5 recommended products for customers with diabetes

Using the term diabetic to refer to someone who has diabetes can be offensive, says Lois Moss-Barnwell, RD, founder of DietRx, a Chicago-based private consulting company for retailers and manufacturers. “The word has negative connotations,” she says. “Retailers should recognize that these are people who just happen to have diabetes. That doesn’t sound so daunting.” The other mistake a retailer may make is focusing too much on sugar rather than total carbohydrates. “Sugars do make up carbohydrates, but it’s total carbs that most impact what people with diabetes can eat,” Moss-Barnwell says. “With the right education and planning, most people with type 2 diabetes can fit almost any food into their diet. I’d love to see retailers use shelf tags to communicate healthy options in every aisle.”