Many have the urge to indulge in a sweet treat here and there on a daily basis. Yet, many times we do not monitor how much sugar we really consume regularly or monitor what food we can eat. For diabetics, this is a constant practice.

According to 2011 statistics from the American Diabetes Association, about 8.3 percent of the American population, including adults and children, live with diabetes. Living with diabetics requires careful consideration and selection when it comes to eating habits as sugar or insulin levels should be monitored, depending on the type of diabetes. For those diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, or formerly known as juvenile diabetes, the body cannot produce insulin, a hormone that converts sugars into energy. According to the ADA, Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in the United States among African Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders and Latin Americans.

For Latinos, living with diabetes can be challenging when it comes to food choices, considering all the flavorful dishes, but certainly not impossible. Take for example Elida Ortega, a wife, a working mother of two and grandmother. Ortega has been living with Type 2 diabetes for more than nine years and says she can still enjoy her favorite foods, with careful moderation. Ortega says that checking her sugar levels in the morning as well as maintaining a routine lunch allows her some freedom when it comes to choosing foods. “For dinner, I will sometimes make tacos. When I make them I use olive oil instead of corn oil. We usually try to have some tea after dinner, something light,” said Ortega

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, part of deciding what foods are healthy for a diabetic to eat is eating less fat for cooking and outlining ...