What is a Diabetes Diet Plan?

To put it simply, a Diabetes Diet Plan is a deliberate eating plan that will help you control your blood sugar levels. It involves eating a variety of the recommended healthy foods in moderate amounts and sticking to regular meal times. Because an excess in carbohydrate and fat intake sends your blood sugar to alarming levels, the diet should consistently make up of vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

Meal planning

The key here is consistency and making informed food choices.

• Your meal plan should consistently comprise of a variety of healthy foods (low in carbohydrates and fats). This makes sense because the more you vary your food especially carbohydrates the harder it is to keep track of your blood sugar levels.
• Follow an established eating routine. Read food labels and count your carbohydrate and fat intake. Use Food Exchange Lists.
• Plan your meals well and stick to it.

Having your doctor and dietitian involved

The shift to a healthy diet plan from your normal carefree eating habit is by no means easy. The transition does not happen over night but your doctor and dietitian can advice you on ways to keep yourself on track. For instance, a dietitian can advice you on how to keep yourself from overeating, losing the excess weight and making better food choices.

Having your peers involved

Because it is customary for people to eat meals with their peers, it would be wise to inform your family and friends of your Diet Plan. This knowledge will guide them in making future meals with you that both accommodate your Diet Plan and their own personal tastes.

Eating out doesn’t have to be a problem

The prospect of eating out is usually filled with joy and anticipation. For diabetics on a diet plan, this is often met with dread and a sense of inevitable helplessness. It doesn’t have to be this way. In fact, you can incorporate restaurant menus into your Diet Plan.

• First of all, when eating out, look over their menus carefully and if possible, ask a restaurant staff about the ingredients, carbohydrate and fat content in the foods and drinks they prepare.
• Secondly, pay attention to their serving sizes and extra side dishes. Moderation is the key.
• Thirdly, make healthier food substitutions. For example, instead of having a regular salad dressing, bypass it or have the low-fat variety.
• Last but not the least; remember to stick to the ground rules of your diet plan and your target blood sugar level.

My name is Gary Turner and I have been a diabetic since 1984. I started Diet Plan for Diabetes to provide other diabetics the information they need to manage their diabetes and live a longer, fuller life. Subscribe now to my FREE Diet Plan for Diabetes Mini Course to find tips for keeping your blood sugar under control, and much more.