Nutrition for People with Diabetes - Meal Plans

Meal Plans

No single diet is right for every person with diabetes. Needs vary, and sometimes responsibilities—work, kids, school, community—can make it difficult to have a good meal at a particular time. See how Glucerna can become part of a healthy diet and help you achieve your treatment goals!

Mrs. R - Career, kids and diabetes

Mr. J - Elevated cholesterol levels, newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes

Mrs. O - Elderly, loves sweets, dislikes cooking

Mr. L - Busy, stressed and overweight

Mr. G - Overweight, family history of diabetes

Miss K - Athletic and weight-conscious

Mr. H - Type 2 diabetes, erratic schedule

Mrs. R - Career, kids and diabetes

• 42-year-old photographer
• 2 kids in grade school, new house
• Type 2 diabetes, diagnosed 4 years ago
• Frequent exercise
• Erratic schedule

Mrs. R is juggling career, two kids, a new house, and type 2 diabetes. With the kids in school, she has returned to her photography career capturing magnificent landscapes in Vancouver. Her doctor has prescribed a 1500-calorie diet. But between getting kids to extracurricular events and photographing the perfect sunset, her schedule is demanding-so eating regularly can be a challenge.

For on-the-go convenience, you can’t beat Glucerna nutritional drink or bars fit neatly into pocket, purse or briefcase.

1500-Calorie Diet with Glucerna

BREAKFAST

• Glucerna bar (available flavours are chocolate graham and lemon crunch)
• 250 mL fresh blueberries
• 1 slice whole-wheat toast
• Coffee/tea

LUNCH

• 1/2 turkey sandwich (5 mL low-calorie mayonnaise, 1 slice whole-wheat bread, 30 g turkey)
• 1 dill pickle
• 125 ml grapes
• Sugar-free beverage

SNACK

• 125 mL low-sugar, low-fat fruit yogurt
• 1 pear

DINNER

• 90 g lean roast beef
• 125 mL mashed potatoes
• 50 mL gravy
• 125 mL cooked carrots
• 1 whole-wheat roll with 5 mL margarine
• 375 mL spinach salad with 15 mL low-fat Italian salad dressing
• Sugar-free beverage

SNACK

• Glucerna nutritional drink (available flavours are vanilla, chocolate, strawberry & wildberry)

Mr. J - Elevated cholesterol levels, newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes

• Restaurant owner
• Hectic 12- to 15-hour workdays
• Family history of heart disease and diabetes
• Total cholesterol, 6.4 mmol/L
• LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, 3.3 mmol/L
• Overweight

For 20 years, Mr. J has run a busy, successful business that has meant little time with his family and irregular meal times. He eats on the run, and plenty of it is fast food. With elevated cholesterol levels and a family history of heart disease, his newly diagnosed diabetes puts him at significant risk of CHD. Mr. J's doctor has recommended a 1500-calorie, low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. He has also recommended lifestyle modifications to increase exercise and decrease stress.

Glucerna is high in MUFA.* The Canadian Diabetes Association recommends consuming monounsaturated fat instead of saturated fats more often¹.

^* MUFA = monounsaturated fatty acids

¹ Canadian Diabetes Association, 2008 Clinical Practice Guidelines, S41.

1500-Calorie Diet with Glucerna

BREAKFAST

• 1/2 grapefruit
• Glucerna nutritional drink
• Coffee/tea

SNACK

• 2 graham crackers
• 1 apple
• Sugar-free beverage

LUNCH

• Ham sandwich (5 mL mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, 2 slices whole-wheat bread, 60 g ham)
• 10 baby carrots
• 60 mL low-fat cottage cheese
• Sugar-free beverage

DINNER

• 250 mL tagliatelle with 125 mL mushrooms, 5 mL olive oil
• 90 g sirloin steak
• 125 mL sautéed spinach with garlic and 5 mL olive oil
• 375 mL mixed greens with 30 mL low-fat vinaigrette dressing
• Sugar-free beverage

SNACK

• 2 graham crackers
• Glucerna nutritional drink

Mrs. O - Elderly, loves sweets, dislikes cooking

• Retired
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Excessive urination and thirst
• Eats at home and alone

Mrs. O is 75 years old and retired from her job as schoolteacher. She has few outside contacts, except for a few friends who play bridge together every week. Mrs. O has a sweet tooth and regularly consumes cola and candy. Meals are ready-to-eat to avoid the hassle of cooking. Sometimes she skips a meal altogether. Poor circulations, bouts of thirst and excessive urination have prompted her doctor to urge efforts at better control of her high glucose levels.

Satisfying, taste-tested flavours make Glucerna a healthy and appealing choice for a snack or small meal.

1200-Calorie Diet with Glucerna

BREAKFAST

• 175 mL bran flakes
• 125 mL nonfat milk
• 1 orange
• Coffee/tea

LUNCH

• Glucerna nutritional drink
• 1 small peach

DINNER

• Roasted chicken with vegetables (90 g chicken, 175 mL potatoes, 125 mL zucchini, 125 mL carrots, 15 mL margarine or olive oil)
• 1 slice whole-wheat bread
• 500 mL spinach salad with 15 mL Italian dressing
• Sugar-free beverage

SNACK

• Glucerna nutritional drink

Mr. L - Busy, stressed and overweight

• 52 years old
• Diabetes diagnosed 10 years ago
• 4.5 – 9 kg overweight
• Moderately high blood pressure
• Minimal exercise
• Frequent travel, with many fast-food meals

Mr. L is a businessman with a demanding job who frequently travels on business from his Toronto headquarters. His company has just merged with another company, creating a high level of stress that may be contributing to the cold sweats and feelings of sluggishness that he's been experiencing at work. Noting his poor eating habits, excess weight, elevated blood pressure and erratic blood glucose levels, Mr. L's doctor has urged him to take steps to gain better control of his diabetes.

Glucerna’s scientific formula has been clinically shown to help smooth sugar spikes.¹

 Reference:
1. Data on file. Abbott Laboratories, Limited.

 1800-Calorie Diet with Glucerna

BREAKFAST

• Rice congee with chicken (250 mL rice and 60 g chicken)
• Stir-fried cabbage (250 mL cabbage, 5 mL canola oil)
• Tea

SNACK

• Glucerna bar (available flavours are chocolate graham and lemon crunch)

LUNCH

• 1 sushi maki roll with fresh salmon and cucumber (4 pcs)
• 1 orange
• 3 fortune cookies
• Tea

SNACK

• 2 kiwi fruit
• Sugar-free beverage

DINNER

• 180 g steamed yellow tail tuna
• 250 mL pork broth (fat skimmed)
• 375 mL rice noodles
• 500 mL stir-fried (10 mL canola oil) broccoli and mushrooms with garlic & water chestnuts
• 500 mL iceberg lettuce with 15 mL ginger salad dressing
• Sugar-free beverage

SNACK

• Glucerna nutritional drink (available flavours are vanilla, chocolate, strawberry & wildberry)

Mr. G - Overweight, family history of diabetes

• 36-year-old married electrician
• Family history of diabetes
• 34 kg overweight
• Diagnosed as a result of dizzy spells at work

Mr. G was diagnosed with diabetes after experiencing persistent thirst, urination and dizzy spells at work. With both parents and several aunts and uncles diagnosed with diabetes, he is familiar with the risks and requirements of the disease. But with 34 kg in excess weight, Mr. G has particular dietary challenges. His doctor prescribed a 2000-calorie diet to help him gradually lose weight and manage his glucose levels. Mrs. G is an active participant in helping her husband stay on track.

Glucerna nutritional drink and bars are ideal choices for people with diabetes who must lose weight—only 225 calories in each bottle and 150 calories in each bar!

2000-Calorie Diet with Glucerna

BREAKFAST

• 1 breakfast burrito (125 mL pinto beans, 125 mL scrambled egg whites, 60 mL salsa, 1 flour tortilla)
• Coffee/ tea

SNACK

• Glucerna nutritional drink (available flavours are vanilla, chocolate, strawberry & wildberry)
• 1 banana

LUNCH

• 250 mL tortilla soup
• 1 mango

SNACK

• Glucerna nutritional drink

DINNER

• 90 g grilled sirloin beef (sautéed with 30 g onion and peppers in 10 mL canola oil)
• 90 g rice
• 2 corn tortillas
• 120 g jicama
• 5 mL margarine
• 125 mL lettuce
• 125 mL salsa
• 250 mL guacamole
• Sugar-free beverage

SNACK

• Glucerna Bar (available flavours are chocolate graham and lemon crunch) 
• 250 mL fresh diced pineapple

Miss K - Athletic and weight-conscious

• Aerobics instructor
• Type 1 diabetic for 5 years
• Compliant with doctor-prescribed diet
• Active in sports and other physical activities

Miss K has been active in sports all her life and currently teaches one aerobics class early in the morning and a yoga class in the evening. She often needs a pre-exercise snack to help control her blood glucose and prevent hypoglycemia while teaching aerobics class. Her doctor is pleased with how she manages her disease and has prescribed a 1800-calorie diabetic diet to provide enough calories for her busy lifestyle and to keep her glucose levels under control. Convenience is a big factor in maintaining her healthy diet.

Glucerna meets energy needs with balanced nutrition that is easy to take, even on the run!

1800-Calorie Diet with Glucerna

BREAKFAST

• 180 g apple muesli (60 mL rolled oats, 60 mL low-sugar and low-fat yogurt, 1/4 sliced apple, 5 mL raisins)
• Coffee/tea

SNACK

• Glucerna nutritional drink (available flavours are vanilla, chocolate, strawberry & wildberry)
• 8 wheat crackers

LUNCH

• 1/2 tuna sandwich (45 g tuna, 5 mL reduced fat mayonnaise, 1 slice tomato, 1 lettuce leaf, 1 slice whole-wheat bread)
• 10 thin twist pretzels
• Sugar-free beverage

SNACK

• Glucerna bar (available flavours are chocolate graham and lemon crunch)
• 1 medium apple

DINNER

• 310 mL paella with seafood
• 375 mL broccoli with 5 mL margarine
• 250 mL mixed greens with 15 mL fat-free dressing
• Sugar-free beverage

SNACK

• 125 mL strawberries
• 125 mL sugar-free pudding

Mr. H - Type 2 diabetes, erratic schedule

• 21-year-old college student
• Enjoys good food, socializing
• Schedule changes with each semester

Mr. H is a serious student with many friends who gather frequently for sports activities, movies and concerts. Food is usually part of any get-together. And, of course, there are plenty of late nights writing papers and studying for exams, when snacks are particularly welcome. Diabetes complicates his life. He has noticed some weight gain since starting college. He looks for three things in his meals: great taste, good nutrition and convenience.

Glucerna nutritional drink and bars are an easy, convenient, great-tasting way to get healthy nutrition, even with a busy work and social schedule!

2000-Calorie Diet with Glucerna

BREAKFAST

• 1 plain bagel toasted
• 30 mL low-fat cream cheese
• Coffee/ tea

SNACK

• 175 mL blueberries
• 175 mL low-sugar, low-fat yogurt

LUNCH

• 125 mL fruit salad
• 2 slices (total 130 g) cheese pizza
• Sugar-free beverage

SNACK

• Glucerna bar (available flavours are chocolate graham and lemon crunch)
• 1 small pear

DINNER

• 375 mL spaghetti with meat sauce
• 30 mL grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 slice garlic bread
• 375 mL tomato and asparagus salad with 10 mL olive oil and balsamic vinegar
• Sugar-free beverage

SNACK

• Glucerna nutritional drink (available flavours are vanilla, chocolate, strawberry & wildberry)