher-carb eating plans (for example, 200g per day). It's important to choose healthy carbohdyrates and to avoid the "empty" ones that cause your blood sugar to spike. Healthy carbs include vegetables, fruits, and 100% whole grains close to their natural state (such as rolled oats, barley, or quinoa). Unhealthy carbs include pasta, bread, bagels, white rice, and added sugars. It's crucial to find the right carbohydrate intake for you. Your mother-in-law should be working with a dietitian and/or certified diabetes educator to come up with a plan that fits her needs. For dozens of dLife articles on healthy eating with diabetes, start here:

dLife's Food & Fitness section

Answered By: Lynn Prowitt-Smith
Accreditations: Senior Editor, Food and Nutrition
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