Meal Planning

In spite of what you might have heard, having diabetes does not mean you have to give up all the foods you enjoy. However, learning to eat healthy, satisfying meals is an important part of your treatment.

Good diabetes meal planning includes:

• understanding how different foods and the amount eaten affect your blood sugar
• choosing healthy foods
• eating regular meals at the right times

By eating well-balanced meals in the correct amounts, you can keep your blood sugar level as close to normal (non-diabetes level) as possible. This might sound like a lot of work, but your doctor and/or dietitian can help you create a meal plan that is best for you. There are many tools available to help you follow your diabetes meal plan that we discuss in this website, such as the Food Guide Pyramid, Rating Your Plate, and Carbohydrate Counting. Another tool is Exchange Lists, which you can learn more about by visiting the American Diabetes Association website. Each tool is different but hopefully one is right for you.

Eat the right amount of food for you at the right times

Several factors affect how much food you need each day. One of them is how much you weigh in relation to how tall you are. Another is how much exercise you get. People who exercise a lot or whose jobs involve heavy labor use more energy than people who are less active. Most people eat better, feel better, and have more energy if they eat regular meals. Spacing food throughout the day also seems to help you stay at a healthy weight and get the vitamins and minerals you need.