The Right Way to Cut Carbs and Sugar

A doctor explains why you should keep fruit on the menu—even if you're diabetic

A misunderstanding about diabetes, carbs, and sugar has some people dropping fruit from their diet, and that's a big mistake.kitzcorner/Shutterstock

One of my patients—who had been struggling with obesity, uncontrolled diabetes, and the cost of her medications—agreed in June 2019 to adopt a more whole-food, plant-based diet.

Excited by the challenge, she did a remarkable job. She increased her fresh fruit and vegetable intake; stopped eating candy, cookies, and cakes; and cut down on foods from animal sources. Over six months, she lost 19 pounds and her HbA1c—a measure of average blood sugar—dropped from 11.5 percent to 7.6 percent.