Type II diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Either your body does not make enough insulin or the action of insulin is unrecognized by your cells with type II diabetes. Planning the content and timing of your meals will help you manage this disease.
Foods and Blood Sugar
Understanding how food influences your blood sugar will improve your understanding of how to choose the right combination of foods. According to LilyDiabetes.com, carbohydrates have the greatest impact on your blood sugar levels, because they are designed to provide the sugar used for energy. Proteins can raise blood sugar levels, but your body likes to use protein to build muscles. Fats help food empty out slower from your stomach, so you can use them to slow digestion and keep your blood sugar lower immediately after meals.
Carbohydrates
The Joslin Diabetes Center recommends at least 130 g of digestible carbohydrate per day. This is the recommended minimum amount to prevent muscle breakdown and maintain good blood sugar control and a healthy weight. Whole grain foods increase your fiber intake and do not spike your blood sugar. You should focus on eating whole grain breads and cereals, lentils and beans, brown rice, quinoa, oats, fresh or frozen fruits and nonstarchy vegetables like broccoli, kale, summer squash and zucchini. Carbohydrates like potatoes, corn and pasta can increase your blood sugar level faster, so be cautious about how much you eat.
Lean Proteins
Meats and dairy products like cheese, milk, and yogurt can be high in fat and calories. By choosing lean meats like chicken/turkey without skin, fresh or frozen fish without breading, low-fat cheese, milk and yogurt, can save you calories, fat grams and your waistline. When choosing beef and pork, trim off all visible fat before cooking. Cooking methods like grilling, broiling, boiling, or baking to keep your meats low fat and experiment with seasonings to create new flavors.
Fats
Excess fat in your diet will contribute to weight gain. Joslin Diabetes Center recommends that 30 to 35 percent of calories come from fat, with less than 10 percent from saturated or animal fat. You should focus on using vegetable oils for cooking and in salad dressings like olive, grapeseed, safflower or sunflower oils. Use avocados and nuts as part, not the center, of a meal or snack. Limit your intake of saturated and transfats from butter, margarine, animal trimmings, lard and hydrogenated fats.
Scheduling Meals
Maintaining regular eating intervals each day will help you establish and maintain target blood sugar levels set by your doctor or dietitian. Having a regular breakfast, lunch and dinner will prevent you from becoming overly hungry at the next meal, causing you to overeat. If long periods are expected between meals, scheduling a snack with a balance of carbohydrates, protein and fat to control your blood sugar levels.
