Your Diabetes Nutrition & Meal Plan
Synopsis
Although a diabetes food plan can be quite challenging to plan it does not have to be boring or tasteless, with at little guidance a diet plan that is both appetizing and nutritional can be drawn up.
Diet Planning
A dietetic diet plan should ensure all the carbohydrates eaten during a daily diet is well spread out so as not to overwhelm the body’s system. This is important as it helps to ensure the blood sugar levels are kept in control, therefore the need to keep track of what is being consumed.
The amount of carbs taken can also be regulated with the use of insulin and through exercise. Most diabetes also have to be concerned about the sodium content of the foods they consume as it can be have negative effects on the high blood pressure already present in most diabetic patients.
Therefore those with the added medical condition of hypertension would be weary of the sodium intake. For the diabetic with high levels of lipids the consumption of saturated fats, cholesterol and trans fats would be kept monitored.
When attempting to design a meal plan for a diabetic some points should be taken into consideration. These may include ensuring the calories intake is kept to about 10% to 20% from a protein source.
Meats such as chicken and beef should be considered over other choices. About 25% to 30% of the calories should come from fats however foods with saturated and trans fats should either be avoided or eaten in moderation. 50% to 60% of calories should come from
carbohydrates. Eating lots of green and orange vegetables will help to keep the balance, and these would include carrots and broccoli. Eating brown rice or sweet potatoes instead of opting for white rice and regular potatoes is also recommended as a more nutritional choice.
