In the United States, 8 percent to 20 percent of people with diabetes have coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is characterized by a buildup of plaque along the artery walls. Bypass surgery may be necessary to improve the blood flow to the heart. A quadruple bypass surgery involves four arteries. A diet for people with diabetes after quadruple bypass surgery should be low in fat and cholesterol, and carbohydrate controlled.
Diabetes Exchange Diet
The diabetes exchange diet is a calorie-controlled, low-fat meal planning guide for people with diabetes. It helps you balance your carbohydrate, protein and fat intake. When following the diabetes exchange diet, you can eat a certain number of foods from each group based on your calorie needs. Consult with a doctor or dietitian to determine your calorie needs. The diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean sources of protein and low-fat and nonfat dairy foods. Foods within each group contain about the same amount of calories, carbohydrates, protein and fat. When meal planning, you can exchange items within each group. For example, at breakfast one slice of whole wheat bread can be exchanged for 1/2 cup of hot cooked cereal.
Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid
The diabetes food guide pyramid is another diet people with diabetes who have had quadruple bypass surgery can follow. Like the exchange diet, it is a healthy, calorie-controlled, low-fat diet. The diabetes food guide pyramid illustrates how you should eat by encouraging you to eat more foods from the bottom of the pyramid, including whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and fewer foods from the top of the pyramid, including fats and sweets. It also provides information on how to choose the healthiest foods. For example, it suggests you choose lean sources of protein such as poultry and fish, and low-fat and nonfat dairy foods, to limit your saturated fat. Eating a lot of saturated fat increases blood cholesterol levels, which can lead to artery plaque buildup.
Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes Diet
While the other two diets focused on diabetes, the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes Diet, also known as TLC, focuses on coronary artery disease. But can also be used to help you manage your blood sugar. The goal of the TLC diet is to lower blood cholesterol levels to reduce risk of coronary artery disease. The diet encourages you to decrease your intake of saturated fat to less than 7 percent of total calories, and cholesterol to less than 200 mg a day. It also recommends you eat more foods high in soluble fiber, including oatmeal, legumes and pears. Soluble fiber helps to lower both blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels. The diet also aims to control calorie intake to help with weight management. Talk to your doctor or dietitian about the TLC diet to help you manage your diabetes after quadruple bypass surgery.
