Just because you have been diagnosed as having diabetes does not mean that you can no longer eat out in restaurants. You still can, but you need to start ordering the healthy stuff on the menu -- those that are low fat, low carbohydrate and low sugar.

Many restaurants today are willing to adjust the food at your request. After all, the last thing restaurant owners want is to lose business! In fact, most restaurants, including the fast food chains, now include in their menu food choices that are low fat or are cooked healthier to suit people with medical conditions such as diabetes. So if you see something on the menu you like but you aren't sure how much fat it has, all you need to do is ask your waiter. They can even give you suggestions.

When you eat out, choose foods that are described or specified in the menu as "broiled, " "skinless" and "low calorie." These are foods that diabetics can eat. Watch out for foods on the menu that have the words "fried, " "breaded, " and "supersize" in them. You need to avoid these foods. In addition, ask which ones have MSG so you know not to order them.

But what if you are at a restaurant and the workers there speak little English, or worse they don't speak English at all? How do you make sure that you order foods that are safe for diabetics to eat. You can still communicate with them, but you'll need to do some planning ahead of time. Before you go to a restaurant where you may have a hard time communicating with non-native English speaking workers, visit the Select Wisely site (selectwisely.com). There you'll find questions already translated in several languages. Simply print those out and take them with you to the restaurant.

The American Diabetes Association also has useful tips:

* Eat out around the same time you normally eat each day as this will prevent your body from being "shocked" when food is introduced in the system.

* Eat more slowly; doing so promotes better food digestion and helps you avoid overeating.

* Pass up French fries and other oily foods.

* Avoid or severely limit your alcohol intake.

* Reduce the your meal portions. Eat just two pizza slices instead of five or the entire thing. If you don't feel full yet, order fresh green salad or cooked vegetables.

* Monitor your blood glucose levels prior to eating and after. Take your insulin shots on time, regardless of where you are.