Diabetic Diet Menu Ideas

Menu Ideas for Diabetics

Making healthy dietary choices is very important for diabetes control. Maintaining a diabetic diet has certain short term and long term effects. Having three regular meals a day is important. Moreover, 25 - 30 grams of dietary fiber intake is important for diabetics. This can be consumed in portions during all three meals in the day. The rest of the diabetes diet menu options depending on the type of diabetes is as follows:

Type 1 Diabetic Diet Menu Ideas

In type 1 diabetes, a person's body cannot produce adequate amounts of insulin hormone. While type 1 diabetes cannot be controlled by diabetic diet alone, controlling one's diet is important. People with this type of diabetes have to find the right balance between insulin therapy taken and the food they consume. The dietitian will help lay down the appropriate type 1 diabetes diet, which balances medication with diet properly.

On a general note, the daily type 1 diabetes diet for a diabetic patient should be rich in dietary fiber. Moreover, the amount of sodium intake should also be reduced. Foods low in sodium and fat is recommended. There is no need to avoid sugar containing foods completely. Eating sugar containing foods in moderation is alright for type 1 diabetics. Artificial sweeteners can be added to foods because it does not alter blood sugar levels.

Type 2 Diabetic Diet Menu Ideas

People with type 2 diabetes can control their diabetes by being cautious about the food they consume. Type 2 diabetes diet and exercise helps control type 2 diabetes.

Breakfast

The different breakfast foods that diabetic diet for type 2 diabetes entails is as follows:

½ cup oatmeal

½ cup skimmed milk

Muffins

Toast

½ cup fat free yogurt

Orange

Berries

Lunch

The different lunch options for diabetics are as follows:

Salad with olive oil dressing

Brown bread vegetable-meat sandwich

Whole wheat tortillas with filling

Snack

There are some low carb snacks for diabetics, that should be consumed in between meals to maintain constant blood sugar level. The different snacks are as follows:

Pistachios

Sunflower seeds

Almonds

Pumpkin seeds

Dried fruit

Dinner

The different good foods for diabetics at dinner time are:

Pinto beans

Lentils over brown rice

Baked or grilled fish

Bowl of dark green leafy vegetables

Dessert 

Fat free yogurt can be consumed as dessert with some fruits for diabetics to add flavor.

Gestational Diabetic Diet Menu Ideas

During pregnancy some women encounter a temporary form of diabetes, called gestational diabetes, caused by pregnancy hormones. Women with gestational diabetes need to distribute their carbohydrate intake over 3 small to medium meals and 2 - 4 snacks a day.

Breakfast

Since consumption of carbohydrate conduces to rapid rise in blood sugar levels, it is best to consume more of proteins at breakfast. Chicken, turkey, egg, etc. keeps one fuller for the day. The carbohydrate intake at breakfast should not exceed 30 grams. The different foods that can be consumed are:

Slice of bread

Bagel

Pancake

Oatmeal

Corn tortilla

English muffin

Veggie sausage

Scrambled eggs

Lunch

The carbohydrate limit at lunch is 45 grams. The different gestational diabetic diet menu options are:

Chicken / meat sandwich

Lentil soup

Carrots

Apple

Lettuce

Tomato

Dinner

The carbohydrate limit to be maintained at dinner time is 45 - 60 grams. The different foods diabetics can eat at dinner time are:

One cup pasta

Brown rice

Small potato

Beef

Chicken

Turkey

Pork

Fish

Salad

Tofu

Bowl of vegetables

Reduced fat milk

Snacks

Snacks should be had in between meals to stabilize the blood sugar levels. The carbohydrate limit in snacks for a day is 15 grams. To keep the blood sugar under control, one should have a light snack everyday before going to bed. The different snacks that can be consumed are as follows:

Saltine crackers (6)

Pretzels (¾ of an ounce)

Graham crackers (3)

Popcorn (3 cups)

Fresh fruit (4 ounce)

Cottage cheese (1 cup)

Cookies (2)

Yogurt (6 ounces)

Grapes ( 1 cup)