Diet is an important part of the treatment plan for your diabetes. A basic diet for diabetes emphasizes healthy foods in moderate portions. The American Diabetes Association has created a diet guide, often referred to as the ADA diet, to help you balance calorie and nutrient intake. A 2,000-calorie ADA diet can help active men and women maintain a healthy weights and control blood sugar levels.
Purpose
Your individual calorie needs depend on your age, gender and activity level. Some people lose weight consuming 2,000-calories a day, while others may gain weight. Talk to your doctor to help you determine your daily calorie needs to maintain a healthy weight. In general, a 2,000-calorie diet can help active women -- women who exercise daily to the equivalent of walking 3 miles a day -- and sedentary men maintain a healthy weight; it can help active men lose weight.
Features
The ADA diet is designed to teach you how to control portions and balance your meal calorie, carbohydrate, protein and fat intake. Your diet consists of a specific number of food servings from each of the food groups. A daily 2,000-calorie meal plan consists of 11 servings of starch, eight servings of meat, four servings of vegetables, three servings of fruit, two servings of milk and four servings of fat. A serving of food in each group contains the same amount of calories, protein, carbohydrates and fat, allowing you to "exchange" food items within each group to help you vary your meals. The ADA diet is also known as the Diabetes Exchange Diet.
Diet Guide
On your 2,000-calorie ADA diet you should be eating three meals and one snack a day. Try to include as many food groups as possible at each meal to help you balance your intake for better blood sugar control. Eating the same amount of food at around the same time each day also helps manage blood sugar.
Breakfast
A balanced breakfast on your 2,000-calorie diet should include two servings of starch, one serving of meat, one serving of milk, one serving of fruit and one serving of fat. A sample meal may include a toasted whole wheat English muffin with 1 oz. of low-fat cheese melted on top, served with 1 cup of nonfat milk and a small banana.
Lunch
For lunch, include four servings of starch, three servings of meat, two servings of vegetables, one serving of fruit and one serving of fat. A sample lunch meal on your 2,000-calorie ADA diet may include a tuna sandwich made with two slices of whole-grain bread, 3 oz. of water packed tuna mixed with 1 tbsp. of low-fat mayonnaise, served with 2 oz. of pretzels, a small apple and 2 cups of mixed greens topped with 1 tbsp. of fat-free salad dressing.
Dinner
Your dinner meal should include three servings of starch, three servings of meat, two servings of vegetables, one serving of fruit and one serving of fat. For dinner, you can have 3 oz. of grilled beef tenderloin, 1 1/2 cups of roasted red potatoes tossed with 1 tsp. of olive oil, 1 cup of steamed broccoli and 3/4 cups of cubed pineapple.
Snack
Your snack may include two servings of starch, one serving of meat, one serving of milk and one serving of fat. Your snack may include 10 to 12 crackers with 1 tbsp. of peanut butter and 1 cup of nonfat milk.
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