The way that a diabetic diet exchange chart works is that all the foods you eat will be grouped in a certain way. Within each of these groups you will be able to see how much of each of these types of foods you can eat. You will also be able to exchange foods within a group so that you get to eat the type of things you want without affecting your blood sugar level. The exchange chart does put limitations on what you can eat but it also gives you a lot of choice in the process. Once you get into the habit of using this chart it will begin to feel like second nature to you.

Many people are a bit put off when they hear about the diabetic diet exchange chart and it can sound very complicated. It really isn’t though, and any restrictions are there to protect your health. Once you have been using the chart for a while you probably won’t even have to refer to it that often; you have already internalised most of the information. The good news is that your exchange chart does give you a choice in what you eat.

Before we can move onto a diabetic diet definition you need to realise that there is more than one type of diabetes. Most children with diabetes will have type 1 which is also called insulin controlled diabetes. The problem with this type of diabetes is that the pancreas is just not able to provide insulin and so the person with the condition needs to inject this into their system. Type 2 diabetes is often referred to as adult onset diabetes and with this condition the pancreas can still produce insulin but just not as effectively as it once did. The difference between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes is very important when it comes to considering the diabetic diet definition.

The Diabetic Diet Definition

The diabetic diet will very much depend on the type of diabetes you have. If you are insulin controlled (Type 1) then your diet will depend on your blood glucose levels. Most people will check these daily and adjust their diet accordingly. Those who are not insulin controlled (Type 2) can discuss a diet with their dietician and will be able to stick to this unless problems occur. This means that the diabetic diet for a person with type 2 diabetes can probably be a bit more planned. Those who have stable Type 1 should also be able to plan quite easily as well. So basically when defining your diabetic diet it will depend on the type of condition that you are suffering from.

People might feel a bit intimidated when they first see their diabetic diet chart. It is full of do’s and don’ts and we may feel a part of our mind rebelling. If you are not accustomed to putting limits on your diet then these new instructions can come as a shock. You may even feel a bit depressed and worry that a lot of enjoyment is going to be taken out of your life. It is true that any new diet can take some adjusting to, but once you do you will find that there is still plenty of enjoyment left in food.

Failure to stick to your diabetic diet chart can lead to all sorts of problems so it is important that you learn to do get to grips with it quickly. You will likely find though that as you become more aware of the foods that are going into your body the more enjoyment is to be found in meals. A lot of people just stick food in their mouths without even thinking about it – this is what often leads to the problem in the first place. Following a diabetic diet chart does not have to involve taking the fun out of mealtimes.

Those who are insulin controlled diabetics will usually check their blood sugar before breakfast; those who are well controlled might not have to do this. If your sugars tend to be very low because of the overnight fast it is important that your diabetic diet breakfast menu rectifies the situation. Those who are checking their bloods sugars will be able to alter their breakfast menu in accordance with the results. Hopefully some type of stability can be occur over time; if not you should speak to your diabetic team and dietician.

Those who are non-insulin dependent diabetics will find their diabetic diet breakfast menu a lot easier to manage. It will just be a case of finding a suitable diet that works and following this. Everyone is unique so it is probably best that a Type 2 diabetic follows the advice of their dietician. There is often a lot of freedom in what they can and can eat as there is less risk of hypo/hyper glycaemia in many instances.

So there you have just a few ideas about how to organise your diabetic diet breakfast menu. Remember to always consult with your diabetic team or dietician if you are ever unsure about anything. Breakfast is such an important meal that you really want to get it right.

Some Other Things to Consider with the Diabetic Diet and Fruit

-    Those people who have Type 1 diabetes (insulin controlled diabetes) will usually be expected to check their blood sugars regularly and adjust their diet accordingly. If their sugars are stable and they already eat fruit then there should not be too much of a problem. On the other hand, if they have recently started eating a lot of fruit and their sugars are all over the place they will need to look at this.

-    Those people who have Type 2 diabetes (non insulin controlled diabetes) would be wise to discuss the issue with their dietician. They should be able to eat fruit but may need to keep an eye on the amount. Information will be key in helping them judge which fruits and how much is safe to eat.

The idea that the diabetic diet and fruit are incompatible is a myth. There is no reason why most diabetics can’t enjoy fruit, but like most other types of food they will need to be balanced about it. Eating too much fruit would likely be a bad thing, but too much of anything is almost always bad.

Creating Your Diabetic Diet Food List

Before you can go about creating your diabetic diet food list it is important that you have spoken to your dietician. There are different types of diabetes and the type you have will very much influence what you can and can’t eat. Type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent diabetes) usually means having to regularly check your blood sugar levels and taking insulin; if this is the case then your diet will often have to adapt to what your blood sugar level is doing. Those with Type 2 ( non insulin dependent diabetes) will be better able to plan means ahead because they don’t need to be constantly adapting to their blood sugar levels.

Once you know what you can and can’t have with your diabetic diet food list it is just a matter of experimenting and finding those meals that you like. Don’t be afraid to try new things. If you have never cooked much previously then this can be the ideal opportunity to do this. You will find many exciting dishes that fit in perfectly with your diabetic diet food list.

How to Create a Diabetic Diet Menu

If you want to lose weight then the secret is to take in fewer calories than what you are burning. If you are not giving your body the fuel that it needs then it will need to get them elsewhere. The exact type of diabetic diet menu you will need to follow will depend on whether you have insulin controlled diabetes (Type 1) or adult onset diabetes (Type 2). Hopefully you will have already spoken with a dietician who will have given you some advice on the basics of a diabetic diet; if not you need to do so.

Once you understand the basics of what you should and shouldn’t eat specific to your diabetes type you can then work on creating a diabetic diet menu – you can start being creative. The best advice is to mix things up; it should be possible to create tasty food no matter what ingredient restrictions you are under. Those people who are Type 1 diabetics will likely need to keep an eye on their insulin levels and change their diabetic diet menu accordingly. Those with Type 2 diabetes should be able to create some type of weekly menu plan if they so desire.

There are a number of cookbooks available that contain recipes specifically for diabetics. These recipe collections contain recipes for desserts for diabetics that do not contain processed sugars and excessive amounts of carbohydrates. Creative cooking is one way that a patient who must watch blood sugar levels can combat the feeling of deprivation that a diabetic diet can sometimes cause. Keep in mind that a dessert created to have a low impact on glucose levels does not just eliminate processed white sugar. They should also minimize the ingredients that can cause levels to increase such as carbohydrates, processed white flour and fruit juices.

Desserts for diabetics that contain these ingredients are not completely off limits, but they must be part of an overall diet plan that will keep the patient within normal ranges for the day. Diabetic diets are balanced with proteins, carbohydrates and fats. The patient must make sure that the diet is well balanced between all of these ingredients to remain in good health. The type of desserts for diabetics that can be included in a meal depend on the other foods that are served in the meal. Many diabetics use an exchange diet and when carbohydrates are consumed during the main meal, a dessert might cause the meal to affect glucose negatively. With a few changes to the entire menu, a healthy diet can include a sweet treat at the end.

Some ingredients used in desserts for diabetics include artificial sweeteners or natural sweeteners that have a lower impact on blood sugar levels such as fruit juices. You don’t need a degree in nutrition science to determine the foods that will cause blood sugar levels to rise. Patients who monitor blood sugar levels regularly throughout the day can determine the foods that cause blood sugar to spike. Avoiding spikes is essential to controlling diabetes. Diabetic patients should choose a cookbook that is approved by diabetes experts to select the best recipes to create yummy desserts for diabetics.

Beans and Legumes
Black-eyed peas
Chickpeas
Kidney beans
Lentils
Lima beans
Pinto beans
Navy beans
Soy beans

Dairy
Cottage cheese
Eggs
Reduced-fat cheeses
Reduced-fat milk
Reduced-fat sour cream
Reduced-fat yogurt
Sugar-free ice cream/frozen yogurt

Fish and Shellfish
Cod
Clams
Flounder
Lobster
Salmon
Shrimp
Sole
Tuna

Fruits
Apples
Bananas
Blueberries
Oranges
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Strawberries
Tangerines

Meats
Bacon (pork or turkey)
Chicken breast
Lean cut beef
Lean pork
Turkey breast
Sausage (pork, beef or turkey)

Vegetables
Asparagus
Avocado
Broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Cauliflower
Collards
Dill pickles
Peppers
Radishes
Squash
String beans
Tomatoes
Turnips

Whole grains
Bran
Brown rice
Bulgur
Oats
Quinoa
Rye
Wheat – including wheat germ

Processed Food Items
Although for a healthy diet plan (diabetic or otherwise) whole foods are recommended, there comes a time where it may be necessary or convenient to eat processed food items. Below are some of the more popular ones.

Beverages
Club soda
Coffee
Diet drink mixes (sugar-free ice tea, lemonade, fruit juice)
Diet soft drinks (sugar-free)
Mineral water
Tea

Candy and Desserts
Sugar-free chocolate
Sugar-free gum
Sugar-free gelatin
Sugar-free hard candies

Condiments
Butter
Creamer
Low sugar salad dressings
Margarine
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Salsa
Sugar-free jams/jellies
Vinegar

Prepared Salads
Bean salad
Chicken salad
Egg salad
Tuna salad
Vegetable tossed salad

Soups
Barley
Bouillon
Chicken vegetable
Lentil
Minestrone
Vegetarian (with beans)

Seasonings and Herbs
When it comes to fresh or dried seasonings or herbs, there is no restriction of any kind as to what can be used on food. If the truth be told, they are actually a very beneficial alternative to any sugar that could be absent from a particular recipe.

Sugar Alternatives
Acesulfame K (Sweet One brand)
Aspartame (Equal brand)
Saccharin (Sweet n Low brand)
Stevia (herb)
Sucralose (Splenda brand)

For diabetics to enjoy a fuller lifestyle, they need to follow the correct type of diet and below we have a list of products that can be eaten and which will aid in keeping blood sugar levels at lower levels.

Nuts are considered to be one of the best foods available for diabetes sufferers to eat. Although most nuts are, by general consensus, to be considered “fatty” in nature, the fat contained is monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, not the saturated fats that can cause a whole host of problems if too much is consumed. In actual fact, eating nuts can lower cravings, therefore if you choose to eat some nuts instead of a chocolate bar or piece of cake when feeling a little hungry, you can actually be contributing to a positive effect on your condition as a opposed to a negative one.

The spice cinnamon is not only extremely tasty but it also contains a natural ingredient that can help reduce your blood sugar level. Cinnamon can be added to a whole host of things including into drinks and sprinkled over certain deserts. Some health-conscious individuals also make a tasty teas drink with added lemon and cinnamon. Lemon, as well as being very high in vitamin C also assists in lowering the glycemic index of foods.

Another great food that can reduce blood sugar related issues is avocado. This food item is similar to nuts in that it contains some fat, but again, it’s the “good” monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Avocados can be eaten as part of a dip or salad, or can be eaten raw and as it is also a high fiber food it allows the body a bit more time to try and absorb any sugar that may be present.

Garlic is another food source that is great when it comes to regulating blood conditions. Garlic is also acknowledged to prevent high levels of blood sugar as well as being able to cleanse the blood and at the same time improving circulation.

There are many foods though that will have the opposite effect to those mentioned above, so it pays to be careful. An excellent example of this is in the case of carrots or potatoes. Although the health benefits of these particular foods are well documented, they do have a high concentration of carbohydrates which can lead to an increase in levels of blood sugar. An alternative to the humble, common potato is the sweet potato; these have a positive effect on insulin levels and are also extremely high in antioxidants.

At the end of the day, as long as you recognize the various ways in which diabetes affects you, it should not be hard at all to implement changes into your diet and start eating foods that are beneficial to your condition. And don’t forget – all the hard work and effort put in to a great diabetic diet regime can be undone by eating the occasional junk food snack. Learn to stick to your diet to appreciate the most effective results.