The 1,800 calorie (or "1800kCal") diabetic diet is one that is frequently prescribed for older male diabetics and young or active female diabetics. The diet is one that provides adequate carbohydrates, fat, and protein and sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals. The sample menu provided below gives you an example of what you could consume on a daily basis if your health care provider recommends that you follow this diet.
Carbohydrates
Unless otherwise directed by your health care provider, you should consume about 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrate at each meal and about 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrate at snacks. That will allow you to meet the recommendation of 45 to 65 percent of calories from carbohydrate, as set forth in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines. Counting carbohydrates can be difficult at first, but once you start reading nutrition labels and familiarizing yourself with the carbohydrate contents of your usual foods, carbohydrate counting becomes effortless.
Nutrition Labels
A lot of people will only look at the line on the nutrition label that says "sugars," but sugars are not the only thing that will affect your blood sugar. According to the American Diabetes Association, when you read a nutrition label, you always want to read the line that says "total carbohydrates." That value includes all forms of carbohydrates that will impact your blood sugar (such as starch, sugar, alcohols, and fibers).
Meal Planning
Because diabetics must be very careful about maintaining stable blood sugars, they should never skip a scheduled meal or snack, especially if they are taking medications or insulin. Skipping meals or snacks can easily cause blood sugar to get too low, and that condition---hypoglycemia---is a medical emergency. The American Dietetic Association strongly recommends that all diabetics should eat meals and snacks at scheduled times, which for most people is every three to four hours. Try not to go more than five hours without eating. In the sample menu, you would consume three meals and three snacks each day.
The 1800 Calorie Diabetic Diet
The 1,800 calorie diabetic diet sample menu below provides roughly 1,800 calories and 210 grams of carbohydrate (keep in mind that the minimum amount of carbohydrate a healthy adult should consume is 130 grams per day, according to the Dietary Reference Intakes). Remember, the carbohydrates are spread throughout the day so any one meal or snack will not raise blood sugar too much. The sample menu is also low in saturated and trans fats and high in fruits and vegetables.
Sample Menu
Breakfast (60 grams carbohydrate): 1 cup cooked oatmeal with artificial sweetener; 12 almonds; one 6 to 8 oz. container of light yogurt; 3/4 cup fresh blueberries
Mid-morning snack (15 grams carbohydrate): one small high-fiber cereal bar (about 90 calories)
Lunch (45 grams carbohydrate): two slices of whole grain, high fiber bread; 3 oz. lean turkey for sandwich; tomato, lettuce for sandwich; 2 tsp. light mayonnaise for sandwich; one fresh peach; 1 cup raw carrot sticks
Mid-afternoon snack (15 grams carbohydrate): one individual serving of sugar-free chocolate pudding (4 oz.)
Dinner (45 grams carbohydrate): 3 oz. grilled salmon; 1-1/2 cups steamed broccoli and cauliflower; one ear of corn on the cob with spray butter; 1-3/4 cup whole fresh strawberries with 2 tbsp. light whipped cream
Bedtime snack (30 grams carbohydrate): three graham cracker squares; 1 tbsp. natural peanut butter; 8 oz. low-fat or skim milk
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