health sectionhealth sectionPlanning meals for diabetics can be a challenge but fortunately some tools can assist you. Living with diabetes means careful meal planning and watching your intake of starches and sugar. Using the diabetic food exchange list and the diabetic food pyramid can make grocery shopping and cooking simpler and keep diabetes under control.
Learning that you have diabetes can be difficult. You now have to monitor your blood sugar, exercise daily, and watch what you eat. Diabetes food plans are different from food plans for the average person. You must learn to count carbohydrates and watch fat intake. Calories are important, too, if your health care provider wants you to lose weight.
According to Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 18 million Americans have diabetes, and the number is increasing every day. To improve the health of Americans and prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes, the USDA created a new food pyramid called My Pyramid. The American Diabetes Association supports this plan and encourages all Americans to follow the government's guidelines for healthier living.
