Ask the Diabetes Educator Archive

Q:
l want to buy my mother chocolate, she is a diabetic and the question is can she have carob?

A:
Unfortunately, carob candy is very similar to chocolate in terms of raising blood sugar. Unsweetened carob powder is slightly higher in carbohydrates, but does not have the same allergenic effects that chocolate can. Also, carob does not contain caffeine like chocolate. For these reasons, carob is known as the "chocolate substitute". Both may be used unsweetened in drinks and/or cooking.