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Diabetic Diet Guidelines

In type 1 diabetes the patient should be following a diet that ensures that approximately 35 calories per kg of body weight is taken a day (or 16 calories per pound).For type 2 diabetes however there is a big difference in recommended calorie intake. Patients are put on a 1500-1800 calorie a day diet. This is to promote weight loss and to keep the weight in the ideal weight range. These amounts will vary of course depending on the gender, weight at onset, age, current activity levels and body styles. Obese patients for example, may need more calories at first to maintain their bodies while losing weight. Another consideration is gender for men as a rule have more muscle mass than women and as muscle burns more calories per hour than fat they will need more calories. If a patient exercises regularly it will increase his muscle mass and also reduce what the daily caloric intake should be.

Normally carbohydrates would be about 50% of our daily caloric intake. Lower carbohydrate intake affects or aids in lower sugar levels in the blood but the benefits can be negated when a higher fat diet taken to make up for the lower quantity of carbohydrates. To alleviate that problem we can start by substituting monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats for the normal saturated fats in our diets.

In order to properly develop a diabetic diet plan that is right for the patient a dietician or nutrionalist, should be consulted who will work one on one with the patient to find what will work best for them and their diabetes treatment plan.

In all diets there are three basic food groups to consider:fats proteins carbohydrates Although it is important to have all three food groups in your diet, it is the carbohydrates that can be broken down into sugar and are responsible for increasing your blood glucose levels. That is why most diabetic diets are centered around counting and tracking carbohydrate intake. The three food groups that supply most of the carbohydrates are: starches, fruits and milk products. Vegetables contain some carbohydrates but few are contained in meat and fat groups unless added or naturally present such as in fruit sugars. When planning your diet or shopping always check the labels for words ending in ose such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose which indicate sugar content.

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