One of the best and most recommended ways of keeping diabetes in check is by following a diabetes diet plan. Of course, you have to consult a nutritionist before you embark on one, but following such a diet plan is the ideal way of making sure that diabetes does not get the best of you. A qualified nutritionist can make sure that there is enough variation in the diet without sacrificing any of the essential nutrition that your body needs.

The typical diet plan for a diabtic must include 50% starch, 30% protein and 20% fat. The diabetic food pyramid recommends a certain measurement level and because of this, preparing diabetic food must be done according to exact and standard measurements, such as 1 cup, 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon.

You really have to be dedicated to following your diabetic eating plan. Fatty and high calorie foods like fried foods and snacks between meals must all be strictly avoided. You also have to be careful not to miss any meals - this can mess up your metabolism. Eating out can be a problem, but you have to be careful.

On your diabetes diet plan, you will have to avoid a lot of foods like whole milk products, frozen and preserved fruits, honey, candy, sweets, confectionery items, your favorite desserts - instead, you must stick to healthy alternatives, like fresh fruits and vegetables and skimmed milk for your diary intake.

There are plenty of other things you will have to try your very best to avoid - alcohol tops the list. Other high-fat foods like red meat, potato chips, eggs, mayonnaise etc must also be avoided, if you can, as should bottled fruit juice, cooking sauces and carbonated drinks. When you are on a strict diabetic eating plan, the daily calorie intake you must aim at is 1800 calories. So you have to make sure that your daily diet is carefully planned well in advance.

It is not as difficult as it might seem to figure out a good diet plan for a diabetic. Here is a simple and wholesome one. Breakfast can be a slice of wholemeal bread, a soft-boiled egg, half a cup of oatmeal, two thirds of a cup of apple juice and one cup of skimmed milk, without sugar. Lunch can include two slices of wholemeal bread, half a cup of tuna, a half a cup of diced tomatoes, one cup of mixed fruit, a glass of lemon tea and a teaspoon of margarine. A good dinner to round off the day would include half a cup of mashed potatoes, one slice of wholemeal bread, three ounces of baked chicken and either a cup of broccoli or a tossed salad. Salad dressing is something else you have to be wary of - store-bought dressings are high-fat and high-sugar. You could try a teaspoon of olive oil with some chopped garlic and a condiment like parsley, sage, basil or oregano for seasoning.

So making the right diabetes diet plan is not easy - you have to know what nutrition your body needs and you have to understand your metabolism. With your doctor, you can make your own diet plan to keep diabetes away, which will be tasty, healthy and a pleasure to follow.