Do you have Type 2 Diabetes? Have you been told about the Diabetic Food Exchange yet? Well, whether you know what it is from researching or your doctor, or are looking for more information you have come to the right place.

Diabetic Food Exchange is a way to help organize what you eat and what amounts you can have. The plan breaks down food by the nutritional values, which helps Diabetics with type 2 Diabetes eat foods that break down glucose and carbohydrates evenly. This process helps you to maintain a steady blood sugar level and improve your health.

The ADA or American Diabetes Association and American Dietetic Association are the ones to create this useful and necessary plan to eating healthy for a Diabetic. The Diabetic Food Exchange is broken down in the following categories; Carbohydrate group, Fat group, plus the Meat and meat substitute group.

These groups are broken down even farther in six more categories Fat, Fruit, Meat and meat substitutes, Milk, Starch/bread, and Vegetables. Each of the exchanges or servings have about the same amount of Carbohydrates, while the calories, fat, and protein can differ, depending on the foods. This is highly important to Diabetics, it helps them to know what food groups they can easily swap out and still keep a variety in what they eat.

Each of the categories have different foods in them, the Carbohydrates have Fruits, Milk, Non-starchy vegetables, other carbohydrates, and Starches/breads. While the Meat and meat substitutes have been broken down into the cuts of meat, High fat, Lean, Medium fat and the best cut Very lean. While the Fat category has mono unsaturated, polyunsaturated and saturated.

Using the Diabetic Food Exchange, you will find that you can eat more foods than you knew were possible as long as you remember moderation and to keep to the proportions. Your doctor and registered dietitian will help you to plan the amount of each category you are allowed to eat to maintain a healthy diet.

The American Diabetes Association has conveniently broken them down in the following amounts to give you an idea and example of what a healthy diet would be like. They are broken down to grams for easier calculations.

Carbohydrates have Starch, which has 15 carbohydrates, 3 proteins, 1 protein and 80 calories, while the fruit, which has 15 carbohydrates, no fat or protein, and 60 calories. Milk is broken down by the fat counts. Fat–free, low–fat, Reduced fat, and Whole milk has 12 carbohydrates each, and 8 proteins each while the Fat content and Calories increase with the Reduced Fat and Whole Milks.

Other foods on the chart such as Sweets, desserts and other carbohydrates, non-starchy vegetables, meat and substitutes also the fat groups are broken down as well. We can go through each of them but looking at the chart is easier and having one of your own is simply smart.

Using the Diabetic Food Exchange, along with following your doctors and dietitians advice, is the best way to help keep your Type 2 Diabetes under control.