Diabetes is a group of diseases characterized by elevated blood sugar. People with type 1 diabetes do not make insulin; in type 2 diabetes, the body cannot properly use the insulin it produces. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious complications, including kidney disease, blindness and cardiovascular disease. Dietary changes are a key component in managing diabetes, and a number of different diets are available to choose from. Consult with a physician before making any diet changes.
Carbohydrate Counting
Carbohydrate counting is a diet people with diabetes can follow to help them manage their blood sugar. Foods containing carbohydrates, including all starches, fruits and milks, cause the blood sugar to elevate. Controlling the amount of carbohydrates consumed can help manage blood sugar. People with diabetes are allowed to eat a certain number of carbohydrate grams at each meal and snack, usually starting at 45 to 60 g, according to the American Diabetes Association. People with diabetes use basic food serving size knowledge and food labels to help count carbohydrates. Protein and fats, such as meat and margarine, do not contain carbohydrates and should be consumed at each meal to provide balance.
Glycemic Index Diet
The glycemic index diet aims at managing blood sugar by controlling the types of carbohydrates consumed. It ranks carbohydrates based on how they affect blood sugar. Carbohydrates with a high glycemic index--a number greater than or equal to 75--cause a rapid rise in blood sugar, while carbohydrates with a low glycemic index, or a number less than or equal to 55, create only a slight rise in blood sugar. When following the glycemic index diet for diabetes, people are encouraged to choose more low glycemic index foods, such as pumpernickel bread, pasta and grapes. High glycemic index foods, like whole wheat bread, can be consumed if eaten with a low glycemic index food, according to the American Diabetes Association.
The Diabetes Exchange Diet
The diabetes exchange diet is the most structured of the diabetes diets. It was designed by the American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association. People who choose the diabetes exchange diet eat a certain number of foods from each food group every day. The food groups include starches, fruits, milk, meats, vegetables and fats. Food within each group contain about the same amount of calories and carbohydrates and can be exchanged for one another. For example, 3/4 cup of unsweetened cold cereal can be exchanged for one slice of whole wheat bread of 1/2 cup of cooked hot cereal. The diabetes exchange diet is also a good weight-loss plan because it controls overall intake, unlike the other two plans.
