Diabetes: Meal Planning

You can help keep your blood sugar level in your target range by eating healthy foods. Your care team can help you create a nutritious meal plan. Take an active role in your diabetes management. Follow your meal plan and work with your care team.

A meal plan gives guidelines for the types and amounts of food you should eat. The goal is to balance food and insulin (or other diabetes medicines). That way, your blood sugars will be in your target range. Your dietitian will help you make a flexible meal plan that includes many foods that you like. Let your dietitian know if you are struggling to eat correctly due to a limited budget or for other reasons.

Your meal plan will group foods by servings. To learn how much a serving is, start by measuring food portions at each meal. Soon you'll know what a serving looks like on your plate. Ask your care team about how to balance servings of different foods.

The basis of a healthy meal plan is eating lots of different foods. Choose whole fruits, nonstarchy vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. Limit processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets, refined grains, and ultra-processed foods. Eating a wide variety of foods gives your body the nutrients it needs. It can also keep you from getting bored with your meal plan.

• Carbohydrates (carbs). These are starches, sugars, and fiber. They're found in many foods. These include fruit, bread, pasta, milk, and sweets. Of all the foods you eat, carbs have the most effect on your blood sugar. Your dietitian may teach you about carb counting. This is a way to figure out the number of carbohydrates in a meal. Carbs with fiber are absorbed more slowly. They don't raise your blood sugar as much.
• Fats. These have the most calories. They also have the most effect on your weight and your risk of heart disease. When you have diabetes, it's important to control your weight and protect your heart. Foods that are high in saturated fat include whole milk, cheese, snack foods, and desserts. You can eat more of the heart-healthy fats, such as avocados, salmon, tuna, nuts and seeds, and olive oil.
• Protein. This is important for building and repairing muscles and bones. Choose healthy protein sources, such as fish, eggs, and skinless chicken. You may be instructed to weigh or measure your protein sources.

Extra calories from sodas, sports drinks, fruit drinks, specialty coffee beverages, and sweet tea make it hard to keep blood sugar in range. Cut as many liquid sugars from your meal plan as you can.

This includes most fruit juices. They are often high in natural or added sugar and lack the fiber of whole fruit. Instead, have plenty of water and other sugar-free drinks.

If you need to lose weight, try to reduce the amount of saturated fat in your diet. This can also help lower your cholesterol level to keep blood vessels healthier. Cut fat by using only small amounts of liquid oil for cooking. Read food labels carefully. Stay away from foods with unhealthy trans fats. For most people, the key to weight loss is a combination of healthy foods, portion control, and exercise.

When it comes to blood sugar control, when you eat is as important as what you eat. You may need to eat several small meals spaced evenly throughout the day to stay in your target range. So don't skip breakfast or wait until late in the day to get most of your calories. Doing so can cause your blood sugar to rise too high or fall too low.