Type 1 diabetes means that your pancreas does not produce any insulin at all. Type 2 diabetes means your pancreas produces some insulin, but not enough. Insulin is important, because it helps your body use glucose, or sugar. Without insulin, glucose cannot enter your cells properly and your body cannot use glucose normally, which affects your blood sugar levels. Since your body cannot use insulin properly, it's important to control your diabetes through diet and living a healthy lifestyle.
Red Meat
Even though you are diabetic, your body still needs protein. You can obtain protein by consuming meats, such as poultry, fish and lean red meats. Some red meats, such as rib eye and prime rib, have a high fat content; do not consume these types of meats. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends limiting your intake of saturated fats, such as red meat, to fewer than 7 percent of your daily calories.
Other Sources of Protein
You can obtain protein from other sources, such as tofu, dairy products, beans and even some vegetables. If you choose to obtain protein from dairy products, pay close attention to the fat content. Choose low-fat, fat-free or skim milk dairy products. Vegetables may be your best option for protein since they are low in calories and fat, but high in fiber, iron and other important nutrients.
Exchange List
You may wonder how much dairy, fish, beans and poultry you should have, but it's not as complicated as it might sound. FamilyDoctor.org recommends instead of having 1 oz. of meat for dinner, as an example, exchange it for one-half cup of dried beans. You could also consume yogurt instead of having meat for dinner. Yogurt provides your body with protein, calcium, iron and other important vitamins.
Considerations
Limit your intake of all types of fats, such as trans fats, monounsaturated fats and saturated fats. The ideal body mass index is below 25; lose weight if your BMI is 25 or greater. Obesity can contribute to your diabetes and cause your glucose levels to become even more unstable than they could be if you were of a normal or healthy weight. Your diet should consist of 45 to 65 percent carbohydrates, or carbs, 25 to 35 percent fats and around 12 to 20 percent protein.
