People with diabetes either do not make enough insulin or cannot properly utilize the insulin they do make. Insulin transports sugar from the bloodstream into the cell to supply it with energy. Without insulin, sugar builds up in the bloodstream. While there is no cure for diabetes, you can manage your blood sugars through diet, exercise and medication.
Significance
The goal of the diet for diabetes is to help you gain control over your blood sugars. Prolonged elevated blood sugars can lead to serious complications including heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage and loss of limbs, according to the International Diabetes Federation.
Features
The diet for diabetes is a healthy, balanced diet that aims to provide you with 40 to 60 percent of calories from carbohydrates, 20 percent of calories from protein and about 30 percent or less of calories from fat, according to FamilyDoctor.org. It includes a variety of healthy foods from each of the food groups in moderate amounts.
Recommended Foods
The diet for diabetes encourages you to eat more complex carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, lean sources of protein, low-fat dairy foods and healthy fats. In addition to helping you manage your blood sugars, the diet choices for diabetes also aim to promote a healthy weight.The fiber found in complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables takes your body longer to digest aiding in both blood sugar and hunger control. Lean sources of protein and low-fat dairy foods help you meet your nutrient and protein needs on fewer calories. Healthy fats delay gastric empyting and help you feel full longer. It is also recommended that people with diabetes include omega-3-rich fish, such as salmon and tuna, in their diets to improve heart-health.
Foods to Avoid
People with diabetes have higher rates of heart disease and need to limit their intake of foods high in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium to help reduce their risk. High-fat meats and dairy foods are the primary source of saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet. Eggs also contain high amounts of cholesterol and you should limit your intake to two egg yolks a week. Trans fats can primarily be found in snack goods, processed foods and margarine. MayoClinic.com suggests you limit your sodium intake to 2,000 mg a day. Read food labels to help you track your sodium intake. A low-sodium food item has less than 140 mg of sodium per serving.
Types of Meal Plans
There are a number of different types of meal planning tools you can use to help you manage blood sugar. The exchange diet is the most structured and can help you lose weight in addition to controlling blood sugars. The carbohydrate counting diet is more liberal and only focuses on the carbohydrate-containing foods because they have the greatest impact on blood sugar. The create-your-plate plan is the simplest and teaches you portion control using your dinner plate. Your doctor or dietitian can help you figure out the best plan for you.
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