Diabetic Diet Menus - How Do You Know Which Ones Will Work For You?

When a person is diagnosed with diabetes, what it usually means for them is the fact that they need to lose some weight soon, if not immediately. And there's no going around it. The moment you are diagnosed with the disease, you must realize that you will need to follow a strict diet.

But don't worry. Just keep in mind that these are all for your own good. A diabetic's body processes are not as good as one that does not have the disease. If they fail to follow the right type of diet, then it's possible that the rest of the systems of their body are going to be affected too.

Counting Calories

As you walk out of the doctor's office, you must have a list of what to eat and what not to eat. This is very common with diabetics. In fact, a lot of diabetic patients say that the diabetic diet menus they are following can be overwhelming. And the fact that they need to count their calorie intake each day makes everything more complicated than it already is.

There are a lot of diabetic diet menus available over the internet, but how do you know if they are applicable to you or not? These are good tips on how to find out:

1. Is it low in fat? Inspect what the diet menu recommends for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Is the combination of foods right? If the menu has low levels of animal or saturated fats, then that is a good indication. Cholesterol is a no-no. Make sure that the meals appearing in the menu are prepared in such a way they don't add to your body's cholesterol level.

2. Is it high in dietary fiber? Dietary fibers are a big help in the processing of blood sugar. Raw fibers are advisable and they can be obtained in brown bread and brown rice. Any food item whose main ingredient is whole grain should also be good.

3. How much sugar does it contain? Whenever they can, diabetic patients should stay clear of sugary foods. Eating them far and in between and in small amounts is sometimes acceptable. But if the patient begins to indulge in them, then that is definitely not healthy. Sugary foods include cakes, pastries, and candies. To be on the safe side, these foods should always be avoided. A sprinkle of regular sugar on a cup of coffee should be fine, but never everyday.

4. Are there fresh fruits and vegetables included in the diet menu? Diabetic diet menus should be well-rounded and balanced. This means that it has to include all food groups well scattered from breakfast to lunch up until dinner, including all the snacks in between. Fruits and vegetables are good sources of nutrients as well as fiber. A good diabetic diet menu should be the one that include a variety of these foods within the day.

5. How many calories? If you are the type of patient who knows how to count the calorie content of foods, try to compute how much the diabetic diet menus presented to you contain. Compute the calorie content of each meal. Estimate how much you'll take within the day should you follow it. If it is more than the 1200 diabetic diet menu, then the menu may not be a good choice.

6. Ask your health provider. If you are consulting with a doctor on a regular basis, try to ask for their professional assessment of the diabetic diet menus you have acquired. If they answer favorably, then you will not go wrong in following it. But if they responded otherwise, ask for special revisions. Follow their instructions so that your health condition will be improved. And if you can consult with a dietitian, then doing that is going to be even better.

These are the ways on how you can determine good diabetic diet menus from those that are not. Follow these and you should be well on your way towards a better and healthier life ahead.

Flor Serquina is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Learn-About-Diabetes.com. She provides more information on topics such as diabetic diet menus, diabetes diet info and daily diabetic diet that you can research on her website even while lounging in your living room.