As a new diabetic, am I on the right track?
Asked by nana1951 on Jul 22, 2009
in Health Conditions
I just recently was told by my doctor that I am diabetic but then dropped the ball. He gave me meds, a meter and a handshake. Now what do I do? I am waiting to see a dietitian but that is not for weeks. I started out at 208 lbs on 22 June 09 and have been basically trying to keep my diet down to 1200 calories a day. Am I on the right track? What is my best weight to aim for?
Answer
You are on the right track. On your Nutrition Report, look for about 45% carbohydrate, 25% protein and 30% fat. (That would be 135g carbohydrate, 75g protein, and 40g fat at 1200 calories.) Spread your carbohydrate out throughout the day and choose more whole grains. Be sure to incorporate exercise, such as walking, into your program because cardio-type exercise makes your cells receptive to insulin which brings down your blood sugar. For your weight goal, it's best to aim for small markers. The medical community looks for a 10% loss (20 lbs for you) because that's when the blood sugar falls into line. As you lose weight, note whether your medications seem too strong.
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