There is not one set diet for a person with diabetes. Once the person has been diagnosed with the disease, he will meet with a dietician to discuss guidelines for his diet. If you are preparing food for a diabetic, he should give you copies of all handouts received from his doctor and dietician. According to the Diabetes Society, the goal of the diabetic is to eat a variety of foods in moderation to stabilize blood sugar.
Step 1
Purchase a diabetic cookbook. You can also use online websites that have a collection of diabetic recipes. These recipes typically have no sugar or a reduced amount of sugar added.
Step 2
Determine any food preferences that the diabetic may have. As you prepare meals for the person, remind the patient to monitor blood glucose levels to see how the foods are affecting the disease.
Step 3
Count the number of carbohydrates in the meals that you are cooking. The diabetic may be given a certain daily allowance of carbohydrates. As you cook the meals, note the carbohydrate amount of all ingredients used.
Step 4
Choose foods with a low glycemic index. Some dietary examples to include in your dishes when cooking for a diabetic are corn, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, peppers, low fat milk, fish, lean cuts of meat, oats, bran, lettuce, strawberries, cherries and grapefruit.
Step 5
Add foods high in fiber and considered healthy carbohydrates. Examples include wheat bread, whole grain cereals, bran, nuts, beans, peas, lentils, fruits and vegetables.
Step 6
Limit saturated fats. A diabetic has an increased risk of heart disease, so the amount of saturated fat in her diet needs to be controlled. Cut out butter, margarine and shortening when cooking for the diabetic. Choose healthier fats like canola oil and olive oil to prepare foods. Keep the fat intake less than 30 percent of the total meal. Use low fat methods of cooking like grilling, broiling and baking.
