“It is fine to have treats. It is fine to have cake and ice cream,” says nutritionist Frances Largeman-Roth, RD, “but that has to be balanced out with the healthy stuff: the fruits, the veggies, the whole grains, the lean proteins.”
One exception: If you’re having trouble managing your diabetes, you might need to avoid all desserts temporarily, according to Sandra Arévalo, RDN, a spokesperson for the American Association of Diabetes Educators. When working with patients with very high A1C levels, Arévalo says, “I want you to avoid these foods until we get your diabetes to a point where we can be more flexible with it.”
Frances Largeman-Roth is a nutritionist and cookbook author in New York City.
Sandra Arévalo is a spokesperson for the American Association of Diabetes Educators and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and director of nutrition services and community outreach at South Bronx Health Center.
References
American Diabetes Association. (2015). Smart snacks.
American Diabetes Association. (n.d.). Types of carbohydrates.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Know your limit for added sugars.
Duncan Hines. (n.d.). Signature german chocolate cake mix.
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