What Is The Best Diet Plan For Diabetics

Start With Adequate Protein

Protein is important for maintaining muscle, preventing bone loss, and helping to control appetite, among its many other functions.30

Make sure to include a good protein source at each meal. Aim for about 4-7 ounces of meat, poultry, fish, or tofu or 4-6 eggs.

Learn more including how to calculate your personal protein needs in our complete protein guide.

Does Following A Type 2 Diabetes Diet Mean I Wont Need To Take Insulin

It might. For people with type 2 diabetes, your pancreas produces plenty of insulin that is not sensed by the cells, so your body is unable to properly use the insulin you make. Usually, type 2 diabetes can be controlled well with lifestyle changesparticularly shifting from processed carbs to high fiber foods and walking dailywith the addition of medication as needed.

Some people with type 2 diabetes may also need to begin taking insulin at some point, says Sandra Arévalo, MPH, RDN, CDE, a diabetes expert and spokesperson with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It can depend on your age and your individual ability to control your blood sugar with diet and exercise.

However, when type 2 diabetes is found early enough and weight loss is achieved, in most cases, insulin is never needed.

How Do The Foods I Eat Affect My Blood Sugar Levels

The sugar in your blood comes from certain foods called carbohydrates, or “carbs.” Foods that are high in carbs include candy and sweets, sodas, breads, tortillas, and white rice. The more carbs you eat, the higher your blood sugar level will be.

Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, making the right food choices is an important way to keep your blood sugar at a healthy level. When you control your blood sugar, you lower your chance of having serious health problems from diabetes, such as vision loss and heart problems.

And if you have prediabetes or are at risk for diabetes, eating foods that keep your blood sugar levels healthy may help prevent type 2 diabetes later on.

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Thats where Dr. Pearlman can help. Her program takes a step-by-step approach to help people struggling with their weight:

When working with patients, Dr. Pearlman collaborates with UHealth endocrinologists and the Diabetes Research Institute and refers patients to a registered dietitian within UHealths Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases. She holds ongoing conversations with patients through the UHealth patient portal, where they can seek guidance and send questions and pictures of their meals or food diary for Dr. Pearlmans feedback.

Many are reassured by her advice to Make small changes, be consistent, and experiment with new foods to figure out what you enjoy and what allows you to feel your best.

Which Types Of Protein Are Recommended

Protein provides slow steady energy with relatively little effect on blood sugar. Protein, especially plant-based protein, should always be part of a meal or snack. Protein not only keeps blood sugar stable, but it also helps with sugar cravings and feeling full after eating . Protein can come from both animal or plant sources however, animal sources are also often sources of unhealthy saturated fats.

Good protein choices include:

• Tofu and soy foods
• Lean meats such as chicken and turkey

Pay attention to the balance of macronutrients in a meal to support stable blood sugar levels. Specifically, fat, protein, and fiber all slow down the absorption of carbohydrates and thus allow time for a slower, lower insulin release and a steady transport of glucose out of the blood and into the target tissues – this is a good thing.

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Are There Foods I Should Avoid In My Prediabetes Diet

As part of your prediabetes diet, we recommend avoiding processed and refined foods as much as possible. These foods tend to be void of nutrients and have a high Glycemic Index, which can cause drastic spikes in your blood sugar. Try to eat these foods and ingredients sparingly:

• Highly Processed and Refined Foods Processed and refined foods are extremely low in fiber and nutrients, which tends to absorb more quickly in the GI tract. These are the types of foods that cause drastic spikes in blood sugar. Replacing these foods with more nutrient-dense options will help prolong the release of glucose into the bloodstream.

Interested in more details? Read our full blog on foods to avoid for prediabetes

Healthy Eating And Diabetes

If you have diabetes, healthy eating can help you to:

• maintain general good health
• maintain a healthy body weight
• prevent or slow the development of diabetes complications.

Healthy eating for people with diabetes is no different than for everyone else. You do not need to prepare separate meals or buy special foods, so relax and enjoy healthy eating with the rest of your family.

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Drink Alcohol In Moderation

Moderation is a healthy rule to live by in most instances. Drinking alcohol is no exception.

Many alcoholic beverages are dehydrating. In addition, some cocktails may contain high amounts of sugar, which can cause blood sugar spikes.

According to the , women should have only one drink per day and men should have no more than two drinks per day.

The following are the measurements for an average single drink:

• 1 bottle of beer = 12 fluid ounces
• 1 glass of wine = 5 fl. oz.
• 1 shot of distilled spirits, such as gin, vodka, or whiskey = 1.5 fl. oz.

Keep your drink as simple as possible and avoid adding sugary juices or liqueurs.

Also, keep a glass of water nearby that you can sip on to prevent dehydration.

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Am I At Risk For Developing Prediabetes

The difficult characteristic of prediabetes is that many people do not show symptoms until the condition has progressed to Type 2 Diabetes. The best way to detect prediabetes is by conducting regular blood tests as part of your ongoing physical exams with your doctor. It is especially important to be diligent with screening for prediabetes if you have an increased risk of developing the condition.

Risk factors for prediabetes include:

• Dietary patterns. Eating processed foods and drinking artificially sweetened beverages increases your risk of prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes.
• Inactivity. Regular exercise helps you control our weight, uses stored glucose as energy, and helps your body’s cells avoid insulin resistance.
• Genetic factors such as family history and race / ethnicity Individuals with a family history of diabetes are more likely to develop prediabetes. African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asian-Americans are also more likely to develop prediabetes.
• Other conditions Health conditions such as gestational diabetes , polycystic ovarian syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea, can increase your risk of pre-diabetes.

There are a few other factors associated with overall health that are correlated with prediabetes. High blood pressure, high low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol , and high triglycerides often occur in people with prediabetes. Following a supervised prediabetes diet and being more active can help you better manage all of these conditions.

What Is The Best Diet For People With Diabetes

Good diets offer well-rounded nutrition:

1. DASH. Created to help lower blood pressure , the DASH diet goes well beyond that. Its a well-rounded, healthy nutrition plan for everyone, not just if you have diabetes. DASH is rich in fruits, vegetables and grains, and low in fat, sugar and sodium.

For example, on a 1,600-calorie DASH plan, each day you would eat:

• Six servings of grains .
• Three to four servings of vegetables.
• Four servings of fruit.
• Two or three servings of dairy.
• Six or fewer servings of meats . Also, include about three portions of nuts, seeds and beans or lentils weekly.

2. Mediterranean. Not necessarily a diet, the Mediterranean diet is based on a style of eating of people in Greece, Southern France and Italy. This way of eating is high in vegetables, nuts and healthy fats. For instance, it recommends getting most of your calories from mostly whole grains, then fruits, vegetables and beans, and lastly, dairy.

You can eat some healthy fats such as those from avocados and olive oil every day. Eat sweets, eggs, poultry and fish only a few times each week, and red meat only a couple of times each month.

3. Plant-based. Most plant-based diet plans cut out or dramatically limit meat. A vegan diet cuts out meat and dairy. A vegetarian diet cuts meat, but allows foods like eggs and cheese. A flexitarian diet is mostly plant-based with some animal protein.

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Eating Less Prepared And Processed Food

The ADA recommends minimizing the intake of processed, refined, prepared, and fast foods in favor of whole, unprocessed foods. This generally means making more of your own food and eating at home. Moving toward eating more home-cooked meals may seem daunting, but it just takes a little planning. Resources like the ADAs Diabetes Food Hub can be a big help.

Type 2 Diabetes Diet Sample Menus

Now that you know what foods are better if you have diabetes, putting the right foods on your plate is a matter of portions. The key to a balanced diet is planning meals using the diabetes plate methoddivide the plate into quarters: ¼ protein or meat, ¼ carbs, and ½ vegetable and fruit. If you want to lose weight, use 9-inch dinner plates and bowls so you arent piling the food on to a large dinner plate.

For example, fill half the plate with non-starchy veggies such as salad greens or steamed broccoli, and fill the remaining half of the plate with equal portions of a grain or starchy vegetable like mashed sweet potato and a heart-healthy protein such as broiled salmon.

Here are some sample dinner menus to give you an idea of reasonable portion sizes that make up a healthy meal for someone with diabetes . These menus will also give you an idea of the variety of delicious and balanced meals that can fit into a diabetes meal plan. In addition, the infographic above features a weeks worth of breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas consistent with a diabetes diet plan.

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Calorie Diabetic Diet Plan Chart

A proper diabetic meal plan goes a long way in helping control high blood sugar levels. So, we have put together a 1200 calorie Indian diabetic diet plan to help you understand how you can plan your meals in order to bring diabetes under control.

While this works as a general Indian diet chart for diabetic patients, it is important to consult a nutritionist before following a diet plan for yourself.

What Is A Good Meal Plan For People With Diabetes

A good diabetes meal plan is one that provides you with all the healthy nutrition you need while helping you keep your blood sugar level in your target range.

According to the American Diabetes Associations 2019 nutrition guidelines, there are many different ways to create a healthy diabetes meal plan, but there is growing evidence to show that low-carbohydrate eating patterns can benefit people with diabetes and prediabetes.

This plan is what many will consider moderately low carb which means:

• Less than 25 grams of carbohydrates in each meal or snack
• Protein and healthy fats in every meal
• Plenty of fiber to aid digestion and help manage blood sugar levels
• No processed carbohydrates or added sugars
• Limited natural sugars that can cause blood sugar spikes
• Moderate in sodium

Of course, no meal plan will perfectly suit everyone. You may have specific dietary needs or food allergies to take into account or simply like different foods than whats included in this plan. If so, use this plan as a starting point and substitute the meals that dont work for you with something else with similar macronutrients.

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Diet Plans To Discuss With Your Healthcare Team

While its best to talk to your doctor before you start any diet plan, its especially important to talk to them if youre interested in the following:

Ketogenic diet

Intermittent fasting IF requires you to limit the time period in which you eat to a certain number of hours per day, or to eat a very low number of calories on certain days. Some research has shown benefits from IF to fasting glucose and weight. That said, skipping meals may hinder blood sugar control or cause low blood sugar , especially if youre on insulin or a sulfonylurea, so talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits before you attempt it.

Paleo diet

Weight Loss And Type 2 Diabetes

Being overweight or obese increases the odds that youll become diabetic, as well as the risk of complications from the disease.

As body fat increases, so does the release of inflammatory chemicals called adipokines. In large enough amounts, these chemicals make the body less sensitive to the effects of insulin. In other words, they increase insulin resistance .

Insulin resistance is the number one cause of type 2 diabetes, and it can cause insulin depletion over time. As the body becomes less sensitive to insulin, the pancreas makes more and more to keep up. Eventually, this condition can become so severe that it necessitates insulin therapy.

Fortunately, weight loss can help improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. One study linked a 5% reduction in body weight to a 15% improvement in insulin sensitivity .

In another observational study of overweight and obese adults, hemoglobin A1C fell 0.81% for every 10 pounds of weight loss .

If someone with diabetes were to lose 20 pounds, they could greatly improve their insulin sensitivity.

Summary: Fat tissues in the body increase the release of inflammatory chemicals that, in turn, lower insulin sensitivity. This is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Studies have suggested that weight loss can increase insulin sensitivity and improve blood sugar levels, with greater improvements from more substantial reductions in body weight.

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Lifestyle Improvements To Help Manage Your Prediabetes

Emphasize Portion Control

Portion control is really important in managing and reversing prediabetes. Spikes in your blood sugar are directly related to the amount of food you eat during one meal, mainly carbohydrate-containing foods. The problem is, the portion sizes we are used to eating at restaurants are often much larger than the recommendation. But why is portion size so important? Well, portion control can assist weight loss, which we know is helpful in reversing prediabetes. In addition to reading food labels, use measuring cups, measuring spoons, and a food scale to ensure you’re eating an appropriate portion. If you couldn’t tell, a major part of your prediabetes diet is portion size.

Which Diet Is Right For Diabetes

Many diets claim health benefits. But newer guidelines for people with type 2 diabetes say that there is not just one diet for diabetes management that a variety of eating styles can work. How do you choose whats right for you?

Before you decide to commit to a particular diet, heres some tried-and-true tips:

• Eat more non-starchy vegetables things like broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. Raw or cooked vegetables or salads its hard to eat too many of this food group. Eat them at meals and for snacks.
• Minimize added sugars and refined grains. Choose cereals and breads without added sugars or very low in added sugar, and drink water as your main beverage.
• Choose whole foods over highly processed foods as much as possible. Look for whole grains over refined grains. Avoid or eat less from boxed mixes, breaded and deep fried foods, or those with heavy gravies and sauces.

There many diets out there that you can look to for weight loss. But our list highlights a few better diets, two you should approach with caution, and diets to avoid altogether if you have diabetes.

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