A calorie diabetic diet allows you to take control of calorie intake. We get calories from basic food content which are carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We get energy from carbohydrates but it affects our blood glucose level. More carbohydrates results in high sugar levels in your blood.

With the help of calorie diabetic diet you can control per day calorie intake and hence can manage diabetes effectively. The need of calories is not same for everybody, the amount lies between 1200 and 1800. But in the case of gestational diabetes calorie range should be between 2000-2500 calories per day.

In calorie diabetic diet you have to be careful about foods which you include in your meals. Plan your meal according to your calorie diet. The menu depends upon which calories diet you choose. Your doctor suggests you a calorie diet according to your diabetes type and physical status.

If you choose 1800 calorie diet then plan your whole day meals such that throughout the day you get only 1800 calories and not more than that.

A sample menu for 1800 calorie diet is: In breakfast include two slices of wheat toast, one cup low-fat yogurt, 1/2 cup orange juice, two teaspoon margarine, four teaspoon sugar free jelly and coffee or tea.

The lunch should be of four oz grilled chicken, two dinner rolls, two oz fat-free or low-fat cheese, two cups green salad with one tablespoon dressing, one teaspoon margarine, one peach and one cup skim milk.

Dinner include one bread, 2/3 cup pasta noodles with 1/2 cup pasta sauce, 1/4 cup eggplant and zucchini, and 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce.

This is one sample of 1800 calorie diet. You need not follow this plan every day, you can make variations in your meal but remember that plan your meal in such a manner so that it contains only 1800 calories. While choosing foods you can take the help of food exchange list. A food exchange system divides all foods into six groups. Each group contains list of foods having same calories. You can replace the food with another food of same calories but exchanging foods between the groups is not allowed. You can exchange the food within the group. With the help of exchange list you can select the food and exchange it with another food having same calories.

Occasionally you have to eat some food which is not in your regular diabetic diet especially when you go for a party. Then in this case adjust your diet so that you can also enjoy that food. Eat less calories at lunch and have a small portion of cake or ice cream. Instead of sweets drink a calorie free beverage. If you take excess amount of calories than your regular calorie diet then burn the calories by exercise such as walking, cycling etc. Monitoring your blood glucose level is essential because if it goes up you can adjust your next meal and can keep sugar level within normal range.

Thus calorie diets are very effective in diabetes treatment and management.

Drink lots of water because it is calorie free and helps to flush away the toxins. Did you know that flavored carbonated water has no calories, sugar, body, sweetener, color or preservatives? Do you want to know more? Check out tutorials.carbonatedseltzerwater.com/

Diabetes is a rather complex illness for patients and providers to manage and for that reason people with diabetes need to be cared for by a team of professionals. I like to refer to this as someone’s Diabetes Care Team. Just image yourself in a room with ten other people. In the center of the room hangs a globe of the earth. Look at the globe. What one person sees is different from what the person sitting on the opposite side of the room sees. Those persons sitting in the corners of the room also see something unique and different. Assembling a diabetes care team is no different. Each health-care professional sees you (the globe) from a different part of the room, or from a different perspective, so they each see something different when looking at you, the patient.

The take-home message here is to be sure that your globe, or your entire person, is being looked at and taken care of from all sides, or perspectives.

To accomplish this you need to assemble a team of health-care professionals who will care for you, as well as educate you, on caring for your diabetes. Keeping these thoughts in mind, let’s move forward and learn who the key players are, as well as some supporting team members, whom you may or may not need at the moment, but may need on your team at some point in time.

YOU

You are the owner of your diabetes care team, and as the team owner, you are the most important person. Your team cannot be successful if you are not 100% committed. The team I will help you assemble can make all the correct recommendations and treatment decisions, but if you are not dedicated, then the team, and therefore you, cannot succeed. You have a number of responsibilities, which include the following.

• Following your diet
• Exercising regularly
• Monitoring your glucoses at home
• Taking your medication properly
• Attending support group meetings
• Assembling your care team
• Following the various treatment recommendations from your care team

I often tell patients, “My nurses, the dietitian and I are willing and able to help you get your diabetes under control, but if you are not committed, we cannot succeed.”

PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER

Every team needs a leader, or captain if you will. Choosing your captain is a crucial step in the success of your team. This person will be your leader, your anchor, and possibly the person who introduces you to the remainder of your team roster. Your captain can be a physician, a nurse practitioner, or a physician’s assistant.

CERTIFIED DIABETES EDUCATORS

Your care team also needs certified diabetes educators. These are individuals who have passed an examination after at least 2 years and 1000 hours of providing diabetes self-management education, and have subsequently received certification by the National Board of Certified Diabetes Educators. This certification is for those professionals who provide excellent education regarding diabetes self-management. You should find both a nurse and a dietitian who possess this certification. These individuals can be found at an American Diabetes Association (ADA)-recognized Diabetes Education Center. Persons who go to these diabetes education centers for information typically receive both individualized teaching with a nurse and a dietitian, and attend group classes pertaining to a number of diabetes-related topics.

DENTIST

Regular dental exams are recommended for all people with diabetes. Therefore, a dentist who is aware of your diagnosis and who is willing to work with your diabetes care team is necessary.

EYE DOCTOR

You will need an optometrist or an ophthalmologist for your eye exams. Again, look for someone you feel comfortable with, who knows your diagnosis, and who specifically performs diabetic eye exams. Some providers can take photographs of the back of your eyes (the retina), which can be stored and compared year after year in order to identify any changes.

PHARMACIST

You also need a pharmacist. Look for one who makes you feel comfortable and with whom you can talk and discuss issues pertaining to your needs, as well as any questions you have about your medications. It is also highly recommended that you use only one pharmacy, to decrease the likelihood of medication errors and interactions. In addition, look for a pharmacist who can provide durable medical equipment such as testing supplies, testing strips, insulin syringes, needles for your insulin pens, and diabetic shoes.

These are the key players on your team. These are the people that every team requires to provide optimal diabetes management. Your primary care provider (or captain) is a reliable source to recommend other team members.

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for you to take the time and effort to choose the correct person to lead your team and be sure that you, the team owner, are committed to the team’s success, and prepared for the hard work and behavioral changes needed to be successful.

Finally, there are additional health-care providers you may require on your diabetes care team at some point in the disease management process. These providers are chosen based upon your individual treatment and other related conditions.

Yes, it is often a complication, a clue from the effect of insulin resistance, that shows your health care provider you have type 2 diabetes. It sneaks up on you; it often goes undetected for many years. Because of this, high blood sugar levels combined with elevated insulin levels may have already caused damage. Usually this damage is found in:

• the blood vessels
• nerves
• eyes
• kidneys

The