Step1
When John (my spouse) was diagnosed with diabetes our friends and family made many mistakes. Not intentionally, of course, but mostly out of ignorance. We all (myself included) have misconceptions about this disease and there are things we can do to enhance the life of those who have to deal with it every day.
Step2
First, and foremost...because it is referred to as SUGAR diabetes almost everyone thinks..."oh that's easy...I just won't serve him or her any sugar." Think again. The CULPRIT in diabetes is NOT all about sugar...it's CARBOHYDRATES. (Of course sugar is a carbohydrate too, but getting people to think CARBS rather than SUGAR is extremely difficult--as we discovered) We had people serving John things like sugar-free pie with a thick home-made crust that had more carbs than you can imagine! John would politely eat a small piece not wanting to offend...but oh...if only people could understand and serve him better food. And the diabetic low-carb diet has many healthy, tasty options that almost anyone can enjoy. We won't go into Type I and Type II diabetes here or whether your friend is on insulin or one of the other diabetic drugs..but basically ALL diabetics need to watch how many carbohydrates they consume...and guess what? It's not a bad idea for the rest of us to watch it too! LOW carb doesn't mean NO carb. Just be sensible about it.
Step3
So...if you can learn what has a high carb count and what doesn't...you will be doing your diabetic friends a BIG favor! Also, if something has a lot of fiber, this can be SUBTRACTED from the Carb Count. Nice huh? Most products today list how many grams of CARBOHYDRATE are in a serving, so you can calculate it pretty easily. An average diet for an AVERAGE diabetic would be about 30-60 grams of carbohydrate per meal with two 15 carb snacks in between. This differs of course, but gives you an idea of how you can help your friend if you are hosting him/her for dinner.
Surprisingly, there are a lot of new products out now that help too...such as low-carb pasta which used to be a no-no for diabetics. And the new low carb ice creams are super....taste good too! They still haven't found a low-carb potato though...so be aware that these should usually be avoided. So...diabetics have to avoid or cut back on things like potatoes, pasta, most things sweetened with sugar, high carb breads, many fruits, and lots of the snack things, like potato chips.
Step4
Please offer sugar substitutes such as Splenda, and don't pre-sweeten your drinks. Offer sugar AND the "other stuff" to all your guests. Meals with lots of fiber rich vegetables, salads, eggs, and protein-rich meats and fish are all on the diabetic list of GOOD things. Fruits are a bit high in carbohydrates (especially fruit juices) but most fruits in SMALL quantities offer other benefits and can be included in a well-rounded diet. Replacing chips and dip with carrot, celery, pickle, zucchini slices and a low-carb dip is helpful.
Step5
Don't be afraid to ask your diabetic friend questions, and LISTEN to learn about this disease. It is running rampant in this country and you might also help yourself avoid ever having to deal with it.
Many people are fearful of being around diabetics because of the negative publicity they've seen about an occasional "diabetic coma."
This means the person has allowed their blood sugar count to drop too low....just the opposite of what caused the disease. They are probably on medication and didn't eat a regular meal to keep themselves in balance. A piece of candy or glass of juice will revive them quickly unless they become unconscious (rare). In the latter case medical help should be provided. But keep in mind that most diabetics are pretty careful about their diet and medications and have monitors that help them know what is going on with their body. They can also tell when things are a little out of whack and this doesn't happen very often, so you should not be too concerned that you will have to deal with a medical emergency. Whatever happens please don't drop a friendship because of this fear. This is when friendships should strengthen and you have a chance to show your true character!
Diabetes and Depression often go hand in hand
Enthusiast 
