1000 Calorie Diabetic Diet Meal Plan Guide Tips

1000 Calorie Diabetic Diet Meal Plan Guide Tips
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Diabetes Nutrition Overview

Diabetes is the commonly used name for diabetes mellitus. Diabetes is the result of the body’s inability to use blood glucose as energy because of a lack of insulin or inability to use insulin. A 1000 calorie diabetic diet meal plan guide should be devised with the help of someone who specializes in diabetes treatment to make sure meals include a balance of calories and nutrients to regulate blood glucose levels.

Diabetes puts people at greater risk for diseases like cardiovascular disease, eye, kidney, or nerve disease. Balance food, exercise and diabetes medicines to protect your health and decrease the risk of becoming seriously ill in combination with having diabetes. Diabetes is treatable and diabetics can enjoy long and fruitful lives by becoming knowledgeable about how diet and nutrition affect blood glucose and insulin levels.

General Meal Planning Tips

In general, people with diabetes need to consider three things when planning diet and meal plans:

  1. Types of food, beverages, and their glycemic index
  2. Physical activity levels
  3. Prescription diabetes medicine

These items impact blood glucose levels and determine the body’s need for more or less insulin. Diabetic meal plans are individualized by a registered dietician or physician to ensure a healthy balance in all these areas. Consult a healthcare professional before beginning or changing any dietary programs for diabetes treatment.

Most experts agree any restricted calorie diet, like a 1,000 calorie diet, should be limited to a short time period. Diabetics must be diligent about checking blood glucose levels while following such diets to avoid insulin spikes or slumps. Including high amounts of fiber such as at least 20 grams daily helps to lower blood sugars when calories are severely restricted.

Diabetic Eating Guidelines

Here are some suggested healthy eating guidelines for planning nutrition-rich 1000 calorie diabetic meals:

  • Eat regular small meals consistently throughout the day to protect health on low-calorie diets.
  • Eat every four to five hours to control blood sugar levels.
  • Eat a variety of foods and focus on nutrient dense and macronutrient foods for maximum nutrition at a low caloric cost.
  • Make every bite count when following a low calorie diet plan to protect health and avoid exacerbating diabetic conditions.
  • Eat good fats and limit saturated fats from meat, eggs and cheese to no more than 10 percent of the total daily calorie count.
  • Focus on monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats such as coconut oil and goat butter. Total daily consumption should be about 10 percent of calories consumed.

Diabetes and Alcohol Consumption

Restrict or eliminate consumption of sodium, alcohol and sugar. Blood glucose levels are affected rapidly by the sugars in alcohol, and too much alcohol can cause dangerous fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Follow the advice of your healthcare professional when including alcohol in any diabetic diet meal plan.

Living the Diabetic Lifestyle

A diagnosis of diabetes is not a life sentence. By eating nutritious foods, staying active, and taking any prescribed medicines, most diabetics enjoy healthy lifestyles. Before deciding to follow any diabetic diet meal plan guide, seek the advice of a qualified professional.

Sources

University of Illinois Extension, “Your Guide to Diet and Diabetes”, accessed 02/24/2010:https://urbanext.illinois.edu/diabetes2/subsection.cfm?SubSectionID=15

North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service,“Your Diet and Diabetes”, Jacquelyn W. McClelland, 0/2005,accessed 02/24/2010:https://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/fcs/pdfs/fcs389.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Take Care of Your Diabetes”,4th edition, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2007, accessed 02/24/2010: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/tcyd/index.htm#more

Image Credit

Wikimedia Commons/PUblic Domain/Mikael Haggstrom