Diabetes is a condition that causes chronically elevated blood glucose levels. Insulin is made by the pancreas, so your muscle, liver and fat tissue can remove glucose out of your blood. If you have diabetes, you either do not make any insulin or enough insulin, or you do not respond properly to insulin. One critical part of treating diabetes is to follow a proper diet, also known as medical nutrition therapy.
Goals
Medical nutrition therapy for diabetics has multiple goals, a 2008 article in "Diabetes Care" reports. One goal is to achieve and maintain blood glucose levels that are as close to normal as possible. Medical nutrition therapy also aims to keep your lipids, such as triglycerides and cholesterol, at levels that reduce your risk of developing heart disease. A third goal is a lowering of blood pressure. Losing weight can help you achieve all three of these goals, so a critical part of nutrition therapy is weight loss.
Calories
One of the most important aspects of losing weight with diabetes is to reduce the number of calories you eat. The number of calories you should eat each day depends on your gender, body type and activity level, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders notes. For example, if you are a small woman who exercises or a medium-size woman who wants to lose weight or does not exercise much, you might need to consume between 1,200 and 1,600 calories per day. Large men, especially those who are physically active, might need as many as 2,400 calories each day. Your doctor will be able to help you determine what caloric intake is appropriate so that you can achieve and maintain your ideal weight.
Nutrient Balance
When planning out a diet to help you lose weight with diabetes, you need to make sure you consume carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the right proportions. According to the Patient Education Institute, 50 to 60 percent of your calories should come from carbs. Fat should make up less than 30 percent of the calories you consume, with protein making up the rest of your daily caloric consumption. Eating too much fat or carbs can cause your lipid or blood glucose levels to get too high, which is unhealthy.
Variety
Most diabetes-eating plans focus on having you eat a variety of foods while you try to lose weight. This helps you get all of the vitamins, minerals and fiber you need while keeping you from getting tired of a strict diet. Portion control is also important; most foods can be included in a diet as long as you watch how much you eat, the American Diabetes Association says.
