According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 23 million people in the U.S. are living with diabetes, a condition that prevents the body from using glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream. Along with medications, a proper diet is key to being healthy with the condition. Because glucose is necessary for energy, sugar is not restricted in a diabetic diet, only controlled.

How Much Sugar?

There is not a set number of grams of sugar a diabetic is permitted to consume per day, but she must count how much sugar she consumes so she can balance it with proper medication, which helps the body use the sugar in the bloodstream.

Sugar Sources

Obvious sources of sugar include sweets such as candy, pastries and anything to which table sugar is added. Fruits and vegetables also contain sugar, though in a different, healthier configuration that is treated differently by the body.

Sugar From Starches

From a chemical standpoint, starches are just sugars with a different arrangement of molecules. The body is adept at breaking down starches into sugar, so diabetics must be aware that they count toward their daily sugar consumption.

Fats

Diabetics are at risk of heart disease because diabetes raises blood pressure, making any arterial blockage more dangerous. Accordingly, diabetics are not advised to replace their carbohydrate consumption with fatty foods.

Proteins

Lean proteins are good for any diet because they are low in fat and help the body build muscle, which uses sugar more efficiently. In fact, diabetics are advised to exercise to lower their body fat and increase their muscle mass to improve their blood glucose levels.

Source:

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse: What I Need to Know About Eating and Diabetes

American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Myths