Maintaining the 1200 calorie diabetic diet

Diabetes is reaching near epidemic status here in the United States, so chances are you, or someone you know, will be afflicted with this horrible disease. Once diagnosed, it's important to manage as best as you can, and that starts with your diet. Since portion control is an huge part of the problem in the US, it might be a good idea to start counting calories. A healthy number to begin with is 1200 total calories per day.

A typical 1200 calorie diabetic diet will focus strongly on maintaining your blood sugar level, so as not to go into diabetic shock. The easiest and best way to do this is to make sure you sugars you take in are the natural sugars found in breads, fruits and vegetables, rather than processed junk like High Fructose Corn Syrup, which many doctors, researchers and dieticians feel is the cause of the diabetes epidemic.

So I hope you like carrots, because they're a big part of the 1200 calorie diabetic diet. They have a gentle sweetness that your body is designed to crave, as it regulates your insulin level. Make sure you eat a handful of carrots for lunch, and feel free to snack on them during the day as well.

That's another big part of the 1200 calorie diabetic diet - constant grazing. It's better to get your calories and sugars in small doses throughout the day rather than skipping meals and then gorging afterwards. In fact, it's downright dangerous for you to skip meals. You have to regulate your blood-sugar on an ad-hoc basis, so don't think it can be done all at once.

Another helpful tip is to eat balanced meals when you do sit down to eat. Don't just have cereal for breakfast; have cereal, an egg, and piece of fruit. You could also have something like cottage cheese instead of the egg, if that is to your liking. You'll want to count calories, of course - low-fat cottage cheese may fit the 1200 calorie diabetic diet better than regular cottage cheese - and it's up to you to talk to your doctor and figure out which foods work best. But in general, keep it balanced and you'll be fighting the disease in the most effective manner.

Remember, a balanced meal consists of a protein (meat, cheese, etc), a carb (bread, cereal, etc), a fruit or vegetable, and some fats. Make sure not to overdo it on any of those, especially the last, and the 1200 calorie diabetic diet can be your path to a healthy, long life.