Diet is an important component in blood sugar control for people with diabetes. A proper diet for a diabetic should include a variety of healthy foods from each of the food groups, according to the American Diabetes Association. There are a number of different plans to follow and a doctor or dietitian can help determine the best plan for you.
Carbohydrate Counting Diet
Carbohydrate-containing foods, including starches, fruits, milk and yogurt, raise blood sugar, and controlling the amount you eat at each meal can help you have better control over your blood sugar. The carbohydrate counting diet is a meal planning tool designed to teach you how to manage carbohydrate intake. The amount of carbohydrate you need at each meal should be determined by your doctor or dietitian, but the American Diabetes Association says 45 to 60g is a good place to start. Basic food serving sizes and food labels can help you calculate and track your carbohydrate intake. For example, one slice of bread, one small apple and a 2/3 cup serving of light yogurt all have about 15g of carbohydrates. Meats and vegetables contain little to no carbohydrates and should be included at each meal for balance, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Diabetes Exchange Diet
The diabetes exchange diet is a low-fat, calorie-controlled diabetes meal planning guide. It is a more structured diet than the carbohydrate counting diet and teaches you how to control your intake of all foods, not just the carbohydrates. The diabetes exchange diet divides foods into groups based on similar nutrient compositions, including starches, fruits, milk and yogurt, meat and meat substitutes, non-starchy vegetables and fats. Based on your calorie needs and blood sugar goals, you are allowed to have a select number of servings from each of the food groups. When meal planning, you can exchange food items within each group because they contain the same amount of calories and carbohydrates. For example, at dinner 1/2 cup serving of mashed potatoes can be exchanged for 1/3 cup of brown rice.
Diabetes Food Pyramid
The diabetes food pyramid is designed to teach you how to make healthy choices as a diabetic. Its structure is similar to the old U.S. Department of Agriculture's food guide pyramid, encouraging you to eat more foods from the bottom, including whole-grains, fruits and vegetables, and fewer foods from the top, including sweets and fats. Eating more high fiber foods, like whole-grains, fruit and vegetables, can help you have better control over your blood sugar. Fiber in food takes longer to digest, slowing the release of sugar into the bloodstream. The diabetes food pyramid also includes information on serving sizes and healthiest choices from each group. A doctor or dietitian can help you determine how many servings to have from each of the food groups.
