A diabetic diet is nothing more than eating more nutritious foods at regular times in moderate amounts, according to MayoClinic.com. Also known as medical nutrition therapy, you can control your blood sugar and manage your weight by following this diet. As with any other eating plan, its effectiveness is low if you do not use it properly.
Clean Your Kitchen
When you first begin your diabetic diet, you need to clear your kitchen of all tempting foods that can ruin your success and health. These include sugary beverages like soda and sweetened fruit juices, along with sugar-filled snacks such as cookies, cakes, candies and cereals. HelpGuide.org also recommends clearing your refrigerator of high-fat dairy products, ice cream and deli meat. All of these items are detrimental to your efforts.
Buy Healthy Items
Nutritious food is the key to controlling your diabetes. When your kitchen is clear, take a trip to the store and buy plenty of fruits and vegetables to keep you satisfied. HelpGuide.com suggests keeping a large bowl filled with fruit on your table or kitchen counter. When you have an urge for something sweet, grab a piece of fruit. Taking the time to slice and dice vegetables like peppers, carrots and cucumbers gives you snacks to take with you when you need something quick. Do this ahead of time and place them in baggies -- this saves you valuable time.
Set a Meal Schedule
One of the most important parts of a diabetic diet is eating your meals on a set schedule. Your medication plays a large role in this. You might have to eat when you take your medication, before taking it or after. You need to discuss this with your doctor. Something else you need to consider is your personal schedule. If you work from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., you need to determine what meals and snacks you will eat during that time and when you will eat them. You also have to determine if this is a schedule you can keep this schedule every day, even weekends.
Use the Glycemic Index
The American Diabetes Association says that the first tool for managing blood glucose is counting carbohydrates, which have the greatest effect on your blood sugar. When you digest carbs, they break down into sugar, which can increase your glucose levels. The type of carbohydrate you eat, however, can make a big difference in how big the increase is. Using the glycemic index -- or GI -- takes some of the work out of carb counting for you. It measures how much a carbohydrate-containing food increases glucose levels. The lower the GI, the lower the effect. When planning your meal, aim for foods with a low or moderate GI ranking. These have little or no effect on your blood sugar. Keep in mind that a low GI does not mean you can eat more of that food. You still need to monitor your portion sizes to effectively control your glucose levels.
