Following a calorie-controlled diet can help you manage both your weight and your blood sugars. A 1,400-calorie diabetic diet is a fairly low calorie diet that can help most men and women lose weight. Using the diabetes exchange diet can help you plan healthy meals that balance your carbohydrates, protein and fat intake. Consult your doctor or dietitian to help you develop your meal plan.
Diet Guide
The diabetes exchange diet divides foods into groups -- starches, fruits, milk, meat and meat substitutes, nonstarchy vegetables and fats -- based on their calorie, protein, carbohydrate and fat content. On a 1,400-calorie diabetic diet, you can have seven starch exchanges, five meat or meat substitute exchanges, three nonstarchy vegetable exchanges, three fruit exchanges, two milk exchanges and three fat exchanges. When meal planning, you can exchange items within each group. For example, at breakfast you can exchange your starches from two slices of toast to an English muffin. For balance, your exchanges should be evenly distributed among three meals.
Breakfast
Your balanced breakfast meal on your low-calorie diabetic diet should include two starch exchanges, one fruit exchange, one milk exchange and one fat exchange. A sample breakfast meal may include two slices of toast with 1 1/2 tsp. of peanut butter with a 4 oz. banana and 1 cup of nonfat milk. Eating the same amount of food at around the same time can help with blood sugar control.
Lunch
Your lunch meal should consist of two starch exchanges, two meat exchanges, one vegetables exchange, one fruit exchange, one milk exchange, two meat or meat substitute exchanges and one fat exchange. A sample lunch meal idea may include a turkey sandwich on two slices of whole wheat bread with 2 oz. of lean deli turkey meat and 1 tsp. of mayonnaise, served with 1 cup of mixed greens with 1 tbsp. of fat-free salad dressing, 1 cup of sugar-free nonfat yogurt and a small orange. Including foods high in fiber, such as the whole wheat bread, salad and fruit, can help control your hunger. Fiber also aids in blood sugar control.
Dinner
For dinner, include three starch exchanges, three meat or meat substitute exchanges, two vegetable exchanges, one fruit exchange and one fat exchange. A healthy dinner for your diabetic diet may include 3 oz. of grilled tuna with 1 1/2 cups of cooked bulgur wheat, 1/2 cup of steamed green beans, 1 cup of mixed greens with 1 tbsp. of salad dressing and 1 1/4 cups of fresh strawberries with 1 tbsp. of whipped topping. Choose lean cuts of meat, such as beef tenderloin, white meat poultry and fish, to save calories on your 1,400-calorie diet.
