Blood sugar levels are regulated by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that causes the body to pull glucose out of the blood. People with diabetes have chronically high blood glucose levels, which can increase their risk of developing eye problems, heart disease, and nerve damage. By following a healthy diet, people with diabetes can better control their diabetes.
Principles
There are three main factors in a diabetes diet, HelpGuide.org explains. The first is what the patient eats, which means that diet plans for diabetics focus on helping the patient to eat healthy foods. Portion size, the second factor, is also important, because eating too much of any food can aggravate diabetes. Thirdly, when the patient eats is also important, as spacing food intake throughout the day can help to keep blood glucose levels steady.
Goals
One of the main purposes of a diet for diabetes is to keep blood glucose levels in an acceptable range. One way in which a healthy diet can promote this is through weight loss, the Mayo Clinic states, as losing excess pounds can have a positive effect on blood glucose levels. Diabetes diets also focus on a patient's cholesterol levels, as poor cholesterol levels can increase a patient's risk of developing heart disease, one of the major complications of diabetes.
Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats
Balance is important for a diabetes diet. Carbohydrates are the largest component of a diabetic's diet, HealthCentral notes, and should comprise between 40 percent and 65 percent of the daily calories. Low carbohydrate diets are usually not recommended for diabetics. Diabetics should also limit their fat consumption to less than 30 percent of their daily calories, with the rest of the calories coming from proteins.
Exchange Systems
Planning a healthy diet for diabetes can be difficult, so many patients use "exchange" systems, the Federal Citizen Information Center reports. An exchange system helps to group foods of similar calories and nutrients. Patients using an exchange system for diabetes are then allotted a certain number of servings from each food group each day. Exchange systems simplify diet planning because they allow patients to choose foods without having to calculate the nutritional information for each food.
Limitations
Although changes in diet can have a strong effect on a person's blood glucose level, dietary changes should not be used to replace medication's and the supervision of a health professional. Most people cannot completely control their diabetes with diet, and poorly controlled diabetes can cause life-threatening health problems.
