ADA 1800 Calorie Diet

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) does not recommend one diet plan for all diabetic patients, and it has not recommended a calorie-based diet for many years, according to Jane Nyondo at the National Call Center for the ADA. Instead, the ADA recommends working with a nutritionist or other health care provider to develop a food plan that matches ADA general guidelines and also fits with your individual nutrient and caloric needs.

Criticisms

The so-called "ADA 1800-calorie diet" is not the official diet of the ADA, even though it is often used as such by hospitals and doctors, according to the ADA's online journal "Clinical Diabetes." You may, however, create an 1800-calorie diet consistent with ADA guidelines, if this is your dietary goal.

Features

Many dietitians have created ADA-type diets based on daily caloric intake. Most of these diets try to make calorie counting easier by dividing the day's food into exchanges. To follow an exchange-based diet, you simply count the number of servings of each food type at each meal. For 1800 calories, you might consume seven or eight starches, four vegetables, two fruits, 4 to 6 oz. of protein, two servings of milk and one or two servings of fat.

Considerations

For the most effective blood sugar management, the ADA recommends evenly distributing carbohydrate servings (starches and fruits) throughout the day. Do not, for example, load up on carbohydrates in the morning and expect to even things out with a protein-rich dinner. It is also important to pay attention to serving sizes. ADA serving sizes are calculated so that a protein serving of, say, chicken, contains the same amount of calories as a serving of tofu. You may want to use measuring tools until you become more comfortable with what these serving sizes look like on a plate.

Benefits

Following an ADA diet plan can help you regulate your blood sugar levels. Restricting calories can help you maintain a healthy weight. Both of these will improve your overall health. Eating more consistently throughout the day may also improve the efficacy of any diabetes medications you take.

Alternatives

Many diabetics choose to regulate only the total number of carbohydrates they consume each day. Many also focus on the type of carbohydrates they consume, choosing whole grains over refined carbohydrates such as white bread, for example. "Carbohydrate homework" can help you discover which foods help best control your blood sugar levels. A certified dietician writing for "Diabetes Spectrum" recommends testing blood-sugar levels 90 minutes before and 90 minutes after nine different meals---three each for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You should also keep track of what you ate and how much. Doing this will give you a better idea of your own individual carbohydrate needs.

Resources

The ADA-endorsed book "The Ultimate Diabetes Meal Planner" outlines diabetic eating plans for 1500, 1800, 2000 and 2200 calorie diets. This book can help you choose the right proportions of carbohydrates, fat and protein based on your own individual nutritional needs and goals.