If you are diabetic and need help losing weight, this web-based plan may be perfect for you. Created by registered dietitians and diabetes educators, dLife’s goal is to offer diabetics a personalized health and fitness plan. In addition to diet and exercise suggestions, this plan allows you to track your blood sugar level and other medical information that goes along with managing diabetes. The basic premise is that the dieter needs to plan, track and report all information about them so that they can live a healthier life.

What makes the dLife diabetic diet different?

This website-based diet was created specifically for diabetics and doesn’t really apply to non-diabetics just looking to lose weight. While the diet allows you to create a custom meal plan, the preplanned dLife diet is based on a 40:30:30 ratio of carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Controlling blood sugar, medication regimens, and meal times are essential to managing a diabetic’s blood sugar levels, so this site pays special attention to these concerns, as well as many other concerns. other needs that are specific to diabetics.

What is the dLife diabetic diet?

The dLife Diet is basically a comprehensive wellness plan for diabetics. Once you log in to the dLife website, you’ll need to choose from three goals: diabetic weight loss, blood sugar control, or meal planning. For a monthly membership fee of $19.95, you get a personalized meal plan, the ability to track your daily intake, and information about your calorie needs.

The meal planning and tracking section is pretty simple to follow. You can choose from hundreds of meal plans that meet your calorie and carbohydrate requirements. The plan is very flexible in that you can use a thirty-day preset meal plan provided by the site or substitute meals, such as those from a health care provider. You can also adjust your plan if you have special medical needs, such as a low-sodium or soft-food diet. Each day, your food intake is broken down to show your nutritional data (calories consumed, etc.), which includes a pie chart reflecting the corresponding percentages of protein, carbohydrates, and fat.

Do you want to use your own recipe? The site also allows users to enter recipes into the system and get a full nutritional analysis to see if it fits their needs. A “shopping list” feature compiles a list of the foods you need based on your meal plans, making it easier for you to shop for groceries.

The following is a typical preset meal based on an 1,800-calorie diet with a 40:30:30 carb-protein-fat ratio:

Breakfast: 1 extra small banana, 1 cup of skim milk and 1/2 cup of Wheaties.

Morning snack: 1/8 cup of almonds.

Lunch: 3/4 cup cooked spinach, 5 ounce skinless chicken breast skewers (recipe given), 1/2 cup couscous, 1 cup field greens with 1 tablespoon olive oil and vinegar, and 1 cup of nonfat milk.

Snack: 1 cup of cherry tomatoes and 6 ounces of nonfat vanilla yogurt.

Dinner: 6 ounces of roast beef, 1/2 cup of boiled corn without salt, a small whole wheat muffin with 1 portion of margarine, 1 cup of boiled asparagus and 1/2 cup of raw blackberries.

Bedtime snack: 17 unsalted dry roasted peanuts and 1/2 cup sliced ​​cucumber.

What are the weight loss expectations?

There are no promises about how much weight you will lose on this diet. However, your caloric needs are suggested based on the National Institute of Health and American Dietetic Association safe weight loss guidelines of about 1 pound per week. Ultimately, the dieter sets their own calorie needs and does not have to follow the suggested guidelines.

Is exercise promoted?

Exercise is recommended for everyone. Even a beginner can start with 15 minutes per day (medically cleared, of course) and increase the duration of their exercise as they feel comfortable. Dieters can choose from cardio, strength, flexibility, or core training plans. The exercise regimens have beginner, intermediate, or advanced levels, so users can choose what’s specifically right for them.

This diet emphasizes that your eating habits must be balanced with exercise to maintain good blood sugar levels. Diabetics may need a carbohydrate-based snack before exercising and may need to monitor their blood sugar levels before physical activity to ensure a safe workout.

Are supplements recommended?

Supplements are not recommended on this plan.