by Denise Born, RN, Barbara George, RD, and Jeana VanDyke, RD, CDE

Q: Can I control my blood sugar levels by avoiding all carbohydrates?

A: It takes a combination of diet, exercise and sometimes medications to control your blood glucose (sugar). It’s not reasonable or healthy to try to eliminate all carbohydrates (carbs). You need some carbs to give your body and brain energy to work right. We recommend a minimum of 30 grams of carbs or two carb choices per meal, especially if you are taking insulin or pills such as Glyburide, Glipizide, Glimepiride, Prandin or Starlix. If you don’t eat enough carbs while taking these medications, you can be at risk for low blood sugar symptoms.

To maximize the nutritional value from your carb choices, stick to whole grains, vegetables, fruits and low-fat dairy products. It’s also important to eat healthy fats, limit red meats and get 25 or more grams of fiber per day. A balanced diet is important for blood glucose control.