People with diabetes may often feel as though they can't eat the things they want. While it's true that diabetics do have to cut back on certain types of foods, it is more about paying attention to the quality and quantity of what you are eating, rather than losing yourself in counting carbs and calories.

Nevertheless, many myths persist about diabetic food restrictions and what people with the blood sugar-related condition can and can't eat. Here are some of the most common myths about diabetes food restrictions:

Myth #1: All sugar must be avoided.

Truth: This is one of the oldest myths among diabetic food restrictions. Like most people, diabetics need just enough sugar to give their bodies' energy throughout the day without throwing off their blood sugar levels. Having the occasional candy or small slice of cake is perfectly acceptable, as long as you are maintaining a healthy weight and balanced diet. At the same time, it shouldn't become a regular addition of your daily food intake. Desserts and sweets with extra toppings or other added sugars should also be avoided as much as possible. If you're craving sugar, try eating things that contain natural sugar, such as fruit or by adding honey. These can satisfy your cravings through a natural sugar source that is also beneficial to your diabetes.

Myth #2: Carbohydrates should also be avoided as much as possible.

Truth: While it's true that consuming too many carbs can raise blood sugar levels, limiting it too tightly means your body isn't getting the energy it needs. The key to avoiding carbs as a diabetic food restriction is to look for "quality" carbs. This means turning to other kinds of foods - fruits, starchy vegetables, beans, whole grain bread - for the energy-fueling nutrient rather than "bad" carbs, such as white bread or sweets with white refined sugar. In the end, however, it's still about moderation; you can have the occasional amounts of "bad" carbs, but it is not recommended for people with diabetes.

Myth #3: Eating only protein helps avoid complications from sugar and carbs.

Truth: Eating exclusively protein, especially protein from animals, can actually cause the body to resist insulin. It could also raise the fat content in your body, as well as cholesterol, which is risking heart problems. Protein needs to be balanced with fiber, carbs, and fats in order to make the most of its nutrients for a healthy body.

Myth #4: If it's labeled "Diabetic-Friendly", it's safe to eat.

Truth: While food that's marketed towards people with diabetes seems appealing, it may not always be healthy. Foods like ice cream or sweets labeled "sugar-free" may actually contain several substitute ingredients, like fructose or sugar alcohols, that could be harmful in the long run. These can raise blood sugar levels and even end up causing weight gain, which is never a good sign in a diabetes diet.

When it comes to diabetic food restrictions, it's not so much about cutting off certain foods as it is about moderation. Abstaining completely from foods could mean depriving your body of the nutrients it needs to function. At the same time, over-consuming carbs and sugar could put your body in the dangerous position of experiencing high blood sugar levels which could lead to fainting or damage to the kidneys.

To find out more on the diabetic food restrictions and what you could eat more or less of, make an appointment with your doctor to see what your body can handle and how it would respond when restricting certain items.