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Managing Food Choices and Nutrition with Type 1

Making good food choices is one of the most challenging parts of managing type 1 diabetes. But, armed with accurate knowledge and excellent resources, making sound choices becomes a lot easier. Learn more these resources and how you stay on track with your food.
Healthy Snacks for Children with Diabetes
Getting your child with type 1 diabetes to eat healthy snack food might seem an impossible task. No doubt you have tried a variety of foods and techniques to accomplish both nutrition and adequate carbohydrate intake to manage blood glucose levels. What are some of the best snacks you've found that accomplish both?
Healthy Snacking for Children With Diabetes
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Being Wise About "Sugar-Free" Foods in Diabetes Meal Planning
Foods advertised as “sugar-free” are sometimes misleading people with diabetes to believe that they won't raise blood sugar. But that is often not the case. Because food is such an important part of managing blood sugar, you should be wise when choosing sugar-free products.
Sugar Alcohols and How They Might Fit Into Your Diabetes Meal Plan
Sugar alcohols (also called polyols) are a staple in the diets of many people with diabetes without them knowing it. Sugar alcohols add sweetness to foods such as sugar-free candy, chewing gum or cookies and are commonly used in foods targeted to those with diabetes. Learn how sugar alcohol is used and how it might fit into your diabetes meal plan.
Diabetes Meal Planning Options - Weighing Out Your Diabetes Meal Plan…
There are several diabetes meal planning options available. To eat well with type 1 diabetes means eating nutritious foods in sensible portion sizes and timing it appropriately with your insulin. Learn what the different approaches are to managing your meals and the ones that work best for you.
Diabetes Meal Planning Options
To eat well with type 1 diabetes means eating nutritious foods in sensible portion sizes and timing it appropriately with your insulin. But there are different approaches to managing your meals. And not every plan works well for every person. Find the one that works best for you.
Free Foods - Diabetes Exchange Lists
Free foods have been an important part of the diabetes exchange list system since the beginning. “Free foods” are those foods or drinks that have less than 20 calories per serving and no more than 5 grams of carbohydrate. Learn what foods are considered free.
Visual Cues Help Manage Portion Sizes and Blood Sugar
Visual cues acts as an approximate gauge for determining a sensible serving of food. The best visual cues are objects you know well, such as a fist, deck of cards or baseball. Knowing the approximate size helps you know how much to put on your plate. Learn how visual cues can help you manage your blood sugar and your weight.
Carbohydrates and Diabetes
Carbohydrates are one of the three main nutrients in our diet along with protein and fat. We need ample amounts of carbohydrates because they are our main source of energy. Learn what carbohydrates are and how the affect your blood sugar levels.
Glycemic Load and Diabetes
The glycemic load (GL) is a relatively new way to measure how the intake of carbohydrates affects blood sugar levels. It is often used in tandem with the glycemic index (GI), which helps determine how quickly food is digested and absorbed into your system. Learn how you use the glycemic index and glycemic load together to effectively manage your food intake.
Glycemic Index
The glycemic index (GI) ranks foods according to how they affect blood sugar levels. The index specifically targets carbohydrates and ranks them on a scale from 0 to 100. Foods with a high GI are more quickly digested and absorbed resulting in a greater rise in blood sugar levels. Foods with a lower GI are more slowly digested and absorbed and cause blood sugar to rise more gradually.
Portion Control - Ways to Manage Portion Control
Eating the right portions is a challenge, especially when you eat away from home. It is more difficult to measure food and count carbohydrates when someone else prepares the food. Share your trick or methods that you have found helpful in managing your portions.
Portion Control Using the Plate Method
Managing portion size is one of the best ways to control your eating habits and lose weight. Most people are accustomed to filling up their plates based how hungry they feel. However, if you have diabetes, you must think about the quantity of food you eat at each meal.
Portion Control Tips When Eating Out
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Diabetes Food Pyramid
The Diabetes Food Pyramid is a helpful tool for planning a nutritious and balanced meal plan each day. It is especially designed for people with diabetes to better calculate the number of carbohydrates you eat from each food group. Learn how the diabetes pyramid can help you.
Carbohydrate Counting - Loving or Hating Carbohydrate Counting
Some people swear by carbohydrate counting and some people just swear because they hate to count carbohydrates. How do you approach carb counting? Is it helpful in meal planning and insulin dosing or do you find it more time consuming than the benefits it brings?
Carbohydrate Counting - What Parents Should Know
Carbohydrate counting is often considered the best way for parents of children with type 1 diabetes to manage food intake and insulin. Learn what carbohydrate counting is and how it can benefit you.
Carbohydrate Counting - Getting Started
Carbohydrate counting is a valuable resource for parents of children with type 1 diabetes to balance food and insulin. Learn the basics of carbohydrate counting and how it can help your child's diabetes management.
Calorie Count - A Valuable Resource for Those with Type 1 Diabetes
Calorie Count is an excellent resource to help you count carbohydrates, keep a food log or just learn more about nutrition. Try it to see how it can begin helping you to make better your food choices and improve your diabetes management.
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