Diabetic Exchange Lists

When a nutritionist or dietician creates a diabetic diet for someone with diabetes, the servings of each food group are separated into the meals and snacks for the day. Servings can be confusing for some people who are new to following a special diet. This confusion is not surprising considering that meals served in restaurants often contain much more food than what a special diet would recommend.

A nutritionist usually helps a diabetic patient understand the diet by educating the patient on the appropriate serving sizes and providing a food exchange list. Exchange lists are lists of foods for each food group that would fill the necessary requirements for a serving of that food group. Learning to follow the diabetic diet correctly could help a diabetic patient with type 2 diabetes to avoid needing insulin as part of the diabetes treatment plan.

If one of the foods included for breakfast include one protein, the diabetic patient can include one food from the exchange list for proteins for that meal. The diabetic patient can refer to the diabetic exchange lists for each food group for every meal and snack. A diabetic patient must choose a food from the correct exchange list. For example, if the meal suggests two breads, the diabetic patient cannot choose two proteins instead. As the diabetic patient becomes more accustomed to following the diabetic diet, the diabetic patient is likely to need to refer to the exchange list less often.

As the person learns what foods and serving sizes are correct, the diabetic exchange list becomes less necessary. However, diabetic patients may want to periodically check their usual portions against the food list to ensure that they are following the diabetic diet correctly. This is especially important if the diabetic patient experiences some difficulty managing blood glucose levels.

If a diabetic patient does not have the blood sugar levels under control, the doctor may suggest that the patient meets with the nutritionist again to alter the diabetic diet or check to make sure the diabetic patient is following the diet. The dietician or nutritionist may also make specific recommendations for exchange foods that should be chosen.