The Glycemic Index and Diabetic Diets

The glycemic index diet is one that many diabetics find useful. The diet is based on assigning foods a ranking that indicates that food’s effect on blood sugar levels. This can be a valuable tool for diabetics, especially ones that have been newly diagnosed as it can take some of the guess work out of meal planning and what foods to eat.

The glycemic index (GI) diet indicates foods that have a low GI value meaning they will take a longer time to have an affect on blood sugars and ones that have a higher value – they will act quicker to raise blood sugars. A diabetic is still going to have to use another means to decide what foods to eat though – such as the food pyramid or an exchange list as not all items on the GI diet are as healthy as they could be. Meaning a food that has a low index does not mean it is a better choice for you than some foods that are on the higher end of the scale.

Using the GI diet as your sole source of meal planning is not recommended not only because the values are not indicative of the healthiest choice but also because not all foods are listed. If you are basing your diet on this method and want to add other foods that do not have GI rating you are not going to be able to properly plan. Until more information is researched on the diet or it is made more comprehensive it should be used with an approved diet for diabetics such as the exchange diet or the carbohydrate counting diet.

If you want more information on how to incorporate the GI diet with your current meal plan, consult with your dietician or a diabetes educator.

Diabetic Diets – Consistency and Variety

It may sound like a hard thing to do – be consistent and have variety in your diet at the same time. But it is possible and it is the best way to control your diabetes with your diet. The consistency comes in at specific meal times and the same servings from the different food groups. And the variety refers to trying as many different foods in the food groups as you can.

It can be easy to find a few meals that work well with your blood sugars and are easy to prepare and just stick with them. You are more than likely to get bored with this and you probably aren’t getting all of the nutrients you need from a set amount of foods.

Whether you are on the carbohydrate counting diet or the exchange diet, you have a lot of room for flexibility. You can combine different foods together for something new or try foods you have never had before. You can meet with your dietician to get additional ideas for recipes and other foods that you can eat to add more variety to your diet.

There will be times that you try a new food and your blood sugars are higher as a result. Think back about anything else that you had done differently that day – less activity or taking your insulin later than usual. If the new food is the only change you experienced talk to your dietician. You may be able to prepare the food differently or eat it with something else or you may have to avoid that food if it doesn’t work for your diabetic diet.

Just because you have diabetes doesn’t mean that you can’ be adventurous and try something new, just do it at regular meal times and within the recommended portion

Reading Food Labels

On all packaged food that you buy, there is a food label that includes important information to a diabetic. You need to learn how to read them properly and know what the different numbers and percentages mean to you and your diabetic diet. Below is an overview of the basic information you need to know about food labels.
Whether you are counting carbohydrates, are following the exchange diet, or you are on the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet you can increase your chances for success by reading your food labels and understanding what they mean.

The ingredient list is a good place to start before looking at the numbers in the food label. Where is sugar on the ingredient list? The closer it is to the beginning of the list the more of it is present in the food. That goes the same for all ingredients; manufacturers list the ingredients in order of the amount that is in the product. If there are things in your food that do not work well for your blood sugar on the list it should be avoided or eaten in moderation.

Look at the serving size and compare that to the number of carbohydrates is in a serving. Most servings of carbohydrates for a diabetic are 15 grams. If one serving is higher than 15 grams you will have to eat less than the suggested serving size to stay on track with your meal plan.

Sugar-free foods may grab your attention as something safe and yummy to add to your shopping cart. But look at the carbohydrate count first. Most foods that are made sugar-free using artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes have higher carbohydrate counts.Check the fat content too, look for a low percent of your daily intake and ideally it will be monounsaturated as opposed to polyunsaturated or saturated fats.

Using the Food Pyramid in Diabetic Diets

In grade school everyone was taught the food pyramid and the different food groups that make it up. It is recommended for a balanced and healthy diet to vary your diet and follow the food serving suggestions from the pyramid. As adults, people rarely pay as much heed to it if any at all. But once you have been diagnosed with diabetes it is time to take a refresher course on the different food groups.

There is a food pyramid that is available specifically for diabetics known as the Diabetes