Diabetes diet: Create your healthy-eating plan
A diabetes diet is a healthy-eating plan that helps control blood sugar. Use this guide to get started, from meal planning to counting carbohydrates.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
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A diabetes diet simply means eating the healthiest foods in moderate amounts and sticking to regular mealtimes. It's a healthy-eating plan that's naturally rich in nutrients and low in fat and calories. Key elements are fruits, vegetables and whole grains. In fact, this type of diet is the best eating plan for most everyone.
Why do you need to develop a healthy-eating plan?
If you have diabetes or prediabetes, your health care provider will likely recommend that you see a dietitian to help you develop a healthy-eating plan. The plan helps you control your blood sugar, also called blood glucose, manage your weight and control heart disease risk factors. These factors include high blood pressure and high blood fats.
When you eat extra calories and carbohydrates, your blood sugar levels rise. If blood sugar isn't controlled, it can lead to serious problems. These problems include a high blood sugar level, called hyperglycemia. If this high level lasts for a long time, it may lead to long-term complications, such as nerve, kidney and heart damage.
You can help keep your blood sugar level in a safe range. Make healthy food choices and track your eating habits.
For most people with type 2 diabetes, weight loss also can make it easier to control blood sugar. Weight loss offers a host of other health benefits. If you need to lose weight, a healthy-eating plan provides a well-organized, nutritious way to reach your goal safely.
What does a diet for people with diabetes involve?
A diet for people living with diabetes is based on eating healthy meals at regular times. Eating meals at regular times helps to better use insulin that the body makes or gets through medicine.
A registered dietitian can help you put together a diet based on your health goals, tastes and lifestyle. The dietitian also can talk with you about how to improve your eating habits. Options include choosing portion sizes that suit the needs for your size and activity level.
Recommended foods
Make your calories count with nutritious foods. Choose healthy carbohydrates, fiber-rich foods, fish and "good" fats.
Healthy carbohydrates
During digestion, sugars and starches break down into blood glucose. Sugars also are known as simple carbohydrates, and starches also are known as complex carbohydrates. Focus on healthy carbohydrates, such as:
Fruits.
Vegetables.
Whole grains.
Legumes, such as beans and peas.
Low-fat dairy products, such as milk and cheese.
Avoid less healthy carbohydrates, such as foods or drinks with added fats, sugars and sodium.
Fiber-rich foods
Dietary fiber includes all parts of plant foods that your body can't digest or absorb. Fiber moderates how your body digests food and helps control blood sugar levels. Foods high in fiber include:
Vegetables.
Fruits.
Nuts.
Legumes, such as beans and peas.
Whole grains.
Heart-healthy fish
Eat heart-healthy fish at least twice a week. Fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These omega-3s may prevent heart disease.
Avoid fried fish and fish with high levels of mercury, such as cod.
'Good' fats
Foods containing monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats can help lower your cholesterol levels. These include:
Avocados.
Nuts.
Canola, olive and peanut oils.
But don't overdo it, as all fats are high in calories.
Foods to avoid
Diabetes raises your risk of heart disease and stroke by raising the rate at which you develop clogged and hardened arteries. Foods containing the following can work against your goal of a heart-healthy diet.
Saturated fats. Avoid high-fat dairy products and animal proteins such as butter, beef, hot dogs, sausage and bacon. Limit coconut and palm kernel oils.
Trans fats. Avoid trans fats found in processed snacks, baked goods, shortening and stick margarines.
Cholesterol. Cholesterol sources include high-fat dairy products and high-fat animal proteins, egg yolks, liver, and other organ meats. Aim for no more than 200 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol a day.
Sodium. Aim for no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day. Your health care provider may suggest you aim for a smaller amount if you have high blood pressure.
Putting it all together: Creating a plan
You may use a few different approaches to create a healthy diet to help you keep your blood sugar level within a typical range. With a dietitian's help, you may find that one or a combination of the following methods works for you:
The plate method
The American Diabetes Association offers a simple method of meal planning. It focuses on eating more vegetables. Follow these steps when preparing your plate:
Fill half of your plate with nonstarchy vegetables, such as spinach, carrots and tomatoes.
Fill a quarter of your plate with a lean protein, such as tuna, lean pork or chicken.
Fill the last quarter with a carbohydrate, such as brown rice or a starchy vegetable, such as green peas.
Include "good" fats such as nuts or avocados in small amounts.
Add a serving of fruit or dairy and a drink of water or unsweetened tea or coffee.
Counting carbohydrates
Because carbohydrates break down into sugar, they have the greatest effect on your blood sugar level. To help control your blood sugar, you may need to learn to figure out the amount of carbohydrates you are eating with the help of a dietitian. You can then adjust the dose of insulin accordingly. It's important to keep track of the amount of carbohydrates in each meal or snack.
A dietitian can teach you how to measure food portions and become an educated reader of food labels. You also can learn how to pay special attention to serving size and carbohydrate content.
Choose your foods
A dietitian may recommend you choose specific foods to help plan meals and snacks. You can choose a number of foods from lists that include categories such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
One serving in a category is called a choice. A food choice has about the same amount of carbohydrates, protein, fat and calories — and the same effect on your blood sugar — as a serving of every other food in that same category. For example, the starch, fruits and milk list includes choices that are all between 12 and 15 grams of carbohydrates.
Glycemic index
Some people who live with diabetes use the glycemic index to select foods, especially carbohydrates. This method ranks carbohydrate-containing foods based on their effect on blood sugar levels. Talk with your dietitian about whether this method might work for you.
A sample menu
When planning meals, take into account your size and activity level. The following menu is for someone who needs 1,200 to 1,600 calories a day.
Breakfast. Whole-wheat bread (1 medium slice) with 2 teaspoons jelly, 1/2 cup shredded wheat cereal with a cup of 1% low-fat milk, a piece of fruit and coffee.
Lunch. Roast beef sandwich on wheat bread with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise, medium apple and water.
Dinner. Salmon, 1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil, small baked potato, 1 tsp margarine, 1/2 cup carrots, 1/2 cup green beans, medium dinner roll and unsweetened iced tea.
Snack. For example, 2 1/2 cups popcorn with 1 1/2 teaspoons margarine.
What are the results of this kind of diet?
Embracing a healthy-eating plan is the best way to keep your blood sugar level under control and prevent diabetes complications. And if you need to lose weight, you can tailor the plan to your specific goals.
Aside from managing your diabetes, a healthy diet offers other benefits too. Because this diet recommends generous amounts of fruits, vegetables and fiber, following it is likely to lower your risk of cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer. And eating low-fat dairy products can reduce your risk of low bone mass in the future.
Are there any risks?
If you live with diabetes, it's important that you partner with your health care provider and dietitian to create an eating plan that works for you. Use healthy foods, portion control and a schedule to manage your blood sugar level. If you don't follow your prescribed diet, you run the risk of blood sugar levels that change often and more-serious complications.
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Diabetes Diet: Create Your Healthy-Eating Plan
A diabetes diet is a healthy-eating plan that helps control blood sugar. Use this guide to get started, from meal planning to counting carbohydrates.
Why Do You Need to Develop a Healthy-Eating Plan?
For those with diabetes or prediabetes, a healthy-eating plan is crucial. It helps control blood sugar, manage weight, and reduce risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and high blood fats. Without proper management, high blood sugar can lead to serious complications like nerve, kidney, and heart damage.
What Does a Diet for People with Diabetes Involve?
A diabetes-friendly diet involves eating healthy meals at regular times. This helps the body use insulin more effectively. A registered dietitian can assist in creating a plan that fits your health goals, tastes, and lifestyle. Key elements include portion control and choosing nutrient-dense foods.
Recommended Foods
Healthy Carbohydrates
Focus on:
Fruits
Vegetables
Whole grains
Legumes (beans and peas)
Low-fat dairy products
Fiber-Rich Foods
Include:
Vegetables
Fruits
Nuts
Legumes
Whole grains
Heart-Healthy Fish
Eat fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines at least twice a week. Avoid fried fish and those high in mercury.
"Good" Fats
Opt for:
Avocados
Nuts
Canola, olive, and peanut oils
Foods to Avoid
Saturated Fats
Limit high-fat dairy products, butter, beef, hot dogs, sausage, bacon, coconut, and palm kernel oils.
Trans Fats
Avoid processed snacks, baked goods, shortening, and stick margarines.
Cholesterol
Keep intake to under 200 mg per day, avoiding high-fat dairy products, high-fat animal proteins, egg yolks, and organ meats.
Sodium
Aim for no more than 2,300 mg per day, or less if you have high blood pressure.
Putting It All Together: Creating a Plan
You can use several methods to create a healthy diet plan:
The Plate Method
Fill half your plate with nonstarchy vegetables (e.g., spinach, carrots, tomatoes).
Fill a quarter with lean protein (e.g., tuna, lean pork, chicken).
Fill the remaining quarter with a healthy carbohydrate (e.g., brown rice, green peas).
Add small amounts of "good" fats (e.g., nuts, avocados).
Include a serving of fruit or dairy and a drink of water or unsweetened tea/coffee.
Counting Carbohydrates
Learn to track the amount of carbohydrates in your meals and snacks with a dietitian's help. Adjust insulin doses accordingly.
Choose Your Foods
A dietitian can help you plan meals and snacks by choosing from lists of foods in categories such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Glycemic Index
Some use the glycemic index to select foods based on their effect on blood sugar levels. Consult your dietitian to see if this method suits you.
A Sample Menu
For someone needing 1,200 to 1,600 calories a day:
Breakfast: Whole-wheat bread (1 medium slice) with 2 tsp jelly, 1/2 cup shredded wheat cereal with 1 cup 1% low-fat milk, a piece of fruit, and coffee.
Lunch: Roast beef sandwich on wheat bread with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise, medium apple, and water.
Dinner: Salmon, 1 1/2 tsp vegetable oil, small baked potato with 1 tsp margarine, 1/2 cup carrots, 1/2 cup green beans, medium dinner roll, and unsweetened iced tea.
Snack: 2 1/2 cups popcorn with 1 1/2 tsp margarine.
What Are the Results of This Kind of Diet?
Following a healthy-eating plan helps control blood sugar and prevent diabetes complications. It can also lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer, and reduce the risk of low bone mass.
Are There Any Risks?
It's crucial to work with your health care provider and dietitian to create a suitable eating plan. Managing your diet helps maintain stable blood sugar levels and avoid serious complications when you Unlock the Power of the Keto Diet.
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