Diabetes: Diet is an essential treatment tool for diabetes

The exchange system forms the backbone of your diabetes meal plan. Use these exchange lists to ensure variety while maintaining a proper mix of calories, carbohydrates and other nutrients. Diet is an essential treatment tool for diabetes. In fact, it's often the key to keeping your blood sugar within your target range. And it doesn't need to be a struggle. For help making wise food choices — and avoiding boredom — use the diabetes exchange system.

How it works
In the exchange system, foods are grouped into basic types — starches, fruits, milk and milk products, meat and meat substitutes, etc. Within each group, you'll see how much you can eat of various foods for the same amount of calories, carbohydrates and other nutrients. You can exchange or trade foods within a group because they're similar in nutrient content and the manner in which they affect your blood sugar. Your dietitian will recommend a certain number of daily exchanges from each food group based on your personal needs and preferences. Together you'll decide the best way to spread the exchanges throughout the day.

Use these exchange lists, adapted from material provided by the American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association, to ensure variety in your meal plan as well as the proper proportion of foods to help keep your blood sugar level within your target range.
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>>>>Exchange list: Starches<<<<

Did you know that one serving (exchange) of a starchy food usually contains 15 grams of carbohydrate, 3 grams of protein and 0 to 1 gram of fat? This adds up to about 80 calories.