Diabetic Diet Menu

With more and more people being diagnosed with diabetes, it doesn't sound like a new occurrence these days. The reasons could be many: heredity, not enough exercise, obesity, and/or choice of lifestyle. And apart from the medication and insulin injections, the focus stays more on the diet. Planning the right diet menu can be a difficult task for anyone. Of course the doctor does provide a huge list of foods that you can and cannot eat, along with how much of that particular food you should eat, and a specific time frame that you need to follow.

Changing your entire lifestyle and incorporating a healthy living environment isn't easy. What's more challenging that once a person, who has diabetes, learns about the effects of carbohydrates on glucose and the insulin levels, the task of preparing a set diet menu plan isn't that much difficult. There are various diabetic diet plans to lose weight and to gain weight as well. And there are ways to find a reasonable plan that will keep you on track, won't make you gain weight, and keep your diabetes in check.

Sample Diet Plan for Diabetics

Now before you alter your eating habits and change your lifestyle, it is highly essential that your doctor, a nutritionist or dietitian takes a look at this meal plan. Since there are three different types of diabetes - type I, type II, and gestational, you should seek professional advice for the person in question.

What is Type I Diet
For an ideal diet menu plan for Type I diabetes, the concentration is usually on keeping a balance between overall food intake and insulin (usually required treatment). While preparing the diet plan for Type I diabetics, keep a note of all the foods you are consuming and its effects. This way, you can easily point out any issues you may be facing with certain types of foods. Also, keep a log of your daily exercise routines as well. Your doctor will overlook at how many calories you are consuming and the amount of calories burned after working out. Keep low glucose snacks with you all the time so that when your blood sugar level drops, you can easily replenish yourself, no matter where you are.

What is Type II Diet
For an ideal diet menu plan for Type II diabetes, the concentration is usually on controlling overall weight that can increase the chances of the body to use insulin. Also, the necessity of a low carb diet is required, along with proper exercise. With Type II diabetics, one of the advantages of choosing a proper meal gives them an opportunity to beat the necessity of medications. By limiting high sugar foods from the diet, reducing overall weight, and reducing the intake of carbohydrates and calories will keep the patient's health under radar. Also, replacing carbohydrates with monounsaturated fats will keep glucose level even and help lose weight.

What is Gestational Diet
For an ideal diet menu plan for gestational diabetes, the concentration is usually on providing decent energy and nutrients that will sustain the mother's and baby's body. In order to keep gestational diabetes under control, it is essential that a pregnant woman prepares a professionally customized diet plan that will fit her unique situation. This can be done without the need of medications and insulin injections. It is often advised to keep accurate track of sugar levels, write a log of meals in detail, and keeping entries of blood sugar readings is helpful for you and your doctor.

Any doctor will always suggest you not to, under any circumstances, choose a diet menu by yourself and risk your overall health. Which is why, the following sample diet menu is most commonly administered. Whether you are advised to follow 1000 calorie, 1200 calorie, or 2200 calorie diet plan (depending on if you need to lose or gain weight), take a look at the table below. Perhaps you can get a clearer picture of what your diet should consist of.

Diabetic Diet Menu Ideas
Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
½ banana ½ cup skim milk ½ cup oatmeal ¼ egg substitute 1 slice whole wheat bread toasted w/ 1 teaspoon margarine	1 small apple 1 cup vegetable soup w/ 4-6 crackers 1 turkey sandwich w/ 2 slices whole wheat bread, 1 oz turkey & 1 oz low-fat cheese, 1 teaspoon margarine	½ cup cooked carrots 2/3 cup cooked brown rice 1 small whole grain dinner roll w/ 1 teaspoon margarine Vegetable salad w/ 2 tablespoons low-fat dressing 4 unsweetened canned apricot halves 1 small slice angel cake 4 oz broiled chicken breast	3 cups light popcorn ½ cup artificial sweetened chocolate pudding
1 cup fat-free milk ½ cup blueberries 1 small bran muffin	1 orange Spinach salad w/ 2 tablespoons fat-free dressing 1 small whole wheat pita Tomato slices	½ cup black beans ¼ lb grilled shrimp in olive oil ¾ cup whole wheat pasta 1 cup steamed broccoli	20 almonds 1 cup herbal tea/coffee 6 oz low-fat yogurt w/ 1 Splenda 1 banana
2 slices whole wheat toast 2 tablespoons peanut butter 1 small banana 1 cup tea/coffee	2 slices whole wheat bread 3 oz lean roast beef 1 cup steamed cauliflower 1 cup tea/coffee	3 oz sauteed chicken breast 2/3 cup cooked brown rice 1 cup fat-free milk	2 tablespoons chopped walnuts 2 small fig cookies 1 cup herbal tea/ fat-free milk
2 slices whole wheat bread 1 cup skim milk 1 boiled egg 1 small apple	2 slices bread/2 corn tortillas 1 medium potato 8 oz low-fat milk 3-5 oz grilled chicken or fish Green salad w/ low-fat dressing	2/3 cup pasta 1 medium potato 1-2 cups vegetables Salad greens w/ low-fat dressing Diet soda	1 small fruit 1 cup cottage cheese 16 fat-free tortilla chips w/ salsa

I hope that the table for the diet menu gave you a brief understanding of what types of food you need to incorporate. Again I would like to add that speak to your doctor or dietitian before you begin any diet plans.