Type II diabetes is caused by the body not responding properly to insulin, a hormone that tells muscle, fat and liver cells to pull glucose out of the blood. Your diet is an important part of treating type II diabetes, as it can help you keep blood glucose levels under control and can also reduce your risk of developing complications. A diet for type II diabetes is not a strict restrictive diet but is instead a set of guidelines to help you maintain your health.
Carbohydrates
One important aspect of a diet for diabetes is controlling the amount of carbohydrates you eat. When carbohydrates are metabolized, they are converted into glucose. Getting too much of your daily caloric intake from carbs can result in your glucose levels rising steadily. According to HealthCentral.com, people with type II diabetes should get between 40 and 65 percent of their calories from carbohydrates each day. Low-carbohydrate diets are not recommended for people with type II diabetes, as these diets emphasize fat and protein, which can cause diabetes complications.
Calories
People with type II diabetes often need to lower their caloric intake. Many people with type II diabetes are overweight, which can make the body less sensitive to insulin. On the other hand, diabetics who lose weight often regain some of that lost sensitivity to insulin, which can help them keep blood glucose levels under control. As a result, most people with type II diabetes will be told to restrict the number of calories they eat each day in order to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Heart Disease Prevention
If you have type II diabetes, you have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. As a result, you may need to change your diet to lower your risk of having a heart attack or developing atherosclerosis. One component of this is minimizing your consumption of cholesterol, saturated and trans fats, which are found in shortening, red meats, butter and margarine. Instead you should focus on consuming unsaturated or "healthier" fats, which are found in fatty fish, nuts and vegetable oils.
Diet Plans
In order to help diabetics develop a balanced diet, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders has a set of guidelines for how much of different foods people with type II diabetes should eat. These guidelines recommend a certain number of servings of a variety of food groups, including vegetables, fruits, grains, meat and dairy each day, depending on how many calories you plan to eat. For example, if you are eating between 1,200 and 1,600 calories per day, you should consume six servings of starches, three of vegetables, two of fruits, 4 to 6 oz. of meat, two servings of dairy and up to three servings of fats.
Considerations
Although people with type II diabetes can help lower their blood sugar by following a carefully planned diet, dietary changes should not be used as a substitute for diabetes medications and the care of a physician. On the other hand, patients may be able to reduce the dose of medication that they need each day by following a proper diet and by making other lifestyle changes, such as getting more exercise.
