According to the American Diabetes Association, about 26 million people in the United States are affected by diabetes, 7 million of whom are undiagnosed. Another 79 million people have prediabetes and are at risk for developing the disease. People with diabetes need to carefully control their diet as their body is less able to control how it processes certain foods and nutrients. Talk to your physician if you need medical advice about diabetes and your diet.
Diet
The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes eat their meals based on a dinner plate method. In this method, you start by dividing a dinner plate in half, then divide one half into halves so you have three sections. Fill the largest section with nonstarchy vegetables, such as beans, lettuce, spinach or onions. In one of the smaller sections, add starchy foods, such as breads or rice, while in the third section add protein such as chicken or fish.
Sugar
If you're diabetic, your body cannot properly make or control glucose, a kind of sugar that your body needs to operate properly. As a result, carefully controlling sugary foods and drinks is important. For most diabetics, nondiet colas and sugary snacks should, at a minimum, be severely limited if not eliminated altogether, according to Medline Plus, an online resource of the National Institutes of Health. Nonsugary beverage alternatives such a milk, coffee, tea and sugar-free sodas are acceptable, as are foods that don't contain added sugars.
Carbohydrates
Foods with carbohydrates are also of concern for diabetics because these foods raise your blood glucose levels. The American Diabetes Association recommends that diabetics set a maximum level of carbohydrates each day to keep blood glucose in a specified target range. Carbohydrates include starches, sugars and fiber. This information is included on the nutritional packaging of all foods, and diabetics should keep careful track of their carbohydrate intake to ensure they don't eat too much.
Eating Times
While choosing what kind of food to eat is important for people with diabetes, choosing when to eat is also very important. The National Diabetics Information Clearinghouse reports that eating three meals and three snacks throughout the day is best for many people with the disease. Because your body is unable to effectively regulate your blood glucose levels, you need to keep your blood sugar levels at a safe level.
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