It is recommended by health professionals such as dietitians and doctors that people with diabetes be watchful of their diet by undergoing through a diabetic diet meal program. A well-balanced lifestyle and diet compliments the treatment for diabetes. With the help of a certified dietitian, you can have your own diabetic diet meal program which is simple to manage and easy to deal with.
Using a diabetic diet meal program, the person with diabetes will be guided accordingly with what menu he or she would have for that day, taking into account the quantity of carbohydrate intake that he or she is allowed to partake.
A diabetic diet meal program is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach. It varies from person to person, depending on what type of diabetes that person has. Those who have type 1 diabetes must pair up their treatment regimen, which include insulin shots, with a diabetic diet meal program. Persons with type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, are required to reduce their weight.
Guide to Proper Diabetic Diet Meal Program
The following is an example of a diabetic diet meal program suited for the kind of diabetes that a person has.
Type 1 Diabetic Diet Meal Program:
Persons afflicted with type 1 diabetes should have a diabetic diet meal program that controls the amount of carbohydrate and protein intake. Because of the great deal of complications associated with diabetes, a diabetic diet meal program is a requisite for these patients in order for them to better manage their disease.
For those with type 1 diabetes, heart disorders, high blood pressure, and kidney failure are some of the most common complications that they usually encounter. Therefore, their diabetic diet meal program focuses on foods that are low in fats, sugar, cholesterol, and sodium. Their diabetic diet meal program is usually a combination of fruits and green leafy vegetables and other foods that are high in fiber. The diet meal plan aims for persons with type 1 diabetes to have a stable level of blood sugar and reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
Type 2 Diabetic Diet Meal Program:
For persons diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, they are required to keep track of their body weight. The diabetic diet meal program for this category involves foods that are rich in fiber, fatty acids and omega 3 (which are commonly found in fish), and carbohydrates and healthy fats. Persons diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should stay away from foods that have high sodium, fat, and cholesterol content.
For persons with type 2 diabetes, it is recommended that they partake little portions instead of an entire meal. Doing so would result for the glucose levels to be easily managed.
Below is an example of a diabetic diet meal program for a whole day:
Breakfast:
- two 4½ inches waffles
- a cup of yogurt
- three-quarter cup of blackberries
- a cup of tea or coffee
Lunch:
- twelve pieces of crackers
- a diet soda
- a whole cup of beans
- a half-cup of cauliflower or broccoli
Dinner:
- skim milk
- four ounces of hamburger patty in a hamburger bun, with two lettuce leaves, two slices of tomato, and a tablespoon of ketchup
- a cup of celery
Discipline is your key. Always bear in mind that you can minimize the complications associated with diabetes by having a right diabetic diet meal program.
