Blood glucose levels are regulated by a hormone called insulin, which is made by the pancreas. It tells muscle, fat and liver cells to pull glucose out of the blood. People who do not make enough insulin have a condition known as type 1 diabetes, while people who do not respond effectively to insulin have type 2 diabetes. Both conditions can be treated using insulin injections, but taking insulin forces patients to be vigilant and monitor what they eat as insulin doses may need to be adjusted for different meals.
Step 1
Monitor your calorie intake. One important part of eating when you have diabetes is keeping the number of calories you consume each day under control. People who have type 1 diabetes typically are put on a diet which allots 16 calories per day for every 1 lb. of body weight, EndocrineWeb.com explains. Because being overweight can raise blood glucose levels for patients who have type 2 diabetes, diets for this form of diabetes are often designed to help promote weight loss and maintain an ideal body weight. Different people may have different nutritional requirements, but -- on average -- an eating plan of 1,500 to 1,800 calories per day is used.
Step 2
Balance your nutritional intake. Although people with diabetes should limit their carbohydrate intake, carbohydrates should still make up the majority of the diet. On average, carbohydrates should provide between 40 and 65 percent of the patient's calories each day. Protein should make up between 10 and 20 percent of the daily calories, the Family Practice Notebook explains, with the remaining calories coming from fat.
Step 3
Count the carbohydrates in every meal or snack you eat. You will need to monitor your carbohydrate intake carefully because the number of carbohydrates affects how much insulin you need to take before you eat, Health.com reports. Every patient has a different carbohydrate-to-insulin ratio, so you will need to work with your doctor to determine your own levels. Once you have that information, you can modify the amount of insulin you take before eating to match the carbohydrate content. Too much insulin can cause you to develop dangerously low blood sugar, but using too little insulin can cause your blood glucose levels to rise.
Step 4
Spread your carbohydrate intake throughout the day. Working to distribute the amount of carbohydrates you eat evenly will help you avoid sudden spikes or dips in your blood glucose levels.
