The goal of treatment for people with diabetes is to get blood sugars as close to normal as possible and maintain them. Diet is one of the primary methods of treatment. Eating certain types of foods in controlled amounts can help you manage your blood sugars. Having good blood sugar control can lower your risk of developing complications such as nerve damage, heart disease and kidney disease.
Diet Basics
To manage your blood sugar, you need to follow a diet that controls the amount of carbohydrates you eat at each meal. Carbohydrates are your body's primary source of sugar. Eating too much can increase your blood sugar levels too quickly. Food sources of carbohydrates include starches, bread, grains, fruit, milk and yogurt. The amount of carbohydrates you need at each meal depends on your calorie needs. Talk to your doctor about how many grams of carbohydrates you should eat at each meal. Most people can start with 45 to 60 grams, according to the American Diabetes Association. Meats and fats that are not pre-packaged or pre-seasoned do not contain carbohydrates, and nonstarchy vegetables contain only small amounts. To balance your intake, try to include these non-carbohydrate foods with your meals.
In addition to the amount of carbohydrates you eat at each meal, it is also important to pay attention to the type you eat. The glycemic index measures how food effects your blood sugar. Foods with a low-glycemic index --- e.g., whole grain breads and cereals, most fresh fruits and milk --- take your body longer to digest and only cause a slight rise in blood sugar, while foods with a high glycemic index --- e.g., doughnuts, pretzels and white rice --- digest very quickly and cause a significant rise in blood sugar. For better blood sugar control, choose more low glycemic index foods.
Breakfast
A sample carbohydrate-controlled diabetic breakfast meal may include two slices of whole wheat toast with 1 tsp of margarine, one scrambled egg and a 6 oz. container of nonfat, sugar-free yogurt. This meal contains about 380 calories and 45 g of carbohydrates. Knowing basic food serving sizes can make it easier for you to count grams of carbohydrates. For example, one slice of bread, a small apple and 1 cup of milk all have about 15 g of carbohydrates. Reading labels can also help you track your carbohydrate intake.
Lunch
A sample diabetic lunch meal may include 1/4 cup of hummus stuffed into a small whole wheat pita with lettuce and tomato, served with a tossed salad with 1 tbsp of salad dressing, 1 oz. of low-fat cheese and a small apple. This lunch meal contains about 490 calories and 60 g of carbohydrates. Including foods high in fiber, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, can help you better manage your blood sugar. Fiber in food slows digestion and allows for a slower release of sugar into the bloodstream.
Dinner
For dinner, you can have 3 oz. of grilled salmon with a 6 oz. baked potato with 1 tsp of margarine, 1/2 cup of peas, a tossed salad with 1 tbsp of salad dressing, and 1 cup of nonfat milk. This meal contains 555 calories and 60 g of carbohydrates.
