Individuals, with the help of their diabetes management team, design a daily meal plan based on a set amount of food from each category. This method allows a person to measure rather than weigh food. Any food can be substituted for another within the same food exchange list. The food guide pyramid provides a conceptual framework for selecting the kinds and amounts of foods. The pyramid focuses on variety and on reducing the amount of added fat and sugar in the diet.
Some people choose to use the carbohydrate counting method.
They count the grams of carbohydrate in various foods. Their goal is to keep the total grams of carbohydrate eaten each day within a pre-set limit. Individuals adjust the amount of carbohydrates they eat to help obtain good blood glucose control. The plate model is a simple method to teach meal planning and to visually select healthy proportions of foods from various food groups. This meal planning approach is simple and versatile.