Diabetic Diet Program

For someone with diabetes, a diabetic diet program can make a huge difference in managing blood sugar and living a healthy lifestyle. The diet doesn't have to be difficult, and it doesn't mean never eating favorite foods. What it does include is a balance of a variety of foods, and it means taking responsibility for making sure the diet is healthy.

Portions

• Eating the correct portion size is important for anyone, but it's even more important for someone with diabetes. When portions are kept to a healthy size, the body is better able to process it. Eating the correct portions helps keep blood sugar regulated. Most people are used to restaurant-size portions, which is more food than any person should eat at a time. A serving of meat is around three ounces, which is about the size of a deck of cards. A serving of carbohydrates is 1/2 cup, which is about the size of a tennis ball. A serving of fruits or vegetables is about the size of a normal fist.

Variety

• A diabetic diet doesn't require giving up the foods you like. But it does mean incorporating a good mix of healthy foods. A good variety to aim for includes keeping carbohydrates to 45 to 65 percent of your calories daily, protein at 15 to 20 percent of your daily calories and fats at 20 to 35 percent of your daily calorie intake. Carbohydrates should include plenty of high-fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It's important to eat a variety of colors and types of fruits and vegetables. Eating beans, lentils and peas, as well as low-fat dairy products, also is encouraged. Keep sugary, highly-processed carbohydrates to a minimum. When choosing proteins and fats, try to limit trans fats and saturated fat. Eating less red meat, choosing monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats for cooking and simply avoiding butter, shortening and margarine will help reduce the "bad" fats in your diet. This can help control cholesterol.

Be Consistent

• One of the main things to keep in mind is that consistency is key for eating a healthy diet. Eating at the same time every day will help ensure that blood sugar levels stay low. It's also important to eat roughly the same portion sizes each day.
  Another way to stay consistent is to keep choosing healthy, nourishing foods each day. Eating a high-sugar item once might not hurt you too much, but if you consistently eat sugary foods every day, you will run into trouble. So be consistent about your food choices. In the long run, it will help you keep your blood sugar under control. A diabetes diet program sounds difficult to follow, but it doesn't have to be. All it requires is a little knowledge about the basic food groups and the desire and ability to make healthy food choices. If you need help choosing a balanced diet, seek the advice of a health-care provider or dietitian. The right diet can help keep diabetes in control and contributes to a healthy lifestyle.