Breakfast is an important meal for a diabetic. Your body has been without food for at least eight hours and needs fuel. It is even more important if you take insulin, because skipping a meal when on insulin can cause insulin shock. The right breakfast will keep your blood glucose steady and your energy level high. What you eat for breakfast is even more important if you have both diabetes and heart disease.
Diabetic Meal Planning
The proportions of protein, fat and carbohydrate in diabetic meals must be balanced according to your overall diet plan and your daily blood sugar readings. Follow your doctor’s recommendations for your specific condition. Generally, a diabetic diet should provide: six or more servings of high-fiber grains, beans or starchy vegetables; three to five servings of vegetables; two to four servings of fruit; two to three servings of milk; two to three servings of meat, fish or other protein and a small amount of fat.
Diet for Heart Disease
A diet for heart disease is similar to a diabetic diet except that you should eat no more than six ounces of cooked meat or fish daily and no more than three or four egg yolks a week. Avoid fried foods and limit fats and oils to five to eight teaspoons a day. People with heart disease should also restrict salt to 2,400 milligrams or less a day and eat fish, especially oily fish, at least twice a week.
Breakfast Options
Breakfast foods that meet the dietary requirements for both diabetes and heart disease are readily available. Try an omelet made with egg whites and sautéed vegetables, accompanied by whole grain toast, orange slices and low-fat milk. Cottage cheese with tomatoes or fruit and a whole grain bagel is another breakfast option. Top a breakfast hash of chopped, leftover cooked meat, onions and potatoes with fresh tomato salsa.
Less Conventional Breakfasts
Breakfast doesn’t have to be limited to standard fare. Serve a whole-wheat tortilla quesadilla made with sliced chicken, sautéed vegetables and a little cheese; add some melon or pineapple. Whole grain pita bread stuffed with tuna, celery, pickle and lettuce is a quick, portable breakfast. A bowl of navy bean soup with whole-grain corn bread and a glass of milk provides inexpensive fiber and protein. A baked potato topped with cooked vegetables and low-fat cheese is another heart-healthy diabetic breakfast.
Other Breakfast Possibilities
For a more conventional meal, make whole grain waffles and top with fresh fruit. Freeze extra waffles to pop in the toaster another day. Eat a bowl of oatmeal with some baked or broiled turkey sausage on the side for added protein. Try French toast with a low-sugar fruit spread, applesauce or sliced strawberries. If you find yourself short on time, blend a carton of yogurt with fresh fruit and a little milk for a breakfast drink to go.
References
- Diabetes Health: Making Time for Breakfast
- American Diabetes Association: Breakfast On the Go
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Diabetes Diet -- Type 1 -- Recommendations
- Medline Plus: Heart Disease and Diet
- MayoClinic.com: Heart-Healthy Diet: 8 Steps to Prevent Heart Disease
- American Heart Association: Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations
- Circulation: Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations Revision 2006
