Following a meal plan when you have diabetes doesn't have to be bland and boring. The diabetic exchange chart is an easy way to plan meals that will help keep your blood sugar in check. You can swap out, or exchange, one food in a certain group with another to keep your diet fresh and interesting. Always consult with a doctor before beginning any diet; a registered dietitian will help you determine how many servings of each food group you should consume per day.
Step 1
Visit a registered dietitian. Every diabetic person's needs are a little different, and a dietitian can tell you how many daily exchanges you need from each food group. To keep your blood sugar levels in range, the dietitian will help you determine how to spread the exchanges throughout your daily diet.
Step 2
Learn about the categories in the exchange chart. Foods are grouped into several types--starches/grains, fruits, dairy, meat/protein, fats, sweets and "free" foods. Within a group, various serving sizes of different foods are listed. When you follow the serving size recommendations, each item on the list has about the same amount of calories and carbohydrates.
Step 3
Design a meal plan based on your dietitian's recommendation. The exchange chart is designed to give you some flexibility in your food choices. For example, if you are eating one lean meat serving at a meal, you can choose two egg whites, six oysters or 1 oz. of lean pork, among many other options.
Step 4
Eat your meals at about the same time each day; consume the same amounts of food from day to day. This recommendation from Colorado State University will help regulate your blood sugar, while the choices offered by the exchange chart help you feel less restricted by this "diet."
Step 5
Use the list of free foods to sweeten and flavor your foods. Many spices, condiments and sugar substitutes are on this list, allowing you to enjoy a flavorful diet.
