The Problem with 'Diabetes-friendly' Food Labels

The Problem with "Diabetes-friendly" Food Labels

Walk into any grocery store, and you’ll see it splashed across shelves: “Diabetes-friendly.”

To some, it probably looks helpful—comforting, even. A little sign that says, “Hey, this one’s safe for you.” But for those of us who’ve lived with diabetes for years, that label lands differently. Sometimes it feels more like a red flag than a reassurance.

Not because options are bad. Not because people with diabetes don’t deserve convenience. And not because all sugar-free products are the enemy. They’re not!

But the phrase "diabetes-friendly" comes with baggage that most people overlook. And that baggage quietly shapes how we think about food, our bodies, and how we “should” be managing this condition.

I’ve lived with type 1 diabetes (T1D) for over two decades. I’m also a certified health coach. I’m not a doctor, a dietitian, or a magician who can make carb counts disappear. What I am is someone who’s learned through trial, error, frustration, blood sugar roller coasters, and the occasional eyeroll in the snack aisle. Someone who knows firsthand that language around food matters, because it affects the way we treat ourselves.

Let’s unpack this together...

The Hidden Message Behind “Diabetes-Friendly”

On the surface, the label sounds relatively harmless. Helpful, even. And it can be, but I've found that the label is usually an exception and not the rule.

"Diabetes-friendly" food labels can imply:

• That certain foods are automatically “good” for people with diabetes.

• That everything else must be “bad.”

• That eating more of the “safe” thing is better than eating a little of the “regular” thing.

That’s a slippery slope, and it can push us into the very all-or-nothing thinking that harms so many people with diabetes. When we label foods as morally superior, we end up labeling ourselves by association. And diabetes already comes with enough judgment without adding more to our plates.

Early in my diagnosis, my mom and I were paired with a CDCES who also lived with T1D. (Doctors, specialists, and coaches who also get T1D are unicorns, truly. We were lucky!)

She gave us a single sentence that shifted my entire approach to food early on:

“It’s better to eat a little of the real thing than a lot of the sugar-free alternative.”

That truth has stood the test of time. It still guides me today.

Sugar-Free Doesn’t Automatically Mean Better

Let me be clear: I am not telling anyone to ditch their sugar-free favorites. I am not telling you what to eat, how to eat, or when to eat it.

This is not about restriction. This is about reality.

Here’s the truth most marketing labels won’t tell you:

• Not all artificial sweeteners affect people the same way.

• Some sugar-free products can still cause digestive issues or unexpected blood sugar spikes.

• Some “diabetes-friendly” foods replace sugar with ingredients that create entirely different problems.

• And sometimes… they simply don’t taste good.

I drink Zevia’s salted caramel soda more often than I should. It’s delicious. It also doesn’t make me a better or worse diabetic. It just makes me someone who enjoys a sweet drink without a glucose spike. Sometimes that’s helpful. Sometimes it’s not. Both realities can be true.

Being aware of habits is essential, but it's equally crucial not to attach moral superiority to them. Doing so can cause issues for individuals with T1D, potentially leading to eating disorders, body dysmorphia, or other image-related problems in the future. This can have a ripple effect.

Accessibility Matters. A Lot.

One of the biggest reasons the phrase “diabetes-friendly” makes me cringe is that it assumes we all have equal access to food, and we don’t.

Some people can stock their fridge with fresh produce every week.

Some rely on processed foods because they’re what they can afford, find, or store.

Some don’t have nutrition, insurance, or any support at all.

Food choices are never made in a vacuum. They’re made in real time, in real lives, with real limitations and pressures.

There’s nothing privileged in acknowledging that. It’s the opposite. It’s meeting people where they are.

It's About Management, Not Morality

Living with diabetes is not about achieving perfection. It’s about managing a condition that never clocks out.

Labels like “diabetes-friendly” confuse people into believing there’s a perfect way to eat. A clean way to eat. A morally superior way to eat. But that’s not how diabetes works, and it’s not how humans work.

What does work?

• Knowing your body.

• Learning what foods help you feel steady vs. chaotic.

• Understanding your patterns.

• Listening to your gut (intuitive and literal).

• Practicing self-compassion when things don’t go perfectly.

• Leaning towards foods that nourish your body and align with your financial state.

People with diabetes deserve freedom with food, not fear disguised as guidance.

So What Should You Do When You See That Label?

Just pause. That’s it!

Not to say no. Not to say yes.

Choose with intention instead of anxiety.

Ask yourself:

• “Do I want this?”

• “Does this support my body today?”

• "Do these ingredients nourish my body?"

• “Am I buying this because I think I should or because it’s genuinely helpful?”

• “Do I trust how this makes me feel?”

You are allowed to enjoy foods with sugar.

You’re allowed to enjoy foods without it.

You’re allowed to experiment, learn, adjust, and change your mind.

That’s management. That’s self-awareness. And that’s enough.

You're More Than a Label

If you’re doing your best with the resources you have—truly, that is enough.

You are not failing your diabetes because you didn’t buy the “diabetes-friendly” snack or aren't eating clean all the time. Taking care of yourself doesn't require perfection. It just means showing up with intention and respect for your body.

You are a human being doing your best in circumstances most people will never fully understand.

Sometimes, the most diabetes-friendly choice is whatever brings you peace, steadiness, and satisfaction—not a label, not a rule, not a marketing strategy.

You deserve food freedom. You deserve grace. You deserve nourishment, not judgment.