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The Diabetes Pyramid

May 23, 2011 | By April Khan

Once a patient is diagnosed with diabetes, he may need to change his diet. These changes are needed to control the symptoms of diabetes and to reduce the risk of future health problems such as heart disease. To make these changes easier, diabetes patients can follow the diabetes food pyramid. The diabetes food pyramid was created by the American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association to help control blood sugar level and reduce the complications of diabetes. The diabetes food pyramid contains the same food categories as the USDA standard food pyramid; however, serving sizes are based on carbohydrate content. The diabetes food pyramid also groups foods according to their carbohydrate content.

Starches

At the bottom of the food pyramid is the starch category, which contains grains and whole grains, starchy vegetables, pasta and bread. Eat starches with every meal, but choose whole-grain options as often as possible, since these have the highest nutritional value and the most dietary fiber. The diabetic food pyramid's serving sizes are tailored to an individual's weight and activity level. Servings of starches can range from six to 10 servings per day. Good choices of starches are brown rice, whole wheat, lentils and cereals. The National Diabetes Information Clearing House recommends eating fewer fatty starches such as tortilla chips, cookies, French fries and biscuits.

Fruit and Vegetables

Vegetables provide vitamins and minerals and are low in carbohydrates, which is great for regulating blood sugar. Vegetables also contain antioxidants to protect you from developing heart disease or cancer. The healthiest forms of vegetables are raw, or cooked in no added fats. Fruit contains dietary fiber, vitamin C and carbohydrates. Fruit is next to vegetables on the second step of the diabetic food pyramid. The vitamins and minerals in fruit can help protect your eyes from diseases such as glaucoma and night blindness, and help boost your immune system. You should eat fruit raw, cooked or canned with no added sugar; canned versions should preferably be in their own juices.

Milk

The milk category contains dairy products that are milk-based. These foods provide nutrients such as calcium, potassium and vitamin D. The calcium and vitamin D in milk-based dairy products help to protect and strengthen the bones and teeth. When choosing foods from this category, choose low-fat and fat-free, since full-fat dairy contains a high percentage of saturated fat or cholesterol. Choose dairy products that are not sweetened artificially, but are instead sweetened with fruit.

Meat and Meat Substitutes

The meat and meat substitute categories contain poultry, fish, meat, eggs and tofu. Foods from this category should be eaten in small portions daily. This category is a good provider of protein. The body makes protein regularly and it is part of every cell in the body. Since the body uses protein regularly, it must be replaced daily through dietary means. Choose lean-cut meats with no visible fat. Foods in this category contain saturated fat and cholesterol, so broil, grill, roast, steam or stir-fry them so you do't add too much extra fat.

References

Article reviewed by Bonny Brown Jones Last updated on: May 23, 2011

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