Diabetic Food Pyramid - Diabetes Food Pyramid

Diabetic Food Pyramid

Diabetic Food Pyramid
American Diabetes

Diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. In order to help our customers, American Diabetes Services, a leading provider for free diabetic supplies, offers this diabetic food pyramid to act as a food guide to help diabetics manage their diet better.

Fats and Sweets
Diabetics should eat less fats and sweets. Saturated fats found in animal products such as hamburger, cheese, bacon and butter should especially be avoided. When you eat sweets, such as ice cream or muffin, make them apart of your healthy diabetic diet, not as an extra.

Milk
Diabetics should have 2 to 3 servings of milk products per day. A serving size can be 1 cup of milk or yogurt. When looking at milk or yogurt, try to choose low-fat or nonfat milk products. Yogurt contains its own natural sweeteners, and may have additional sugar or artificial sweeteners added, so read the labels thoroughly when choosing yogurt.

Meat
Diabetics should have 2 to 3 servings of meat products per day. Nutritionists usually recommend choosing fish and poultry over red meat, because it's less fatty. When you're preparing chicken or turkey, it's a good idea to remove the skin, which is where most of the fat comes from. Select lean cuts of beef, veal or pork. Always try to trim away visible fat from the meat before cooking it. Baking, roasting or grilling is preferable to frying.

Fruits
Diabetics should have 2 to 4 servings of fruits per day. Most dietitians recommend consuming whole fruits rather than juices because of the fiber contained. Be careful to select fruits and fruit juices that don't have any sweeteners or syrups added. Citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruit and tangerines, should be an essential part of your fruit intake.

Vegetables
Diabetics should have 3 to 5 servings of vegetables per day. Try to get fresh or frozen vegetables rather than canned vegetables because they have less sauces, fats and salt added. Vegetables that should be at the top of your food list should be dark green and deep yellow vegetables, such as spinach, broccoli, romaine lettuce, carrots, chilies and peppers.

Grains and More
Diabetics should have 6 or more servings of grains, beans and starchy vegetables per day. Choose whole-grain foods that are nutritious and high in fiber, such as whole grain bread or crackers, bran cereal and brown rice. Beans can be another good source of fiber. Don't use white flour when cooking, instead look for whole wheat or whole grain alternatives.

Eating right is just one of the ways to manage your diabetes. Exercise and regular diabetic testing are other elements to live a healthy lifestyle. American Diabetes provides free diabetic supplies to diabetics eligible through private insurance and Medicare. Read more of our diabetes resources for healthy living.

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