Patients may be encouraged to reduce their intake of carbohydrates that have a high glycemic index.

However, in cases of hypoglycemia, they are advised to have food or drink that can raise blood glucose quickly, followed by a long-acting carbohydrate (such as rye bread) to prevent risk of further hypoglycaemia.

For people with diabetes, healthy eating is not simply a matter of "what one eats", but also when one eats.