Obtain optimal blood glucose levels by Meal Planning. Diabetics learn to keep their insulin in balance through out the day. Like the Food Pyramid that most are familiar with following, diabetics also have their own food pyramid that they can refer to in order establish their diet.
Proper meal planning should include spacing out 5-6 smaller meals throughout the day to maintain steady blood sugar levels, so that consumption of food is every two hours. Contrastly, eating a big meal only once or twice a day can cause extreme high or low glucose levels. In addition, if the exercise regimen is changed, changes should be made to the diet accordingly, to maintain weight control and to control blood sugar levels.
For more information on the impact of: Salt, Sugar and Alcohol
As you practice your diet, you will begin to learn different food combinations.
A combination to avoid at a single meal would be a plate with potatoes, corn, beans and a slice of bread. Your body will break down all four as breads, therefore, increasing your blood glucose levels. Whole grain breads are best to use (Aunt Milles Whole Grain, Multi Grain breads are good source and 2 slices equals 1 serving!) also providing protein compared to white breads.
Additionally, root vegetables (beets, potato, yam) are high in fructose content (natural sugar), as are oranges, bananas and pineapples. A better choice would be apples, pears, cherries and plums.
ALL FOODS CAN be eaten, but they must be monitored in serving size and combined properly at meals in order to reduce insulin output, which will result in lowering your blood glucose. Recent studies have shown that Oolong Tea can contribute the pancreas which in turn reduces the insulin output. You can drink up to 6 cups a day.
Contact your doctor, dietitian or post a message to find out what your meal plan should reflect.
Mens’ daily servings of food could be 1/4 – double of what a daily serving size may be for women.
Daily Servings Per Food Group
Suggested Serving Size
3-4 servings of fruit
1 small fresh fruit, ½ cup canned or dry fruit, ½ cup cup fruit juice
1 ounce of nuts (28-30 individual nuts): Almonds, Walnuts, Hazelnuts, Peanuts, Soynuts
3-5 servings of vegetables
1 cup raw vegetables, ½ cup cooked vegetables, ½ cup tomato or vegetable juice
6-11 servings of breads whole grains, beans, and starchy vegetables (shoot for 6 servings a day) 1 slice bread, (recommend Aunt Millies breads. 2 slices = 1 bread serving!) ½ small bagel or English muffin, 1 6-inch tortilla, ½ cup cooked cereal or pasta
2-3 servings of milk and yogurt
1 cup milk or yogurt
2-3 servings of meat, cheese, fish, and other proteins
2-3 oz. Cooked lean meat, fish or poultry, 2-3 oz. cheese, 1 egg, 1/2 cup Tofu, Nuts
Sparing use of fats, oils, and sweets
A serving of fats and oils can be 1 tbsp. butter, margarine, oil or mayonnaise. A serving of sweets can be ½ cup ice cream or 2 small cookies.
Meal Plan Combining Foods (for optimal glucose levels)
The daily menu follows the theory presented that “All Foods Can Be Eaten, but must be monitored”. Salt is used and also substituted. Sugar is available within the meals, yet limited. Alcohol is allowed, but only a 1/2 glass. (try for every other day routine with alcohol consumption.)
drink plenty of water throughout the day, 64 fl oz or 8 8 oz glasses.
Breakfast
1 cup yogurt
1 slice whole grain bread with pat of butter
1/4 cup berries
1 6 oz c. coffee with sweetner
Snack am
apple
1 ounce nuts
Lunch
1 8 oz. Milk
2 slices bread
2 slices turkey
3 slices tomato
1 lettuce leaf
1 tsp mustard
1 tsp mayo
1 pear
small bag of pretzels
Snack pm
Nutrition Bar
carrot and celery sticks
1 8oz milk
Dinner
Lemon Water
1 5oz glass wine
4 oz fish (baked seasoned with salt substitute, capers, olive and cherry tomatoe slices)
steamed broccoli (tossed in tsp oil, garlic, pepper, Mrs. Dash salt substitute)
baked potato oive oil, rosemary, thyme, pepper, salt
whole grain dinner roll
apricot
Dessert
1 c. orange sorbet
1/2 c. ice cream
small slice of cake
For more information you can contact the call the American Diabetes Association at (800) 232-3472 and select “receive more information about diabetes”.
Diabetic Food Pyramid
By: Kimberly Crocker
http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/foodpyramid.jsp
Interesting article. An important feature of diabetes diets is that as they help reduce blood sugar levels they also help lower risk of gum disease. Diabetes and gum disease interact, making each other worse. We blog about this extensively at http://dentistryfordiabetics.com/blog.