Diabetic Food Choices

Knowing what foods to eat as a diabetic can be perplexing. Making good diabetic food choices requires both a basic knowledge of nutrition and a sensible commitment to making those choices. There is not one specific diabetic diet. Rather, there are set guidelines every diabetic is encouraged to follow. Following those guidelines not only helps blood sugar control, but it also promotes good health.

The Facts

There are three main methods recommended for diabetics when choosing the food to eat. They are the plate method, carbohydrate counting and the diabetes food pyramid.
The plate method is simple and easy to follow. First, imagine a line drawn down the middle of your plate. Next, imagine a line drawn perpendicular to the first line. This divides your plate into two small sections and one large section. The larger section should be filed with vegetables that don't contain starch, such as green vegetables, carrots, mushrooms, onion and peppers. Fill one of the small sections with starch foods, such as whole grain breads, beans, rice or pasta. Finally, the last small section should be filled with meat or meat substitutes.

Carbohydrate Counting

The carbohydrate method involves counting the number of carbohydrates you eat. Most nutrition experts recommend beginning with 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrates per meal. Set a total limit of carbs to consume per day, and then adjust portion sizes and food choices to meet your target. Carbohydrates raise blood sugars. Counting carbs is a good way to control blood sugar.

Diabetes Food Pyramid

The third method of making food choices for diabetics is the diabetes food pyramid. Using this method involves choosing foods to complete a number of servings per day of certain food categories. The guidelines are as follows:
Grains and Starches--6 to 11 servings per day
Vegetables--3 to 5 servings per day
Fruit--2 to 4 servings per day
Milk and Dairy--2 to 3 servings per day
Most people will need to choose the lower serving amounts in each category. A nutritionist can help you establish your needs if you choose to use this method.

Significance

Diabetic food choices are a vital part of good diabetes control. The food you eat and your level of activity directly affects the level of glucose in your bloodstream (your blood sugar) at any given time. Making the right choices helps ensure that you maintain your target blood sugar, which in turn helps you reduce your risks of diabetic complications. Not making healthy food choices can result in poor diabetes control and further complications.

Expert Insight

Making healthy food choices each day can be trying at times. Temptations occur. Consistently making the best food choices requires some commitment and determination. It's often hard to turn down that piece of chocolate cake or the French fries.
When you're facing the temptation to make a bad food choice, remember that the food you eat directly affects your health. You also need to remain mindful that poor food choices over time can contribute to terrible diabetic complications. Kidney failure, blindness, amputations, heart disease, neurological problems and other complications are life-altering and sometimes deadly. Do all you can to prevent these complications.

Resources

• American Diabetes Association--Nutrition