A lot of people with diabetes believed that if they cut out candy and sugary foods, they'd be able to manage their blood glucose (blood sugar). Now we know that all carbohydrates, in short known as carbs—rice, noodles, bread, cakes and candy alike—cause your blood glucose to rise.

So really, when it comes to managing blood glucose levels, what's the difference between a serving of cake and a serving of rice?

15 grams of carbs = 15 grams of carbs, right?

Since your body doesn't really distinguish between carb sources, 15 grams of carbs from a cake can cause your blood glucose to rise as high as 15 grams of carbs from rice. Seems logical, right?

Yes, but…not really.

Your body absorbs different types of carbs at varying speeds. Plus, eating protein, fat or fiber along with carbs slows carb absorption even more. That’s why carbs from whole grains and brown versions (whole grain bread/ pasta, brown rice) usually take longer for your body to convert to glucose than carbs from white versions (white bread, white rice, rice noodle). The whole grain and brown versions have extra fiber, slowing digestion. The takeaway? Your brown rice with soy sauce chicken is far less likely to give you a sudden blood glucose spike compared to a serving of cake.

Staying power versus a quick fix.

Sugary foods, such as cake, cookies, candy and ice–cream are often high in fat and lack the vitamins or nutrients your body needs. And they're unlikely to fill you up. So, if you eat a cup of ice cream instead of a serving of rice, you may use up your allotment of carbs for the day, but you'll still be hungry.

Gateway to gluttony

Sugary and salty foods have tendency to tempt people to overeat. One chocolate chip cookie or potato chip may not be a problem, as long as it doesn't open the door to the rest of the bag.

The important thing to keep in mind is that carbs affect your blood glucose level, so eat in moderation.