Diabetes, diet

Alternative names:

diet for diabetics

Recommendations:

Reduce the amount of fat. Protein choices with less fat are recommended, such as skinless poultry, fish and lean meats. Foods high in fat, which should be AVOIDED, are nuts, butter, margarine, lunch meats, bacon, sausage, gravy, salad dressing, mayonnaise, and hydrogenated shortening. Select skim or low-fat milk and reduce the intake of cheese. The harder the cheese, the higher the fat content. Also reduce the intake of high-fat ice cream.

Eat meat in moderation. The recommended daily amount is approximately 5 ounces of cooked (6 ounces of raw) meat. A 3-ounce portion of meat is approximately the size of a deck of playing cards.

Eat more complex carbohydrates, such as starches and whole grain breads, with an emphasis on the high fiber choices. Foods that are high in carbohydrates provide energy, minerals, and vitamins. High-fiber foods help decrease blood fat and glucose levels. Everybody, including diabetics, should be encouraged to eat foods high in fiber and complex carbohydrates. Food sources of complex carbohydrates and fiber are fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals, dried beans and peas, and lentils and legumes.

Eat less simple sugar. Sugar provides calories without much nutrient benefit. There are no vitamins and minerals in sugar. Foods high in simple sugar cause the glucose levels to rise. Therefore, foods high in simple sugar are not recommended on a regular basis for people with diabetes. Food sources of simple sugar are table sugar, syrup, honey, desserts such as cake and ice cream, candy, and regular carbonated beverages.

Eat less salt. Salt is made up of sodium and chloride. The sodium in salt causes fluid retention in the body, and in some people this can cause an increase in blood pressure. Although this does not directly affect blood sugar levels, people with diabetes are at greater risk for heart disease, renal (kidney) disease, and other problems. Because they are already at risk, it is recommended that foods high in salt should not be eaten on a regular basis. Also, reduce the amount of salt used in cooking.

Use alcohol only in small amounts. For a person with diabetes, alcohol is not recommended on a regular basis. If alcohol is to be used in the meal plan, it should be calculated into the diet plan with the assistance of a registered dietitian.

Implementation of the dietary recommendations:
The dietary recommendations are based on healthy eating. The meal plan should be individualized for a person with diabetes. Attention should be paid to the types of food, amounts of food, timing of the meals, and a realistic meal plan that fits into the person's lifestyle.

The meal planning tool recommended by the American Diabetes Association is the Exchange List for meal planning. Foods are grouped into categories (exchanges) with approximately equal nutrition for each food within the exchange. This allows the person to select a wide variety of meals with equivalent nutritional content. A diet plan outlines the "exchanges" for each meal (for example, breakfast may consist of 2 bread exchanges, one fruit exchange, 1 fat exchange, and one dairy exchange). Any food on the exchange list can be used (for example, 1 bread exchange could be 3/4 cup of cereal, 1 slice of bread, or any other item on the bread exchange list).

The following includes samples of a recommended meal pattern providing 1,500 Calories per day. The recommended meal plan is designed with a young child in mind and provides two snacks which are part of the daily meal plan.

RECOMMENDED

• breakfast
  • 1 cup toasted oat rings
  • 1 slice of whole wheat bread
  • 4 oz orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon of margarine
  • 1/2 cup of skim milk

• lunch
  • 1 whole-wheat pita bread,
  • 2 ounces of turkey
  • green salad with sliced tomatoes
  • fat free french dressing
  • 1 cup of cantaloupe
  • 1 cup of skim milk

• snack
  • 1/2 cup skim milk
  • 1/2 banana

• dinner
  • 1/2 cup mixed fruit salad
  • 2 ounces of lean roast beef
  • 1 small baked potato
  • 1 cup of cooked broccoli
  • 2 teaspoons of margarine
  • 1/2 cup vanilla pudding (sweetened with Nutra Sweet)

• snack

+ 1 cup skim milk
+ 6 saltine crackers