Diet is an important part of your treatment plan for diabetes. Your doctor may suggest you lose weight to help get better control over your blood sugar. Following a 1,200-calorie or 1,500-calorie diabetic diet can help you lose weight. Talk to your doctor or dietitian about how many calories you need to eat each day to control your blood sugar and manage your weight.
1,200-calorie Diabetic Diet
The 1,200-calorie diet is a very low-calorie diet and should only be followed under the direct supervision of your physician. Limiting your caloric intake to 1,200 calories a day can make it difficult for you to meet all of your nutrient needs, so you need to make sure you follow a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods from each food group. A dietitian can help you develop a meal plan based on your food preferences.
1,200-calorie Diabetic Meal Plan
A standard 1,200-calorie diabetic meal plan contains five servings of starches, 4 ounces of meat, two servings of vegetables, three servings of fruit, two servings of milk and three servings of fat. A serving of starch may include one slice of bread, 1/3 cup of rice or pasta and 3/4 cup of ready-to-eat cereal. A 1-ounce serving of meat is based on cooked meat. Choose lean cuts of meat such as white meat poultry and fish to help limit your calorie intake. One serving of a vegetable is equal to 1 cup raw or 1/2 cup cooked. A serving of fruit includes a small apple or orange, 1/2 cup of unsweetened canned fruit and 2 tablespoons of dried fruit. One serving of milk includes 1 cup of milk and 6 ounces of yogurt. Fat servings include 1 teaspoon of margarine or oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons of peanut butter and six almonds. The diabetic exchange list features a number of food choices from each food group to choose from to help you create a variety of meals.
1.500-calorie Diabetic Diet
The 1,500-calorie diabetic diet is also a low-calorie diet that can help most people lose weight, and should only be followed as directed by your doctor. However, it can also help inactive women over the age of 51 maintain a healthy weight. Include a variety of healthy foods from each food group to help make sure you meet all of your nutrient needs when following a 1,500-calorie diabetic diet.
1,500-calorie Diabetic Meal Plan
A balanced 1,500-calorie diabetic meal plan may contain eight servings of bread and starch, 5 ounces of meat, three servings of vegetables, three servings of fruit, two servings of milk and three servings of fat. When creating your meal plan for either the 1,500-calorie or the 1,200-calorie diabetic diet, divide your food servings equally among your three meals. Eating meals that balance your carbohydrate, protein and fat intake can help you better manage your blood sugar and your hunger. Your doctor or dietitian can help you create balanced meals.
