Diabetic menus should vary depending on the type of diabetes. Menus for Type 1 diabetes should not be identical to menus for patients who are Type 2 diabetics. A menu for a 20-year-old pregnant female with gestational diabetes includes frequent meals throughout the day, while menu plans for other diabetic situations do not encourage the same. Determine which type of diabetic menu is appropriate for each type of diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes Menus
A good diabetic menu for Type 1 diabetics begins with a plan to help to stabilize blood sugar. Healthy foods are the key to successful Type 1 Diabetes menus. Menus that present foods that cause or create huge swings of blood sugar highs and lows are not acceptable. Look for menus for Type 1 Diabetics that include a foods exchange list in order to avoid sugary sodas, fruit juices, desserts and fast food that includes pizza, doughnuts, French fries and other non-nutritional foods. Look for Type 1 Diabetes menus that keep blood glucose levels as low as possible. According to the University of Maryland, the first step in a diabetes program is to monitor blood sugar and talk to a registered dietitian to find the appropriate menu..
Type 2 Diabetes Menus
A diabetic menu for Type 2 diabetics should center around three structured meals each day with lunch being the heaviest of the three. Reduce the portion sizes of meals, even if it means using smaller plates. A good diabetic menu for Type 2 diabetics includes a fresh garden vegetable salad before lunch and dinner. Good Type 2 diabetic menus advise eliminating carbohydrates such as breads, pasta, rice, pies and bakery products. Replace poor nutritional carbohydrates with vegetables, proteins such as egg whites, non-fried chicken, fish or lean meat. Add good fats to the diet such as those from avocados, almonds and cashews. According to Family Doctor, "Just be careful about how much sugar you eat and try not to add sugar to foods."
Gestational Diabetes Menus
During a gestational diabetes pregnancy, the key is to follow a diet plan that provides adequate calories for the health of both mother and baby while at the same time maintaining the mother's blood glucose levels. A menu for gestational diabetics should include eating small meals throughout the day as opposed to only eating one or two large meals. The calories of the menu need to come from fresh foods that contain quality nutrition and those that include vitamin and mineral content. Doctors from the Mayo Clinic indicate that, "Gestational diabetes can cause high blood sugar levels that are unlikely to cause problems for you, but can threaten the health of your unborn baby."
