Different Methods of Planning a Diabetic Diet
HealthyBalancedDiet.org Because there is no single type of diabetic diet since everyone has a personal dietary requirement, there are different methods of planning it. A diabetic diet should not solely focus on meeting glucose needs but the overall health and nutrient needs of the person as well. The first step would be assessing a person's eating habits, choice of food, eating and work schedules and coming up with a goal. 1.) Plate Method The Plate Method is a very basic method for teaching a meal plan. It includes a 9-inch dinner plate that will serve as a "pie chart" to show the proportions to be covered by different food groups. 50% of the plate should cover vegetables for lunch and dinner. The 25% will be divided between starchy foods such as potatoes, grains, bread and 25% for choice of meat. Outside the plate includes a small plate for vegetables and a glass of milk. 2.) Diabetic Exchange Diet In this type of diet, food is segregated into 6 categories based on its macro nutrient content if it's starch, meat and meat substitutes and non-starchy food. With the assistance of a physician or dietitian, people with diabetes will come up with a meal plan that has a set amount of servings from each food category per day. In this system, a person will measure food rather than weigh it. 3.) Carbohydrate Counting From the name itself, this type of planning entails counting the grams of carbs in different types of food and adjust it to the carbohydrates consumed throughout the ...