Can Diabetics Eat Rye Bread & Pumpernickel Bread?

Diabetics can eat the same foods as anyone else; they just need to watch their portion sizes to keep their carbohydrate intake at the recommended levels, which are usually 45 to 60 grams per meal. When choosing your bread, the American Diabetes Association recommends opting for those brands that have a whole grain listed as the first ingredient, such as whole-grain rye, rather than a refined grain.

Comparing Carbohydrates

A regular slice of rye bread has about 83 calories and 15.5 grams of carbohydrates, including 1.9 grams of fiber. If you eat pumpernickel bread, with each slice you'll consume 65 calories and 12.4 grams of carbohydrates, including 1.7 grams of fiber. Either of these breads can fit into a diabetes diet, with each slice counting as one serving of carbohydrates out of the three to four 15-gram servings typically allowed per meal. Pumpernickel bread, however, is slightly lower in carbohydrates and calories, so it is a better choice for diabetics.