Click this link to add site to your favorites.

Considerations for Creating a Diabetic Diet Meal Plan

A successful diabetes diet will require a commitment to eating healthy, nutrient-rich foods, and learning how foods affect glucose levels. Diabetic Diet

There is no specific, restricted diet that diabetics must follow.

Instead, a diabetic’s diet will mimic that of a healthy-eating meal plan most people should be following.

Consulting a dietician or nutritionist will be helpful when first learning the basics of meal planning, food portions, carbohydrate counting, and using food exchange lists.

Purpose of a Diabetic Diet

The purpose of a diabetic diet is to make food choices that will help avoid uncontrolled blood glucose highs and promote a healthy weight. Food has a direct impact on blood glucose levels.

Excess calories from fats, refined sugars, and carbohydrates will force the body to produce excess insulin to process the sugar in the blood.

A diabetic is unable to produce adequate amounts of insulin, or the body does not respond to the insulin the body produces as it should.

This disruption of the natural break down of blood sugar will result in hyperglycemia, excess sugar in the bloodstream.

If left uncontrolled, continuously high blood glucose can lead to serious complications such as kidney, heart, and nerve damage.

There are two types of diabetes that affect people, and the purpose of a diabetic diet varies slightly for each type. A type 1 diabetic will need to calculate carbohydrates and meal exchanges to determine insulin dosage.

This dosage should provide the correct amount of insulin to break down the estimated glucose that the meal produces.

A type 2 diabetic, the most common form of diabetes, uses a diabetic diet to reduce the food choices that cause excessive blood sugar and to manage weight. Obesity is the leading risk factor for the growing type 2 diabetes epidemic.

A person, with type 2, who can reduce their weight and commit to a healthy eating plan, will likely eliminate the need to take medication or insulin.

Diabetic Diet Plan Methods

There are three key approaches to build a successful diabetic diet. A dietician can be a valuable resource to help determine the best meal planning method for an individual. Diabetic Diet Plan The three methods are counting carbohydrates, the food exchange system, and using the glycemic index.

Carbohydrates create the greatest impact on blood glucose levels. Choosing the timing, quantity, and quality are crucial.

A diabetic will need to learn how to interpret the serving size and carbohydrate value of each food choice.

The food exchange system is set up to combine groups of foods into different categories. A single serving in a designated group is called an exchange.

Each exchange is nutritionally proportional, meaning there are the same amount of carbohydrates, fat, protein, and calories in each exchange. This system works by trading foods of the same exchange value with a different food of the same value.

This allows for food variety without an adverse effect on glucose levels.

Using the glycemic index to plan meals is beneficial when choosing foods, especially carbohydrates, and determining their effect on blood sugar.

Foods assigned a high glycemic index value, over 70, will quickly enter the bloodstream and spike glucose levels. Dietician

Foods that have a low glycemic index value have less of an impact of blood sugar than high glycemic index foods.

However, careful considerations should be taken when choosing foods based solely on the glycemic index.

In some cases, high fat foods may have a lower glycemic value than that of a healthier alternative such as fruit.

Diabetes 2 Diet

Google Bookmarks Facebook Twitter Stumbleupon Delicious Digg Yahoo My Web

Diabetic Food Resources Site Map

**Important Disclaimer: THIS WEBSITE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only. SPEAK WITH A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL BEFORE proceeding with any medical treatment.