The Diabetic Food Exchange List: Vital To Correct Diet Preparation

Diabetics need to follow a certain diet so that they would be able to manage their disease better. By eating the right type of food, in combination with their medications, diabetics have a good chance of avoiding complications.

A diabetic food exchange list is a table specially prepared for diabetic patients which tells them the amount of food that is equal to one exchange. The foods that appear in the list are categorized according to their calorie, carbohydrate, protein, and fat content. Basically, the foods that appear on a particular list can be exchanged or traded with any other food appearing on the same category.

But to use a diabetic food exchange list properly, what patients should do first is to consult with a dietician on what amount of calories they are supposed to eat throughout the day. The diabetic food exchange list would allow beginners who don’t know yet how to count calories to properly estimate the amount of food they can take, so that they can define and prepare meals which are compliant with their dietary needs.

The diabetic food exchange list is grouped into five main categories: the carbohydrate group, meat and its substitutes group, fats group, free foods, and combination foods. Each of these categories plays a very important role in preparing a diabetic diet.

Under the carbohydrate group, there are five main elements. These are starch, milk, fruits, vegetables, and other carbohydrates. A single starch exchange is equivalent to fifteen grams of carbohydrates and three grams of protein. It also amounts to around 80 calories total. Examples of a single serving of starch would be a slice of bread, three-fourths cup of cereal unsweetened, and half a cup of oatmeal.

There are also vegetables that are counted under the starch group. Keep in mind that these vegetables are more starchy than fibrous. These vegetables are corn, white potato, sweet potato, peas, squash, and dried beans. These vegetables are excluded from the single serving or one exchange of vegetables that is normally half a cup, regardless if they are raw or cooked. A single serving of vegetables contains about five grams of carbohydrates and two grams of protein. Vegetables amount to around 25 calories.

One fruit exchange is 60 calories. It also has fifteen grams of carbohydrates with little or no fat or protein content. Half a cup of apple, pineapple, orange, or grapefruit juice is one serving. A piece of fresh apple, orange, peach, or pear is also one serving.