Diet plays an important role in helping you manage your diabetes. Using the calorie-controlled diabetic exchange diet guide can help you balance your carbohydrate, protein and fat intake for good blood sugar control. A 2,400-calorie diabetic diet can help active diabetic men and women between the ages of 19 and 30 maintain a healthy weight. Consult with your physician before making changes to your diet.
Starches
On the diabetes exchange diet, you are allowed to eat a certain number of servings from each food group. On the 2,400-calorie diet you can have 14 servings of starches. Starch choices and serving sizes include one slice of bread, 1/2 cup of cooked cereal, 3/4 cup of whole grain ready-to-eat cereal, 1/3 cup of cooked rice or pasta, and five whole grain crackers. When planning meals, you can "exchange" foods within each group. For example, at breakfast you can exchange 1/2 cup of cooked oatmeal for a 3/4 cup serving of ready-to-eat cereal.
Meat and Meat Alternatives
You can have nine servings of meat and meat alternatives on a 2,400-calorie diabetic diet. Choose lean cuts of meat to limit your intake of saturated fat and risk of heart disease. A single serving of meat is equal to 1 oz. Healthy meat choices include white meat poultry, fish, shellfish, beef tenderloin, pork chops, lamb chops and veal. Meat alternatives and single serving sizes include two egg whites, one whole egg, 1/4 cup of low-fat cottage cheese, 1 oz. of low-fat cheese or 1/4 cup of tofu.
Nonstarchy Vegetables
Include four servings of nonstarchy vegetables on your 2,400-calorie diabetic diet. Nonstarchy vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, spinach, kale, peppers, artichokes, asparagus, tomatoes, mushrooms, eggplant and zucchini. One serving is equal to 1 cup raw or 1/2 cup cooked.
Fruits
Include three servings of fruit a day on your 2,400-calorie diet. Fruit choices include a small apple, orange or banana, 1/2 cup of unsweetened canned fruit, 1 cup of cubed melon, 1 1/4 cup of whole strawberries, 1 cup of blueberries, 2 tbsp. of dried fruit and 1/2 cup of orange or apple juice. The fiber in whole fruit will help you have better blood sugar control than drinking its juice. Fiber in food slows digestion allowing for a slower release of sugar into the bloodstream.
Milk and Yogurt
You can have three servings of milk or yogurt on a 2,400-calorie diabetic diet. Serving sizes and choices include 1 cup of nonfat milk, 1 cup of low-fat milk, 1 cup of whole milk, 6 oz. of sugar-free yogurt, 1 cup of plain yogurt, 1 cup of buttermilk, 1/2 cup of eggnog or 1 cup of soy milk.
Fat
Include six servings of fat on your 2,400-calorie diabetic diet. Choose more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, such as olive oil, vegetable oil and nuts, for heart health. Fat choices and serving sizes include 1 tsp. of butter, margarine, oil or mayonnaise, 1 tbsp. of salad dressing, 1 1/2 tsp. of nut butter, six almonds or cashews, seven walnut halves or one slice of bacon.
