Being newly diagnosed with diabetes can be a difficult time. One of the first things you ask yourself is, "Now what can I eat?" Being diabetic does not mean you have to give up eating the carbohydrates you enjoy (including breads, pasta, fruits and milk). It just means you learn to be aware of what you eat and how much you eat.

This information will help you take the first steps to change your diet, even before you see the dietitian. Your diet should be tailored to your needs by a dietitian as soon as possible after you are diagnosed.

Here are some ways to getting off to a good start:

• Avoid regular soda. One can has nine teaspoons of sugar
• Limit fruit juice intake to one-half cup to three-fourth cup a day. Fruit juice should always be 100 percent juice.
• Avoid cakes, cookies, pies, and other sweets. The dietitian can help you learn how to occasionally work these foods into your diet later.
• Limit snacking
• Avoid skipping meals. This may cause you to be hungrier and cause you to overeat, leading to elevated blood sugars and weight gain.
• Avoid "fad diets". While you may lose weight on these plans short term, it will not help you learn balanced eating or help control your diabetes.