| Living with someone with diabetes is not something | | | | one to three servings of meat and other proteins, and |
| that should take a great toll on your daily menu | | | | very little fat and sweets. Distributing these serving |
| planning unless sugary foods take center stage in all | | | | sizes in meals spread out throughout the entire day |
| your meals. The foods that are recommended for | | | | would yield you a satisfactory diabetic meal plan. |
| diabetics could fit into your everyday eating plan. Eating | | | | Take note also of the glycemic index of foods. The |
| based on the dietary requirements of your diabetic | | | | rule of thumb in diabetic menu planning is that you |
| family member is beneficial to other family members | | | | should go for those foods that have low glycemic |
| as well. Diabetic menu planning is basically a balanced | | | | indices. While fruits are healthy, some fruits that contain |
| diet composed of healthy servings of carbohydrates, | | | | high amounts of sugar could be detrimental to a |
| proteins, and fats. | | | | diabetic's health. It would also be wise not to include |
| The key to diabetic menu planning is being able to | | | | fruit juices and other sugary drinks as part of your |
| spread out your meals throughout the day to control | | | | menu. Stick to water as your preferred choice of |
| your blood sugar levels. It is often recommended that | | | | beverage. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water is |
| several small meals be taken throughout the day so | | | | always recommended whether you are a diabetic or |
| that your caloric intake can be met without putting | | | | not. |
| much stress on your system. The foods that are | | | | Make sure that you include a variety of dishes in your |
| recommended for diabetics are normal healthy foods. | | | | menu. This makes it easy for the entire family to stick |
| There really is no special preparation that is needed in | | | | to the diabetic menu. Eating a wide variety of dishes |
| order to come up with food good enough for diabetics | | | | prepared the healthy way can keep meal times |
| to eat. In fact, these foods might already be part of | | | | enjoyable for everyone. Do make sure also that you |
| your regular diet already. | | | | consult with the doctor of your diabetic family member. |
| Keeping in mind some basic guidelines in healthy food | | | | There might be special restrictions or |
| choices would help you come up a healthy eating plan | | | | recommendations that you might have to consider to |
| good enough not only for your diabetic family member | | | | effectively control your family member's diabetes. |
| but for the whole family as well. Basically, you should | | | | Consulting with a dietitian and showing him your |
| have not more than ten servings of breads, grains, and | | | | diabetic patient's laboratory test results would also be |
| starchy foods, about three to six servings of fruits and | | | | a good idea to ensure that you are on the right track. |
| vegetables, about three to five servings of dairy, about | | | | |