Figuring out how many carbs to eat when you have diabetes can seem confusing.

Dietary guidelines from around the globe traditionally recommend that you get around 45–60% of your daily calories from carbs if you have diabetes (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source).

However, a growing number of experts believe that people with diabetes should eat far fewer carbs. In fact, many recommend less than half of this amount

Many tasty, nutritious, low carb foods raise blood sugar levels only minimally. These foods can be enjoyed in moderate to liberal amounts on low carb diets.

However, you should avoid the following high carb items:

breads, muffins, rolls, and bagels
pasta, rice, corn, and other grains
potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, and taro
milk and sweetened yogurt
most fruit, except berries
cakes, cookies, pies, ice cream, and other sweets
snack foods like pretzels, chips, and popcorn
juice, soda, sweetened iced tea, and other sugar-sweetened drinks
beer
Keep in mind that not all of these foods are unhealthy. For example, fruits can be highly nutritious. Yet, they’re not optimal for anyone trying to manage their blood sugar levels by eating fewer carbs.

On a low carb diet, you should avoid foods like beer, bread, potatoes, fruit, and sweets.