Weight Loss Plans for Insulin Dependent Diabetes

Controlling weight is an important part of managing insulin dependent diabetes, also known as Type I diabetes. The problem is that although weight loss is a common symptom of undiagnosed insulin dependent diabetes, once you start treatment, weight gain often occurs. Getting your weight down will give you better control over your blood sugar levels. The good news is that your diet doesn't have to be restrictive or leave you feeling deprived. It simply involves making a commitment to eating healthy for the long haul.

Identify Your Goals

• What are your weight loss goals? Face the scale, find out how much you weigh now and identify your goal weight. Dr. James Norman of Endocrineweb recommends calculating your healthy weight like this: Start with a base of 100 lbs. for a 5-feet-tall woman and 106 lbs. for men who are 5 feet in height. For every inch over five feet, add five pounds for women and six pounds for men. This total is your ideal body weight. Large-framed individuals should add 10 percent to the total to calculate their ideal weight. You can also consult with your doctor to determine a healthy range of weight for you based on your body type.

Counting Carbohydrates

• When you take insulin, counting the carbohydrates, or "carbs" for short, in your food will help you manage your diet. Carb consumption makes your blood sugar increase, so the amount of carbs in a particular meal will help you determine how much insulin you need to give yourself for that meal. Your doctor will set the ratio between carbs and insulin that works for you, but the counting of carbs remains the same. You can find the amount of carbs in a certain food by looking at the nutritional label in some cases. In the case of unlabeled foods, you will need to do some research and either commit to memory or create a list for the amount of carbs in a serving of your favorite foods. According to Dr. Norman, about 50 percent of your diet should come from carbohydrates, and you should try to stick to this ratio at every meal.

What to Eat

• The Mayo Clinic recommends eating a diet rich in whole grains, fruit and vegetables while restricting animal proteins and high sugar foods, while Dr. Norman recommends eating 16 calories for every pound of your weight. You should note that there is no official diet to follow for diabetes, and that contrary to popular belief, no foods are strictly off limits. If you combine the Mayo Clinic food recommendations with Dr. Norman's calorie limit recommendations, you can make food choices within those guidelines that you enjoy that also are good for weight loss and management. On the subject of sugar, according to the American Diabetes Association, diabetics can eat sugar as long as they count it like any other carb. Sugar does represent empty calories, however, and should be restricted for weight loss, just as it would need to be for non-diabetic dieters.