Diabetes is a serious, chronic disease that you have partial control over with the foods you eat. Although diabetes can be overwhelming at first, once you gain control over your nutritional needs -- which do not differ greatly from the average person -- you gain control over your condition.
Function
No particular diet exists for a person with diabetes, and each person's needs can vary. MayoClinic.com refers to diabetic dieting as "medical nutrition therapy," saying that it is simply a matter of eating more nutritious foods in moderation at regular times of the day. Your focus is on regulating your blood sugar levels to prevent serious health repercussions.
Calories
Calories are a major focus of eating right for everyone, but especially for diabetics. If you are overweight, your doctor might restrict the number of calories you consume each day to aid in weight loss, a major risk factor for diabetes. Your doctor also might restrict your caloric intake to help maintain your current weight, preventing weight gain and reducing your risk of blood sugar spikes. This in turn reduces your chances of developing heart disease, a common complication of diabetes. The number of calories your doctor allows can change depending on the results of your daily blood glucose monitoring and your ability to maintain a healthy weight.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates can be either friend of foe, depending on the type you choose. Simple carbohydrates are your foe: They break down quickly and your blood absorbs them rapidly, which results in blood sugar spikes. Avoid simple carbs as much as possible to maintain healthy glucose levels. Foods in this category include regular soda, candy, white bread, white rice and vegetables such as white potatoes, corn and peas.
Complex carbohydrates take longer to break down and absorb in your blood. These are your friend, and the type of carbohydrates you can eat the most of. They provide you with the energy you need while maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. Eat a majority of green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, green beans and Brussels sprouts. Whole grains bread, brown rice and oatmeal are good choices. Legumes are healthy options, and include kidney beans, navy beans and black-eyed peas.
Fats
Like carbs, fats can be good or bad. Saturated fats are primarily found in animal products such as red meat, and are not only high in fat, but also high in calories and cholesterol. Reduce your risk by choosing skinless, white meat poultry, or lean cuts of steak, burger or pork. Fish such as tuna, cod, salmon and halibut are your healthiest options -- these are lower in fat, calories and cholesterol than both meat and poultry.
Unsaturated fats are your friend and should be chosen these over saturated fats whenever possible. Cooking oils such as canola, olive and peanut are healthiest for sauteing your meat and vegetables. Avocados, black and green olives also are healthy, as are nuts for snacks.
Portion Control
Portion control is just as important for your nutrition as the food you choose. Eating the right portions helps prevent you from eating more than you should. Divide your plate in half and on one-half put complex carbohydrate vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower or Brussels sprouts. Divide the other half into two quarters, and put lean protein in one quarter and a starch such as potatoes, rice or pasta in the other.
Considerations
The glycemic index rates foods on the amount of carbs they contain, placing them into three categories: low, moderate and high. Foods in the low category rate 55 or lower, moderate foods place between 56 and 69, and foods in the high category rank 70 or above. Try to choose foods from the low or moderate levels as much as possible; these will regulate your blood sugar more than foods ranking high.
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