As any doctor can tell you, diabetes and weight are often closely connected. Healthy body weights are associated with lower blood sugars, reduced insulin usage, and greater overall well-being.
Unfortunately, there's no healthy way to lose weight quickly; but if you're a person with diabetes that could stand to shed a few pounds, that's absolutely no reason to feel discouraged. If you stick to 1200 calorie diabetic diet and engage in moderate exercise, you'll very likely start dropping sizes and getting healthy before you know it.
Tell Me More...
The 1200 calorie diabetic diet plan is about much more than simply reducing what you eat. It's about monitoring carbohydrates, practicing portion control, creating a balanced diet, and living an overall healthy lifestyle. Taking on a 1200 calorie diabetic diet meal plan without paying careful attention to all of these elements not only makes the diet ineffective, but potentially dangerous for people with diabetes.
For this reason, anyone considering trying a 1200 calorie diabetic diet should always consult with certified medical or nutrition professionals first. These experts will be able to confirm whether a 1200 calorie diabetic diet is right for you, and help create a workable meal schedule that fits your unique nutritional needs and lifestyle.
They'll also be able to explain in greater detail the fundamentals behind the 1200 calorie diabetic diet. Like how, for example, when you follow the 1200 calorie diabetic diet plan, you have to be careful of how many carbohydrates you take in. Why? Because foods that are high in carbs raise your blood sugar level. Milk, starches, sugars, fruit and sweets are all high in carbohydrates, and the 1200 calorie diabetic diet is partially centered on tracking their intake. Understanding information like this is a key part in making any diet, especially a 1200 calorie diabetic diet meal plan, a health success.
What Would a 1200 Calorie Diabetic Diet Look Like?
Imagine you've been approved by your doctor, as well as a certified nutritionist or dietitian, to start a 1200 calorie diabetic diet-what might your daily meals look like?
For starters, the 1200 calorie diabetic plan isn't difficult or time-consuming. Instead, it's all about common sense. While keeping a food journal is recommended, you don't have to go to great lengths to calculate every single calorie. The 1200 calorie diabetic diet simply stresses the importance of eating low carbohydrate, low-calorie foods... and eating them often.
Small, regular meals throughout the day play a key role in letting the body process food easily and without large disruptions to your blood sugar. On the 1200 calorie diabetic diet plan, you should eat six or seven times daily (three meals, 2-3 snacks). If your blood sugar is too uneven at any point during the day, you just adjust your schedule and carb intake accordingly. After all, the 1200 calorie diabetic diet is not only designed to help you lose weight, but also to help balance your blood sugar so you'll feel better and avoid additional health problems like kidney disease, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
You're probably thinking now, "OK, so I watch my carbs, fats and proteins, and I eat frequently throughout the day, but how much of what do I get to eat?"
Here's an easy breakdown: On the 1200 calorie diabetic diet meal plan, most people should consume approximately 50 percent carbohydrates, 20 percent proteins and 30 percent fats. Keeping track of those figures may sound intimidating, but once you get started, it really becomes second nature.
Here's a sample menu of what the 1200 calorie diabetic diet meal plan looks like in practice:
|
Breakfast
|
Lunch
|
Dinner
|
|
1 cup unsweetened cereal
8 ounces 1% or skim milk
1 grapefruit
Tea or coffee
|
2 slices whole-grain bread
2 ounces smoked turkey
Lettuce
2 teaspoons mayonnaise
1 small apple
Mineral water
|
2 ounces baked cod
2/3 cup brown rice
1 cup steamed broccoli
1 cup zucchini (sautéed in 1 teaspoon olive oil)
Mineral water
|
|
Snack 1 Snack 2
|
|
medium banana
|
6 ounces low-fat yogurt (plain or sweetened with artificial sweetener)
|
Source: http://www.thirdage.com
Getting Started
If you think a 1200 calorie diabetic diet meal plan could help you better manage your diabetes and overall health, start by making an appointment with your physician. They'll be able to provide the detailed information you need, connect you with a certified nutritionist or dietitian, and also recommend any other necessary lifestyle changes. Regular physician recommended exercises, for example, can have a huge impact on the success of the 1200 calorie diabetic diet by improving overall health.
Don't be discouraged if your new diet seems hard at first; once you get through the first few weeks and start seeing progress, you'll likely be thrilled that you gave it a chance. After all, as nice as eating all the calories you want is, it's no substitute for good health!
*Note: Consult a registered dietician for additional guidance on following the 1200 calorie diabetic diet.
Source:
http://www.thirdage.com/diabetes/1200-calorie-diabetic-diet
http://www.drugs.com/cg/1200-calorie-diabetic-diet-basic.html