If you have diabetes, your diet is an important part of the treatment of your disease. MNT, or medical nutritional therapy, helps people with diabetes choose nutrient-dense foods that are low in sugars, giving your body the vitamins it needs while stabilizing your glucose levels. Designed jointly by the American Dietetic Association and the American Diabetes Association, the MNT plan was recently revised in 2008 to reflect the latest recommendations for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Following the guidelines of the "Exchange List for Meal Planning" can help you eat a healthy, balanced diet containing the right amount of calories for you -- based on your age, weight and activity level.
Step 1
Calculate your daily caloric needs. If you need to lose weight, multiply your target body weight in pounds by 12. If you want to weigh 150 lbs., you'll need to eat about 1,800 calories daily. You can eat fewer calories to lose weight faster, but you should eat at least 1,200 calories per day. Slow and steady weight loss is safest and most likely to be permanent. Aim to lose between 1 to 2 lbs. per week.
Step 2
Understand how the diabetes exchange system works. Foods are divided into six categories: milk, fat, fruit, vegetables, protein and starches. Each category has its own set of calorie, carbohydrate, protein, fat and fiber rules. For example, a fruit exchange has no more than 60 calories and 15 g of carbohydrates, and a protein exchange contains 80 calories and up to 7 g of fat. If you choose a high-fat meat, such as a hot dog, it will use one protein and one fat exchange. Complex foods will use exchange combinations.
Step 3
Determine how many exchanges from each category you'll eat daily. A typical 1,800-calorie diet includes the following exchanges: two milk, three fat, three fruit, three vegetable, seven protein and 10 starch. Between 50 and 60 percent of your calories will come from carbs; between 20 and 30 percent of your calories will come from fat and the remainder will come from protein.
You can exchange any food for another, but within the same category. An apple, 1/2 banana, 4 apricots or a kiwi all count as one fruit exchange.
Step 4
Choose the foods you like to eat. Once you understand how to take nutritional information on any food label and convert it into the exchange list format, you'll be able to eat many of your favorite foods. Often food manufacturers have already done this conversion for you, and you'll see information such as "one serving counts as 2 starch, 1 fat and 1 milk exchange" right on the label.
Tips and Warnings
- Exercise is an important part of any diet. People with diabetes are at a higher risk for heart disease. Moderate aerobic activity -- even brisk walking -- will lower the risk of heart attack and help improve insulin sensitivity. Meeting with a nutritionist might help you determine how many exchanges from each category you need for optimum health.
- Always consult your doctor before beginning any diet or exercise program.
References
- "Diabetes Spectrum"; "Choose Your Foods: Exchange Lists for Diabetes: The 2008 Revision of Exchange Lists for Meal Planning"; Patti Bazel Geil
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Diabetes Diet - Diabetic Exchange Lists
- MayoClinic.com: Your Diabetes Diet -- Exchange Lists
- University of Maryland: Your Diabetes Diet -- Weight Control for Type 2 Diabetes
