Diabetes Meal Plans

Following Diabetes Meal Plans

Appropriate diabetes meal plans can help diabetes patients control the effects of this chronic disease. To understand the relationship between diet and diabetes, a brief definition of what diabetes is may be helpful. Of course, diabetics should not make a drastic change in their diet without first consulting their physicians.

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic medical condition where the patient has unusually high blood sugar levels and an erratic metabolism. The blood sugar levels may be caused either by low levels of the hormone insulin or by resistance to the effects of insulin, combined with insufficient levels of secreted insulin. Symptoms of diabetes sufferers include excessive urination, increased fluid intake, and blurred vision.

Symptoms of diabetes can be improved by exercise and by following a carefully controlled diabetes meal plan.

Daily Menu Plan

Studies have suggested that a vegan diabetes meal plan, free of all animal products, may help diabetics lose weight and control their blood sugar with less medication than diabetics who eat meat, dairy products, eggs, and other animal-based products. A plant-based diabetes meal plan provides a balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates while adding vitamins and minerals and following the basic principles of a diabetes meal plan.

Of the three major nutrients, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, carbohydrates have the greatest effect on blood sugar. Planning a consistent amount of carbohydrates is essential to a diabetes meal plan. The diabetes meal plan deals with the concept of exchanges, which standardize foods for easy meal planning.

Breakfast: For breakfast, diabetics may eat:
One fruit exchange, consisting of 60 calories or 15 grams of carbohydrate. This exchange is equivalent to one small piece of fresh fruit or ½ cup of fruit juice.
Two starch exchanges, consisting of a total of 160 calories or 30 grams of carbohydrate. An example of one starch exchange is one slice of bread, ½ cup of cooked pasta, or 1/3 cup of cooked rice.
One fat exchange, consisting of 45 calories and 0 grams of carbohydrate. An example of a fat exchange is 1 tablespoon salad dressing or 1-1/2 tablespoons of vegan mayonnaise.
One milk exchange, consisting of 15 grams of carbohydrate. For vegans, the milk exchange is met with 8 ounces of soymilk, rice milk or hemp milk, containing zero grams of cholesterol.

For lunch, the recommended exchanges are two starches, two fats, one vegetable, one protein, and one milk exchange. For dinner, two proteins, one fat, one vegetable, two starches, one fruit, and one milk. A typical daily diabetes meal plan also includes three snacks, each consisting of one starch and one protein. Vegan proteins include tofu, cooked beans, and nut butters.

A vegan diabetes meal plan may be the best way to control your diabetes. Consult your doctor before changing your diet.