The goal of treatment for people with diabetes is to keep blood sugars as close to normal as possible. Most of the food you eat raises blood sugar, and controlling the amount can help you control blood sugar. In addition, most people with type 2 diabetes are overweight; losing weight can also help you improve your blood sugars. The Diabetes Exchange Diet provides specific meal plans based on your calorie needs for a healthy weight. Consult with your doctor before making changes to your diet.
Diabetes Exchange Diet
The Diabetes Exchange Diet is a low-fat, calorie-controlled diet. On the exchange diet, foods are grouped together in familiar food groups -- starches, fruits, milk, vegetables, meats and fats -- based on similarities in calories, carbohydrates, fat and protein content. On the diet, you eat a certain number of servings from each groups based on your calorie needs. When meal planning, you can exchange foods within each group. For example, at breakfast you can exchange two slices of toast for an English muffin.
1,500-Calorie Diabetic Exchange Diet
The 1,500-calorie Diabetic Exchange Diet can help women over age 51 with type 2 diabetes maintain a healthy weight. On the diet, you can have seven starch exchanges, three fruit exchanges, two milk exchanges, two vegetable exchanges, four meat exchanges and four fat exchanges. Starch exchanges include one slice of bread, 1/2 cup hot, cooked cereal and 1/3 cup cooked rice or pasta. Fruit exchanges include a small piece of fruit or 1/2 cup unsweetened canned fruit. A milk exchange includes 1 cup milk or 6 oz. of sugar-free yogurt. One meat exchange is equal to 1 oz. of meat. A fat exchange includes 1 tsp. butter, margarine or oil.
1,800-Calorie Diabetic Exchange Diet
The 1,800-calorie diabetic exchange diet can help most women with type 2 diabetes maintain a healthy weight and promote weight loss in men. On the 1,800-calorie diabetic diet you can have eight starch exchanges, four fruit exchanges, three milk exchanges, three vegetable exchanges, six meat exchanges and four fat exchanges. Evenly distribute the exchanges between your three meals to balance your carbohydrate, protein and fat intake.
2,000-Calorie Diabetic Exchange Diet
The 2,000-calorie Diabetic Exchange Diet can help most men with type 2 diabetes maintain a healthy weight. It includes nine starch exchanges, four fruit exchanges, three milk exchanges, four vegetable exchanges, six meat exchanges and five fat exchanges. To help control blood sugar, include foods high in fiber at each meal, such as whole fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Fiber takes your body longer to digest and allows for a slow release of sugar into the bloodstream. You should also choose lean sources of meat, such as poultry and fish, and low-fat or nonfat milk products to limit your intake of saturated fat and risk of heart disease.
