Diabetic Diet

A well managed diet makes living with Diabetes far easier and less expensive as it can reduce the amount of medication or the number insulin injections needed to maintain proper blood sugar.

The main concern of the diabetic diet is finding the correct balance between the food eaten and the medicine taken. A good plan is to keep a food journal (which is what MealMixer's Diabetic Diet Planner does for you) to plan for and record what nutrients you take in. Coupled with a testing journal (provided by your physician), you will be armed with the information necessary to identify problem areas and continually improve your meal planning to attain the proper sugar balance.

Another concern is being at the right weight. You should determine a good weight for you using our BMI Calculator and Diet Calculator. Being fit has a very positive impact on your body's ability to properly metabolize glucose.

Carbohydrate counting (done by the planner) is essential for the diabetic diet. Although necessary for energy, carbs can quickly break down and dump sugar into the bloodstream which is difficult for diabetics to process since they are insulin deprived. It's very important to carefully balance insulin, carb intake and exercise to maintain optimal levels of glucose in the blood. Varying your nutritional intake too widely from meal to meal causes fluctuations in blood sugar, making it difficult to accurately predict the amount of insulin you require.

There are different schools of thought for the diabetic diet, a Low Carbohydrate Diet Plan or a Low Fat Diet Plan. Your dietitian should be the one to make this determination for you, as well as determine your specific diet regimen.

In addition, you should also account for any exercise you perform, since it burn calories. Most insulin dependent diabetics can take an insulin injection shortly before eating. MealMixer helps you plan meals that contain roughly the same amounts of nutrients each time, making it easier to find an adequate dosage of insulin.

Children with diabetes should also have their diets carefully monitored and modified as they grow.

Being a diabetic means practicing self control where food is concerned, and planning your meals ahead of time using the Diabetic Diet Planner. This will avoid surges of glucose levels. Similarly, you'll know when you'll be glucose starved due to a low carbohydrate meal, and be ready with snacks when your blood sugar is too low.

Eating balanced healthy meals with the proper number of portions and balance of proteins, fats and carbs will help you assimilate the sugar from your food more evenly. With your diet properly managed, your need for insulin or medication could be lessened, and in some cases eliminated.

Learn More