Diabetic Food

There are six different groups on the diabetic food pyramid, which each vary considerably in size. The largest group on the diabetic food pyramid is the grains, starchy vegetables and beans group, and is located on the very bottom of the pyramid. The smallest group is the fats, alcohol and sweets group, and is located at the top of the pyramid. The larger, lower groups require more servings per day, and the smaller, higher groups require significantly less.

With diabetic food, it all comes down to the nutrition facts. It’s that list of nutrition information found on the package of foods sold in the grocery store. Reading food labels can help you make wise choices about the foods you buy. The labels will tell you what ingredients were used, the amount of calories, and other pertinent information essential to a diabetes patient.

The diabetic food pyramid works just like a normal food pyramid with foods listed at the top that should only be eaten rarely and in moderation; foods that are sweet to taste and the fatty foods. The further down the pyramid you go the more you can partake without the problems of sugar imbalance.

Fortunately, the medical community has come together in order to formulate a food pyramid specifically geared towards people with diabetes. This diabetic food pyramid outlines and prescribes what types of foods a person suffering from diabetes can safely eat and should eat in order to assist their body with coping from the effects of having diabetes.

In order to follow the minimum amount of servings for every group in the diabetic food pyramid, you would be eating approximately 1600 calories per day. At the upper end of the food pyramid’s caloric range, expect to eat around 2800 calories. Generally it is women who eat on the lower end of the range, with men eating on the middle to high end of the range, depending on their activity level.

The diabetic food pyramid is different from the Food Guide Pyramid put out by the USDA in that it groups foods based on the levels of carbohydrates and proteins, rather than by food classification. These differences have been created in order to make the carbohydrate levels approximately equal between each food group.

Now that you have been pointed to the right direction with these tips to improve your diabetic food diet, you can go ahead and live a healthier, fuller life where nothing – no carb nor sweets – is denied you, as long as you keep it all in moderation.

Vegetables remain one of the best sources of food to help diabetics fight their disease and a healthy portion of 3 to 5 servings per day is recommended. Finally, grains should be consumed in quantities of 6 or more servings daily for diabetics due to their natural ability to provide fiber that is without question the most beneficial nutrient needed by a diabetic.

Concerning the vegetables and grains these are natures gift to the diabetic and up to 5 serves a day in good portions provide great fiber content for the body to break down that glucose that threatens to send you into the dreaded diabetic coma.

Below are some suggestions for a good diabetic diet menu:

- Include a wide variety of vegetables and fruits to your diabetic diet menu. Include apples, oranges, bananas, red cabbage, beans and carrots.

- As much as possible try to eat whole grains instead of processed foods. Grains are at the base of the diabetic food pyramid which means that you should make it a central part of your diabetic diet menu.

- Eat food at regular intervals. Don’t have large gaps or too low gaps between successive meals such as lunch and evening snacks.

- Pick non-fat dairy goods like skimmed milk, non-fat yogurt and cheese. If the taste of these products does not suit you, you can go for the low-fat instead of non-fat dairy products.

- One of the Diabetic cooking tips you can use is to abstain from high-calorie drinks like sodas.

- Cut down on desserts. It is alright to eat at once a week rather than every day. This change you need to make in the Diabetic Diet.

To stay in health, try to implement above food tips as much as you can. A diabetic diet menu emphasizes eating the right foods and the right amount. Remember, it is all about control and discipline.

Always consult your doctor when considering which types of diabetic foods are best for your health situation.

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