While there is no cure for diabetes, it is a manageable disease, according to the International Diabetes Federation. Food, primarily carbohydrate-containing food, causes blood sugar levels to rise. A well-balanced diet that includes a controlled amount of carbohydrates at each meal can help you manage your blood sugar. Consult with your doctor or dietitian to determine the amount of carbohydrates you need at each meal. For simplicity, you can start at 45 to 60 g, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Breakfast
People with diabetes do not need to eat special food. In fact, keeping meals simple can help you better manage your carbohydrate intake. Carbohydrate-containing foods include starches, fruits, milk and yogurt. Each serving of one of these basic foods contains about 15 g of carbohydrate. A simple carbohydrate-controlled breakfast may include two slices of whole wheat toast with 1 tsp. of margarine and 1 cup of skim milk. Choosing basic foods makes carbohydrate counting and meal planning easy. Another simple carbohydrate-controlled breakfast meal may include 3/4 cup of unsweetened cold cereal with 1 cup of skim milk and a medium banana. You can also try a scrambled egg, served with a toasted English muffin with 1 tsp. of margarine and 1/2 cup of orange juice.
Lunch
Food label reading can also help you manage your carbohydrate intake and increase your repertoire for simple meal planning. To help with carbohydrate counting, pay attention to the serving size and total grams of carbohydrates. A simple carbohydrate-controlled lunch meal may consist of a ham sandwich stuffed into a 6-inch whole wheat pita with lettuce and tomato, served with a small bag of baked potato chips and 17 grapes. Use lean luncheon meat for your sandwiches to limit your intake of saturated fat. You can also enjoy a slice of cheese pizza from a small pie with 1 cup of cut-up melon and a tossed salad with low-fat salad dressing for lunch.
Dinner
Keep staple items in your kitchen to make dinner meal preparation simple. For example have frozen vegetables, whole wheat pasta, quick cooking brown rice, herbs and spices, soy sauce, beans, vinegars and cheese readily available. A simple carbohydrate-controlled dinner may consist of 1 cup of cooked whole wheat pasta mixed with 1 cup of cooked mixed vegetables and 3 oz. of cooked chicken--pick up an already roasted chicken from the grocery store to limit preparation--add marinara sauce and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. You can also try a broiled hamburger on a whole wheat bun with a 6-oz. baked potato cooked in the microwave and an ear of corn.
