That's a superb question! Contrary to popular perception, there are many similarities between a normal diet and a diabetic diet. This is because a few food items in both diets are forbidden and not allowed, for different reasons altogether. Diabetics should ensure that their blood sugar levels are constant throughout, as any fluctuation can result in problems. For this reason, they can't eat starchy food items like potatoes that are a part of the 1600 calorie diet. They also can't eat salty food items as these may increase their blood sugar levels. They should also not eat sugary food items.