A diabetic diet helps manage diabetes by controlling glucose and preventing complications. It can also help manage weight if wise choices are made relative to meat and fat, according to the American Diabetes Association. Knowledge of carbohydrates, protein and fat and which foods fall within each category is important regardless of whether a person with diabetes chooses carb counting or the exchange system as her primary tool for meal planning.
Diabetic Diet
The goal of nutrition therapy for diabetes is to assist individuals with diabetes to make necessary lifestyle changes that lead to improved metabolic outcomes. To achieve and maintain near-normal blood glucose and lipid levels and to provide adequate calories for health, the exchange diet is a simplified method of self-management for meal planning.
Background
On a diabetic exchange list, foods of similar nutrient content and serving size group together. A serving of any food on the list contains about the same amount of carbohydrates, protein, fat and calories as other foods on the list. The exchange lists, according to MayoClinic.com, include separate lists for starch, fruits, milk, non-starchy vegetables, meat, fats and other foods.
These lists help with meal planning. An individualized food plan tells a person with diabetes how many carbohydrate choices to include with every meal and snack and the person selects foods and portion sizes from the exchange lists to complete the meal plan for each day, according to Eleanor Whitney and Sharon Rolfes in "Understanding Nutrition."
Identification
Peanut butter is actually included on two exchange lists, according to the American Diabetes Association. When used in smaller amounts, 1 ½ tsp., peanut butter is counted as a fat choice. When used in larger amounts, 1 tbsp., peanut butter is counted as a high-fat meat choice. A choice on the fat list contains 5 g fat and 45 calories. Among plant-based proteins carbohydrate content varies, so read the nutrition label when using peanut butter as a plant-based protein.
Significance
Knowing which foods, such as peanut butter, are on which exchange list is critical to successfully planning diabetic meals with the exchange method. And knowing which foods contain how many carbohydrates is important to controlling glucose levels. Diabetic meal plans limit the number of carb choices and spread them throughout the day to avoid glucose level spikes and dips. See a registered dietitian regularly when learning to use food exchange lists. With practice and experience, carb counting will become easier.
Considerations
Diabetics can take care of themselves by learning what, when and how much to eat, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. Choose food wisely to help feel good every day, and lose weight if needed to lower risk of heart disease, stroke and other complications of diabetes. Exchange lists can help prevent problems by keeping blood-glucose levels within the target range.
References
- American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Forecast: Understanding Exchanges
- Mayo Clinic: Your diabetes diet: Exchange lists
- "Understanding Nutrition, Ninth Edition"; Eleanor Noss Whitney and Sharon Rady Rolfes; (2002)
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse: What I Need to Know About Eating and Diabetes
- USDA Diet and Disease: Diabetes
