Type 2 Diabetes: A Diet Plan for Healthy Eating

Type 2 Diabetes: A Diet Plan for Healthy Eating

Blood Glucose Level Control

There are three principal ways to maintain control of blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes patients. They are diet, exercise and medication. Each of these in turn contributes substantially to the overall control so essential for those with diabetes. With diabetes, not only blood sugar levels must be regulated but triglyceride and cholesterol levels as well. A diet plan which includes low hypoglycemic index foods, is low in salt and saturated fats, and controls intake of carbohydrates will go a long way in helping to keep complications from diabetes at bay.

Content of A Healthy Diet Plan

Breakfast should be eaten before 8 am. Dietician and Nutritionist Malka Torres Zapair recommends including three or four of the following elements at the first meal of the day. Saltines (3 or 4 crackers), one cup of oatmeal, one egg, two slices of whole wheat bread, one cup of coffee, or a portion of fruit.

A Mid-morning snack should be eaten around 10 am. This should consist of a portion of fruit or three to four saltine crackers or a piece of chocolate.

For lunch, eaten before one pm. She recommends a broiled portion of meat such as chicken, pork, beef or fish, a one cup serving of rice, pasta or other high carbohydrate food or a medium-sized potato, a one cup serving of salad - no fatty dressings please but vinegar and oil are okay, or a serving of steamed vegetables. Vegetable soup and a glass of juice can be substituted.

A Mid-afternoon snack at about three pm should consist of a portion of fruit, three to four crackers or a piece of chocolate.

Dinner should be eaten before seven pm and may include a slice of whole wheat toast or three to four crackers, a portion of fruit, coffee with cream (Splenda, Dextrose or Stevia can be used as a sweetener), a slice of low fat cheese or a cup of buttermilk or low fat natural yogurt, one half a cup of granola or sugar-free cereal, a ham and cheese sandwich, a one cup serving of salad, a one cup serving of oatmeal, a portion of steamed or grilled meat or fish. Again, any three or four of these suggested food items can be combined as a meal.

Foods to Avoid

In addition to following the dietary recommendations noted above, some foods for diabetics to avoid include these:

- processed sugar, honey and sugar-rich food items such as cakes, desserts, gelatin (aka Jello) candy and ice creams.

- white bread, white flour based baked goods and pastries

- fatty cuts of meat, chicken skin, bacon, sausages, organ meats and cream cheese

- sodas, bottled juices and alcoholic beverages

- reduce consumption of caffeine

- eat eggs no more than three times per week

- reduce consumption of shellfish

Minimizing consumption of or eliminating these foods will contribute greatly to a healthy eating diet plan for type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes Healthy Eating

By carefully controlling levels of blood sugar, cholesterol, salt and refined flour based products, type 2 diabetes sufferers can maintain healthy lifestyle especially when combined with a rigorous medication and regular exercise schedule. Strictly following the mandates of your doctor or health professional will also help to ensure the best possible lifestyle for type 2 diabetes patients.