Meal planning for people with diabetes

Healthy eating for people with diabetes involves a meal plan that fits into an overall diabetes management plan. While there will certainly be some restrictions on what and when you should eat, a successful plan will allow you to include foods you like and adapt your meal schedule to your lifestyle. Eating a healthy diet may help you to:

Keep you blood glucose levels under control.
Keep your weight at a healthy level
Prevent heart disease and high blood pressure

Preparing healthy meals
Your doctor, dietitian, or diabetes educator can work with you to develop a plan for healthy eating. For a referral to a registered dietitian in your area, call The American Dietetic Association hotline at 800-366-1655, or visit their website, www.eatright.org.

Here are some smart suggestions for how to comply with the dietary recommendations made by your doctor or dietitian. Consult with them before making any changes to your diet plan.

If your doctor or dietitian recommends to:

Watch the amount of fat in your meals^1[p234]
Read food labelsathe Nutrition Facts on packaged foods list the fat, saturated fat, and calories from fat per serving

Eat less fatty meats^1[p233]
Buy lean cuts, trim fat, remove skin, and then broil, grill, steam, or poach.

Cook with vegetable oils that contain monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats^1[p236]

Reduce your calorie intake^1[p250]
Watch out for fat-free cookies and other products; some have MORE calories than regular products because of added sugar.

Use food exchange lists for meal planning
Understand how these lists work - they include groups of foods, such as starches, fruits, vegetables, milk, and meats, that have about the same number of calories, carbohydrates, protein, and fat. One food within a group can be exchanged for another within that group.

Request a newly revised list from The American Dietetic Association or the American Diabetes Association through your dietitian or diabetes educator.

More tips are available from the American Diabetes Association website, http://www.diabetes.org.

Recipes for tasty, healthy eating
Click on any of the websites below and you'll find something to please just about any palate while still following dietary guidelines appropriate for people with diabetes.

Please Note: Novo Nordisk^® Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is not responsible nor does it endorse any content contained on the below sites. When clicking below you will be leaving the Novo Nordisk^® site.

Reference 1. American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes, 1996. Kelley DB, ed. American Diabetes Association New York.