Diabetes 1500 Calorie Exchange Diet

Carbohydrates provide the body with glucose that bonds with a hormone called insulin to provide the body with energy. Diabetics either produce insufficient insulin or cannot process it properly, resulting in excess glucose in the bloodstream. Blood glucose levels that are too high or too low can cause serious short- and long-term medical complications. People affected by diabetes must maintain a strict regimen of diet, exercise and medication to keep their blood glucose levels stable.

Diabetes Types

• Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, is caused by the body's defense system's attacking insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Over a period of time, the pancreas stops producing insulin. Type 1 diabetes is treatable, but there is no cure.

  Type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes, is most frequently caused by obesity and lack of exercise. Either the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body is unable to process the insulin efficiently. Type 2 diabetes is usually curable by losing weight and incorporating exercise into your daily routine.

Food Pyramid

• There are several different meal planning techniques available to diabetics, all of which limit the intake of processed sugar and monitor carbohydrate intake. The exchange program is particularly well-suited for Type 2 diabetics because it is based on total daily caloric intake, which can be adjusted to facilitate weight loss.

  The American Diabetes Association has created a diabetes food pyramid as the basis for the exchange diet. It divides foods into starch, fruit, milk, fat, vegetable and meat groups. Specific portion sizes for each food are given as well as the number of recommended servings per day. It is called the exchange program because you can exchange foods within a group. One serving of starch, for instance, could be one slice of bread, one-quarter of a bagel or one-half of an English muffin. Consult a nutritionist to determine the right number of servings of each group as well as how they should be spread throughout the day.

Meal Plan

• A sample 1,500-calorie exchange diet breakfast would include two starches, one fruit, one serving of milk and one fat for breakfast. Using an exchange list, this could translate into three-quarters of a cup of corn flakes with one cup of skim milk, one slice of toast with one teaspoon of margarine and a small banana. Lunch could include two ounces of protein, two starches, one vegetable and one fat exchange. Dinner may consist of three ounces of protein, two starches, one fat, two vegetables and one fruit.

  It is important that diabetics spread their carbohydrate intake over the course of a day to prevent severe meal-induced spikes in blood glucose levels. An exchange diet will include two to three snacks each day in addition to three meals. An afternoon snack could include one milk, one vegetable and one fat, while an evening snack might consist of one bread and one protein. The evening snack is higher in carbohydrates to provide the body with enough energy to last until breakfast.

  Be sure to consult with a nutritionist or other health professional before starting a diet regimen.