Healthy eating in proper amounts at fixed times is called diet. The diabetic diet is a planned healthy diet. It helps everyone. Diet controls the amount of sugar and cholesterol in your blood. In a diet plan for diabetes the things that are considered are sex, age, height, weight, physical activity and nature of diabetes. Dietitians also consider the blood pressure and cholesterol levels while planning diets for diabetic patients. By studying these factors dietitians assess the nutritional needs for each patient. Nutritional need means number of calories required by an individual in a day. This need varies from person to person; the general range of calorie requirements is between 1200-1800 calories per day.

The exchange meal plan is a diet plan which helps to plan your meal by balancing carbohydrate, protein and fat intake per day. In diabetes, blood glucose level is generally not within normal range. Glucose is a sugar released from carbohydrates, if we want to control diabetes then we need to control glucose level and hence we have to limit carbohydrate intake. With the help of exchange plan you can decide the type of food to be taken in the diet, the amount of food and also the time to eat.

The exchange meal planning is more flexible than others as in this plan you can make variations in your daily meal plan. There are some factors that you should always keep in mind while planning a diabetic diet. Include more amounts of vegetables and fruits in your meal. Instead of large meals take small meals at regular intervals. Do not exceed fiber intake beyond 1.4 oz in a day. Replace bakery products with whole cooked cereals.

The exchange system contains six lists of foods and each list contains foods having same amount of calories. You have to include the right amount of servings from each food list to control your diabetes. The serving size means size of food after it is cooked or prepared. The six basic groups in the exchange system are vegetables, fruits, starches, milk, meat and fats. Each group contains various foods with the same amount of calories. Since each group contains same calorie count foods, the effect of these foods on the blood glucose level is similar. You can exchange the foods within a group as they have the same effect on blood sugar levels.

Based on your individual needs your dietitian recommends you a certain number of daily exchanges from each food group. For example to meet 1800 calorie requirement per day you can include four exchanges from vegetable group, three exchanges from fruit group, none exchanges from starch group, two exchanges from milk group, six exchanges from lean meat and four from fat group. These numbers of exchanges are per day means you have to distribute these exchanges throughout the day. While planning the diet with the help of exchange system always keep in mind that you cannot exchange the food of one group with food of another group always exchange the foods within the group.

The exchange system also provides list of free foods having less than 20 calories and these foods can be consumed without much worry.

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?

• Your Diet and Diabetes
• When Diabetes Attacks Kids
• Diabetes and Diet - The Best Way to Control Your Diabetes is With a Diabetic Diet Plan
• 7 Amazing Foods That Lower Blood Sugar
• Knowing More Types of Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes - Do Protein and Fiber Help Reduce Your Blood Sugar Levels?
• How Should You Eat If You Have Diabetes?
• How to Control Diabetes - Steps You Need to Know in Treating Diabetes Effectively
• The Benefits of Exercise in Managing Diabetes

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