7 Day Diet for Diabetics

There are 23.6 million diabetics in the United States, according to the American Diabetes Association. Diabetics can go into diabetic shock if they are not careful about the foods they eat. Diabetics use the glycemic index to accurately measure the effects of foods with carbohydrates on their blood glucose levels. The glycemic index works on a scale from 0 to 100 (with sugar ranked at 100) and foods that are closer to 100 increase blood glucose levels more rapidly. Seven-day diets for diabetics should consist of some fruits, dairy products, vegetables, and other foods with low ratings on the glycemic index.

Dairy Products

• Most dairy products fit perfectly into a seven-day diet for diabetics, but some do not. For example, low-fat yogurt has a low glycemic index rating of 14 and fat-free milk has a GI rating of 32, according to the South Beach Diet Plan. However, ice cream has a glycemic index rating of 61, making it less desirable. Milk and yogurt are great meal items to include in a seven-day diabetic diet because of their high protein content and low rating on the glycemic index.

Fruits

• Many fruits fit perfectly into a seven-day diet for diabetics, while others can be detrimental. For example, cherries, grapefruit, dried apricots, apples, pears, plums, peaches, oranges, and grapes all have a low GI rating below 50. However, watermelon has a GI rating of 72 and pineapple has a GI rating of 66. Fruit salads consisting of fruits with a low GI rating are a great meal to include in a seven-day diet for diabetics. Diabetics may also want to include fruits as a mid-day snack.

Vegetables

• Vegetables are one of the best types of food for a diabetic's diet plan. Broccoli, artichoke, asparagus, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant, green beans, lettuce, peppers, snow peas, spinach, young summer squash, and tomatoes all have a low GI rating of 15. However, broad beans should be avoided with a GI rating of 79. Vegetable salads are great meal choices for the diet.

Pasta

• Some types of pasta are harmful to diabetics, while others would fit perfectly into a seven-day diabetic diet. For example, protein-enriched spaghetti, fettuccine, vermicelli, and meat-filled ravioli all have low GI ratings below 50. However, brown rice pasta has a GI rating of 92 and macaroni and cheese has a GI rating of 64. Consider throwing in some vegetables with your pasta.