Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that is usually controlled through diet, exercise and in some cases, medication. When it comes to diet, following a calorie-controlled diet can help make sure you adequately meet your needs to support a healthy weight. A 3000-calorie diabetic diet is a high calorie diet best suited for individuals who need to gain weight or for men who are very physically active.
Diet Basics
When following a calorie-controlled diet to manage your diabetes, you want to make sure you balance your nutrient intake. Using the exchange diet system can help you balance your carbohydrate, protein and fat intake for good blood sugar control. The exchange diet divides foods into groups based on similarities in nutrient composition, allowing you to exchange items within each group to vary your intake. On a 3,000-calorie diabetic diet, you can have 15 starch exchanges, four fruit exchanges, four milk exchanges, nine meat exchanges, four vegetable exchanges and nine fat exchanges. Your food choices should be divided among three meals and three snacks.
Breakfast
Your breakfast meal should include three starch exchanges, one fruit exchange, one milk exchange, two meat exchanges and two fat exchanges. A breakfast meal idea on your high-calorie diet includes a toasted whole wheat English muffin with 2 tsp. of butter or margarine, served with one scrambled egg topped with 1 oz. of cheese, 3/4 cup of unsweetened ready-to-eat cereal with 1 cup of low-fat milk and a small apple. This meal contains 600 calories and 75 g of carbohydrates.
Morning Snack
Your morning snack should include two starch exchanges, one milk exchange and one fat exchange. A sample snack includes a 2 oz. toasted whole wheat bagel with 1 tsp. of peanut butter and 1 cup of low-fat milk. This snack contains 325 calories and 45 g of carbohydrates.
Lunch
For lunch, include three starch exchanges, one fruit exchange, one milk exchange, three meat exchanges, two vegetable exchanges and three fat exchanges. A healthy lunch meal on your diet plan includes a tuna sandwich made with 3 oz. of tuna mixed with 2 tsp. of mayonnaise placed on two slices of whole wheat bread, served with 2 cups of sliced cucumbers with 1 tbsp. of salad dressing, five whole grain crackers, 1 cup of fresh melon and a 6 oz. container of non-fat sugar-free yogurt. This lunch contains 720 calories and 75 g of carbohydrates.
Afternoon Snack
Your afternoon snack should include two starch exchanges and one fruit exchange. A sample snack includes 6 cups of air-popped popcorn with 1/2 cup of orange juice, for 220 calories and 45 g of carbohydrates.
Dinner
Your balanced dinner meal should include three starch exchanges, one fruit exchange, three meat exchanges, two vegetable exchanges and two fat exchanges. A sample meal idea includes 3 oz. of portion of meatloaf, 1 cup of mashed potatoes with 1 tsp. of butter or margarine, 1/2 cup of cooked peas, 1 cup of green beans sauteed in 1 tsp. of olive oil and 1 1/4 cups of fresh strawberries. This meal contains 665 calories and 60 g of carbohydrates.
Evening Snack
Your evening snack should include two starch exchanges, one milk exchange, one meat exchange and one fat exchange. For example, you can have a grilled cheese sandwich made with two slices of whole wheat bread, one slice of cheese and 1 tsp. of butter or margarine, served with 1 cup of milk. This snack contains 400 calories and 45 g of carbohydrates.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Diabetes Diet -- Diabetic Exchange List; Harvey Simon; May 5, 2009
- MayoClinic.com; Your Diabetes Eating Plan: Exchange List; May 2010
- International Diabetes Federation: Management of Diabetes
- U.S. Department of Agriculture; Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010; Balancing Calories to Manage Weight
