Diabetic Exchange System

Just wondering how many people use the exchange system in recovery?

I have started using this at home and am really surprised with how the simple shift in mindset from counting calories to thinking of food simply as 'exchanges' is helping me - its only been one day so far - but one day has seen a massive improvement.

If anyone uses this do they have any good examples of combining foods to make exchanges? esp for snacks?

Also, after eating a fairly good day yesterday, im massively bloated and was up all night with stomach cramps :( Its def made me feel ike not eating breakfast, but have managed to make a few exchanges just to stick it to Ed who usually loves an excuse like feeling sick not to eat.

Thanks :)

A diabetic exchange diet is primarily used to control weight and sugar intake for diabetics. Food is categorized into 6 groups and exact serving sizes which is extremely relevant for a diabetic attempting to manage his or her disease.

However I'm not exactly sure how you, who needs to be increasing your intake to well over 2500 is using such a diet to meet your intake needs -- perhaps you'll need to explain. To me at first pass, it simply seems like a variation on the control compulsions that feature prominently in all eating disorders.

In your last post, you'll remember that all the responses urged you not do this alone or at home and you said you were going to see a doctor. So how did that go and is the diabetic exchange diet what you and your doctor felt would be the best way to address your immediate health and eating disorder issues?

I have been to see the Dr twice this last week who put me through bloods etc  and sent me home with my mum, to just 'make sure I'm eating enough'. He has referred me on to the eating disorders unit in our local town, but has said i have to wait until they contact me as Im not a priority case.

So, we are attempting to use something that works, and this has been working really well this week and has assisted in increasing myfoodintake and also the types of food im eating.

In the treatment program that I was enrolled in at the start of this year, the exchange system is what we used for our meal planning both at treatment and at home on the weekends. It really works well insofar as taking away the stigma of "good starch / bad starch" and keeping a balance of all types of foods. There are several threads here on CC that include meal plans on the exchange system, you could try just doing a search for them to get some ideas. The Mayo clinic has a good article explaining them as well.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes-die t/DA00077

Hedgren, actually a lot of inpatient treatment programs use diabetic exchange meal plans to minimize the obsession with calories.  I've been in 5+ inpatient programs (some more than once) and they've all used diabetic exchanges mainly.  Obviously, they are high calorie plans, but exchanges are used to plan meals and have a balanced diet.  Here are some examples/tips:

At Sheppard Pratt, the "standard plan" was as follows, and then typically up to 4 Ensure Pluses were added throughout the day (350 calories each, in addition to the following):

Breakfast:  1 dairy item (2% milk), 2 grains, 2 fruit and one 'choice

Example:  2 servings cereal (i.e. cheerios), 1 cup 2% milk, fresh fruit, 4 oz juice & a yogurt

[Ensure plus as snack as needed]

Lunch:  sandwich, 4 items (exchanges), drink, dessert

example:  turkey sandwich with mayo, 8 oz 2% milk, 2 cookies, fruit, pretzels, salad & dressing

[Ensure Plus as needed]

Dinner:  Protein, 2 starches, 1 veg, 1 dessert, 1 item (exchange) and 8 oz caloric drink

Example:  Chicken breast, baked potato with butter, broccoli, brownie, 1 cup 2% milk, juice

[Ensure as needed] with Snack:  Food + drink [examples:  cookies & milk, or cheese/crackers & juice, or milk & cereal)

 

You also asked about combination foods, right?  HEre are some...

• 1/2 c ice cream = 1 starch, 2 fats
• 1 oz chips = 1 starch, 2 fats
• 1 cup casserole = 1 starch, 2 meats, 2 fat
• 1 cup mac & cheese = 2 starch, 1 meat, 2 fat
• 2 small cookies = 1 starch/1 fat

I would recommend seeing a nutritionist who can help you make  a plan that really would help YOU individually...Good luck!

Thanks so much for this - the advice is much appreciated.

I do have an appt this thurs with an assessment team so hopefully will get to see or make an appt with a nutritionist.

We dont have ensure plus, but we do have complan...Im not sure how these compare, but will be bringing this up with the gp at my appt this week.

It is totally possible to customize an exchange system to your calorie needs! I am on approx. 3200 cals, and use an exchange system, with moderate calorie counting in order to get this. Talk to the nutritionalist, they can give you good ideas on how many servings of what you need. my mom kind of devised my plan, but based off diabetic exchanges, as well as the recc. food group daily servings.

You will need: grains, proteins, fats, veggies, fruits, dairy, and a dessert is a good idea too.

ANY food will fit into an exchange plan, it just may take a LITTLE extra work to beak it down. for example, i can look at the approx. servings of protein, carbs, fat and veggies in a cup of chilli, and break it down accordingly. you dont have to have "serperate" food groups in order to use this program.

The way you can figure out some of the exchanges are just by knowing that:

1 Grain is about 80 calories

1 Fat is about 45 calories

1 protein is about 55 calories

1 dairy is about 90 calories

1 fruit is 60 calories

1 vegetable is 25 calories

remember, these are approximate, but you should go OVER it, NEVER under! a typical day for me is:

B-3 grains, 1 dairy, an Ensure Plus (i have this seperate from my daily exchanges)

L-3 protein, 3 vegetables, 2 dairy, 2 fat, 2 grain

S: 1 oz nuts(again, seperate for me), 2 fruit

D: 4 protein, 2 veggies, 3 fruit, 2 grain, 1 dairy, 2 fat

S: 5 grain, 3 fruit, 2 fat, 2 dairy, 2 (100 calorie) dessert(or one bigger one) 

I break it up and mix it around all the time, as long as its approximate. sometimes i feel like having a big bowl of cereal for snack, so ill just have less grains, and more protein or fruit with dinner, etc. my days work out to be: 12 grains, 5 veggies, 8 fruits, 7 protein, 6 fat, 6 dairy, 1 oz nuts, an ensure plus, and 2 100 calorie desserts(anything i want it to be) hope this helps!

Thanks so much everyone for the info.!-- actually had not known it was customized to eating disorders.