Diet for Diabetic Patients

Discovering that you have diabetes can be devastating. You have questions about monitoring your blood sugar, medication, and what foods you should eat. Diet for diabetic patients is not much different from a diet for healthy eating. The biggest concern is the carbohydrate intake. Diabetics must count carbohydrates because they turn to sugar or glucose quickly causing high blood sugar levels. Fat intake is important too, because it affects the risk of coronary heart disease. Consult your dietitian for a personalized diet plan.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates turn to sugar or glucose within two hours of ingesting them. Your body uses the sugar for energy. Carbohydrates are measured in grams. One serving of carbohydrates is 15 grams. Some typical one-serving items are a small piece of fruit, one slice of bread, a small potato, one half cup of starchy vegetables or a third of a cup of rice. Your dietitian will determine how many carbohydrates you can have for a meal. The usual amount is 45 to 60 grams, depending upon your sex, age and weight. Most dietitians suggest that you have 15 grams, or one serving, of carbohydrates for a snack. One good choice is three cups of popcorn, which is 15 grams.

Protein

Protein is essential for body building and body repair. Diabetics, though, must watch the fat content of some proteins. Dietitians suggest that diabetics eat no more than six ounces of protein each day. A piece of meat that is three ounces is equivalent to the size of a deck of cards. One hot dog is one ounce. A small hamburger is three ounces. One ounce of cheese is the size of your thumb. Stick to lean cuts of meat. Limit red meat to eating it once in a day and no more than three times a week. Dairy products contain protein, too. Stick to low-fat or nonfat dairy.

Vegetables and Fruit

Starchy vegetables such as corn, peas, winter squash and potatoes are counted as carbohydrates, so they must be monitored. Non-starchy vegetables are good choices. One cup of carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, summer squash or green beans contains only five grams of carbohydrates. Fruit is important, but choose whole fruit over juice. One small fruit is equal to one serving of carbohydrates, but one four-ounce glass of juice is also one serving. The fruit is a better choice because it takes longer to digest, slowing down the speed of carbohydrates turning to sugar. Juice is a good choice if you are having a sugar low. For a balanced diet, consider three to five servings of fruit and vegetables each day.