A 1,500-calorie diabetic diet is what Dr. Michael Hall prescribes for a small, diabetic woman who exercises, a small to medium-size diabetic woman who wants to lose weight, or a medium-size diabetic woman who does not get much exercise. Following this kind of diet will allow you to keep your blood sugar levels under control, while safely losing weight.
The Basics
According to Dr. Hall, diabetic diets typically rely on diabetic exchange lists. When using diabetic exchange lists, you can exchange any item within a list with another item in the same list. Foods listed in each category have a similar effect on your blood sugar level. These lists also work for people using a carbohydrate counting approach. Each food list states the grams of carbohydrates in each food on the list.
1500 Calorie Diet Exchanges
According to Dr. Hall, a typical 1,500-calorie exchange diet consists of seven starch exchanges, four vegetable exchanges, two fruit exchanges, two milk exchanges, six meat exchanges, and four fat exchanges. Each person must distribute these exchanges throughout the day based on his individual preferences, lifestyle and needs. It is best to discuss your options with a dietitian. Below is a suggested breakdown of these exchanges based on the food exchange lists provided by the University of Arkansas.
Breakfast
Breakfast consists of two starch exchanges, one fruit exchange, one milk exchange, and one fat exchange. A good breakfast with these exchanges equals two pieces of toast, a small banana, a cup of 1 percent milk, and 1 tsp. of margarine.
Lunch
Lunch consists of two meat exchanges, two starch exchanges, one vegetable exchange, and one fat. This allows you to eat the following lunch: 2 oz. of sliced turkey, one leaf of lettuce and two tomato slices on two pieces of whole wheat bread with 2 tsp. of lowfat mayonnaise.
Afternoon Snack
Afternoon snack consists of one milk exchange, one vegetable exchange and one fat exchange. A good snack to meet these exchanges would be one cup of 1 percent milk and one cup of carrot sticks dipped into 2 tbsp. of fat-free salad dressing.
Dinner
Dinner consists of three meat exchanges, two starch exchanges, one fat exchange, two vegetable exchanges and one fruit exchange. This allows you dinner to consist of 3 oz. of lean roast beef, one small baked potato, a medium-sized diner roll with 1 tsp. of margarine, one cup of cooked, mixed vegetables, and one cup fresh raspberries.
Evening Snack
Evening snack consists of one starch exchange and one meat exchange. This allows you to eat six saltine crackers with 1/4 cup of lowfat cottage cheese.
References
- Dr. Michael Hall, MD; Elk County Medical Associates; St. Marys, Pa
- University of Arkansas: The Exchange List System for Diabetic Meal Planning
