Diabetic Meal Plan
A diabetic meal plan uses food exchange lists and an outline of which food groups are to be eaten for each meal and snack. The diabetic meal plan is designed to meet the ideal caloric intake for the individual and keep blood sugar levels from spiking.
Portion sizes are crucial for following a diabetic meal plan. Too much food can cause high blood sugar levels and cause the diabetic patient to gain weight which can make blood glucose levels more difficult to manage. Eating meals at about the same time every day can be beneficial.
A tool for following a diabetic meal plan is a food exchange list. Food exchange lists give examples of servings for each of the food groups.
The diabetic meal plan shows the diabetic patient the number of servings of the food groups to eat for a meal. Then, the diabetic patient selects foods from the food exchange list to fulfill the designated food servings.
The food serving guidelines for meals are used to make meals. If a diabetic meal plan indicates the need for a meat, two breads or starches, and a fat, the diabetic patient can combine these in different ways. One way to fulfill these guidelines would be a lunchmeat sandwich with butter or mayonnaise.
Since the diabetic meal plan does not change from day to day, it is up to the diabetic patient to combine the required servings in different ways and choose different foods from the food groups to have a diet with variety.
Adjustments to the diabetic meal plan may be necessary if the person gains weight or has unhealthy blood glucose levels. The dietician may need to educate the diabetic patient about proper portion sizes or encourage the diabetic patient to exercise.
Counting carbohydrates for diabetes is another type of diabetic meal plan. For counting carbohydrates, the diabetic patient is not told which foods to eat. The dietician gives the diabetic patient a maximum number of carbohydrates that the diabetic patient is allowed to eat in a day.