• Switching to a vegetarian diet may be helpful, but is not necessary in managing diabetes.Diabetic Tools image by painless from Fotolia.com
  
  

Fewer Carbohydrates, Lower Blood Sugar

• Vegetarian diets can encourage you to eat more low-fat, low-carb foods. Thus, you lower your caloric intake and weight, your carbohydrate metabolism and finally, blood sugar levels. Controlling blood sugar is the key to managing diabetes.
  
  

Eat Almost Anything

• The American Association of Diabetes claims diabetic people can eat almost any food they like, in moderation of course. According to their website, lean protein, between 2 and 5 oz. is part of a balanced meal, even for people living with diabetes.
  
  

Bottom Line

• Maria Collazo-Clavell, M.D., says, "Changing to a vegetarian diet probably won't cure your diabetes. But it may offer some benefits over a nonvegetarian diet." She suggests consulting a dietitian before switching to vegetarianism because likely she can help you develop a healthy, diabetic-friendly eating plan without drastically altering your dietary preferences.