Holistic Diabetic Exchange Diet

Diabetes is a disease that involves the human body's inability to properly regulate blood glucose levels while it converts food to an energy resource. Symptoms and problems can be unpleasant and affect many areas of the body. Left unchecked, it can cause blindness, damage the heart, nerves, feet and kidneys. Therefore, it is important to engage in a proper treatment program. Many people decide to deal with diabetes using a holistic approach in order to treat the entire person, including the mind, soul and body together.

How Exchange Works

The exchange system consists of foods that are grouped into three different types that are based upon the food's nutritional content. The lists provide serving sizes for meat, carbohydrates, fats and food alternatives. There is a precise amount of each type of the various foods that may be eaten which values calories, nutrients and carbohydrates. Exchanging or trading foods within various groups is allowed for those that are similar in nutrient content. This is because they often affect blood sugar in the same ways, which is the purpose of this diabetes based diet.

Exchange Diet Method

The American Diabetes Association, as well as the American Dietetic Association can help determine appropriate portion sizes and add to the variety in meal plans. Diabetes exchange lists ensure that a balanced mix of food types, carbohydrates and nutrients are included from each food group, based upon individual requirements. According to Diabetes-diabetic-diet.com, research has shown that consuming enough calories to maintain ideal weight is the most effective strategy to fix or prevent a diabetic health situation.

How to Use the Exchange Diet

A doctor or dietitian will recommend the number of daily exchanges from each food group, per specific individual needs. Then a plan is devised on how to best spread out the exchanges each day. Using this method will assist in keeping blood sugar levels within recommended ranges.

Suitable Foods

Suitable beneficial foods include lean meat, fish, seafood, Brazil nuts, eggs, avocados, greens, leafy and green vegetables, cucumber, celery, fresh tomato, and apples. Use raw onion, lime and lemon juice for flavoring. According to Walter Last's Holistic Diabetes Treatment, raw foods are especially good for people who would like to re-generate insulin production. Organic or grass-fed meats and fowl can be better than those from feedlots. Sea fish is better than seafood from fish farms. Due to high mercury content, avoid eating large fish like tuna or shark.