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The Best Diabetes Diets

Which Diabetes Diet is the Best?

Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Monitoring and balancing blood sugar levels is crucial for diabetes management and can be achieved through a combination of lifestyle changes, including diet.

Diabetes diets are diets that are designed to help manage blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. There are different types of diabetes, including Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes, and the specific dietary recommendations may vary depending on the type of diabetes and individual needs.

Tuesday, March 19th

2024 Diabetes Diet Reviews

WeightWatchers Review Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award 5 Star Rating

WeightWatchers

5 Star Rating Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award

WeightWatchers is a points-based system that assigns a value to foods based on their calorie, protein, fat, and fiber content. The program teaches individuals to make healthier food choices and encourages physical activity, and it also allows for some flexibility and treats. WeightWatchers has a strong support system for people managing diabetes, including meetings, online resources, and a community of users who are also learning how to make lasting life changes. Over 500,000 people have given WW a five-star rating, and it's our #1 pick among diabetes diets.

Nutrisystem Review 4.5 Star Rating

Nutrisystem

4.5 Star Rating

Nutrisystem is a meal delivery service that provides pre-packaged, portion-controlled meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks with a balanced mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Nutrisystem D is a convenient diabetes diet for those who have difficulty cooking or don't have time for meal preparation. Nutrisystem earns our highest rating for being the easiest diabetes diet to implement right away, so choose this service if you'd rather not think about what's for dinner (or breakfast, lunch, and snacks).

Top Chef Meals Review 4.5 Star Rating

Top Chef Meals

4.5 Star Rating

Top Chef Meals is our top pick among diabetes diets that specialize in fresh prepared meals. This service gives you breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrees that are made to order: you choose the sides you want and never have to eat anything you don't like. There's no minimum order and no subscription required, and you can also add non-diabetic meals for anyone else in your household (even kids). While you won't find any diabetes management tools here, you'll get everything you need to fill your fridge - and belly Thousands of people give Top Chef Meals a perfect five-star rating, and this should be your go-to if you want someone else to do the cooking for your diabetes diet.

Sunbasket Review 4 Star Rating

Sunbasket

4 Star Rating

Diabetic- and environmentally-friendly meals? Yes, if you order from Sunbasket. This service provides both ready-to-heat entrees and kits with most of the ingredients you need, depending on how much work you want to do in the kitchen. That includes 100% organic produce and sustainably-raised protein sources, all in mostly-recyclable packaging. Sunbasket's selections are flavorful and go well beyond the basic meatloaf or bolognese you might see elsewhere. It's not available in all states, and you'll need to use other resources for diabetes management, but otherwise you can rely on Sunbasket to provide the meals for your diet.

Atkins Review 3.5 Star Rating

Atkins

3.5 Star Rating

The Atkins diet has been around for a long time and is considered one of the original low-carb, keto approaches to eating. It can be very effective in managing diabetes, with carb intake restricted to just 20 net grams per day at the start. The Atkins website is completely no-cost to use, with meal plans, shopping lists, recipes, an online community, and even integration with your preferred fitness wearables. But, with many fruits and vegetables completely excluded and a strong focus on higher-fat foods, the Atkins plan isn't suitable for every individual. Your doctor should be able to tell you if this is a diet you can safely use for managing diabetes.

Home Chef Review 3.5 Star Rating

Home Chef

3.5 Star Rating

Home Chef is a great meal kit service, offering up to six servings per meal and easy step-by-step preparation instructions. You can preview all of the weekly recipes for up to a month in advance - no sign-up required - and many come with easy substitution options if desired. But, there's nothing here that is specifically diabetes diet-oriented: you can choose "carb-conscious" recipes, but it's up to you to do the homework and see if the macros fit the approach you're trying to take. And, it's still on you to figure out what you're eating for the other two meals of the day.

Klinio Review 3 Star Rating

Klinio

3 Star Rating

Klinio is an easy way to get all-in-one tools for addressing prediabetes, type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Through the app, you'll have access to thousands of recipes and their corresponding shopping lists, tracking for your blood glucose and other aspects of your wellness, and even some beginner workouts to boost your physical fitness. However, many of these subscription-based tools are offered for free elsewhere, and Klinio earns some pretty lukewarm ratings from thousands of users. You might want to look at alternatives before you commit to a monthly subscription here.

Noom Review 3 Star Rating

Noom

3 Star Rating

Noom offers two options as a diabetes "diet" app: you qualify for their Diabetes Prevention Program if you're prediabetic but haven't been diagnosed with the condition yet, or you can lose their general Weight Loss platform if you already have diabetes. Both plans help you look at the whole picture of your lifestyle, from stress to sleep in addition to eating habits, giving you an understanding of the "why" behind them to help you make lasting changes. Noom may not take food tracking to the level of detail needed for someone with diabetes, and it's expensive if you aren't offered a one-time fee instead of a monthly subscription.

BistroMD Review 1.5 Star Rating

BistroMD

1.5 Star Rating

At first glance, BistroMD sounds like the perfect solution for busy people who want someone else to take care of all of the meal planning and prep for a diabetes-friendly diet: the service here provides up to 20 meals a week (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), all designed by a nutritionist to be appropriate for managing the condition, and the meals arrive frozen for easy storage and reheat-and-eat convenience. It's too bad that subscribers have such negative feedback, both on the food quality and the lack of customer service. BistroMD is great in theory but disappointing in reality.

Compare the Best Reviews

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Overall, a diabetes diet focuses on controlling carbohydrates, which are the main nutrient that affects blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates are found in foods like bread, pasta, rice, fruits, and starchy vegetables. By controlling the amount and type of carbohydrates consumed, people with diabetes can help regulate their blood sugar levels.

There are several popular diets that can be effective for managing blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Some give you a plan to follow, with recipes and shopping lists, and you do all of the work yourself. Others give you ready-made meal kits with diabetes-friendly macros, and your only job is to cook, eat, and enjoy. The key to success is finding a diet that works for you and that you can stick to over time.

It's important to note that while many different diets may be effective for managing blood sugar levels, you should work with a healthcare professional to make sure any diabetes diet you choose will address your specific needs. Whichever one you choose, it should help you maintain a balanced and varied diet to ensure that you're getting all the nutrients your body requires.

When you start looking at your options for a diabetes-friendly diet or meal plan, it gets overwhelming pretty fast. Take a deep breath, and keep these factors in mind to help you sort through all of the possibilities:

  • Health status. If you have any underlying health conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart disease, it's important to work with your healthcare provider to determine what type of diet is best for you. He or she may have a particular recommendation - or even one to avoid.
  • Food preferences. Consider your personal food preferences and choose a diet that incorporates foods you enjoy and can stick to in the long-term.
  • Lifestyle. Your lifestyle and schedule will play a role in determining the best diabetes diet for you. If you lead a busy life and don't have much time for meal preparation, a diet that emphasizes convenience may be more suitable for you.
  • Support system. Consider if you will have support in your efforts to stick to your chosen diet. Having friends or family members who are also trying to manage their diabetes can provide a valuable support system. If you don't have that kind of support network in your day-to-day life, a diabetes diet that comes with an online community could be the right path to take.
  • Budget. If you choose a diabetes diet with already-made meals, you'll likely spend more than if you shopped for the ingredients and prepared the food yourself. Your ideal diet will be one that fits every aspect of your lifestyle, and your budget is one area to keep in mind.

Managing diabetes can feel daunting, but finding the right approach can make it easier. To help you choose one that will work for you, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked some of today's most popular diabetes diets. You've got this!

The Best Diabetes Diets Compare Diabetes Diets Compare Diabetes Diet Reviews What are the best Diabetes Diets Best Diabetes Diet Reviews

Diabetes Diet FAQ

A diabetes-friendly diet is one that helps to manage blood sugar levels, while also providing essential nutrients and energy. This typically involves eating a balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. There are services that provide ready-made meals suitable for diabetics, while others focus on giving you the tools (like recipes and trackers) to help you cook appropriate meals for yourself.
The recommended food groups for people with diabetes include: vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. A diet high in fiber and low in added sugars is also recommended.
The glycemic index is a measure of how quickly the carbohydrates in a food raise blood sugar levels. Foods with a high glycemic index can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar, while foods with a low glycemic index are absorbed more slowly and provide a slower, more sustained release of energy.
Ideal portion size for people with diabetes will depend on many factors, including age, weight, and physical activity levels. A registered dietitian can help determine the best portion sizes for an individual's needs.
People with diabetes can still consume sugar and sweets, but it is important to do so in moderation. It is also recommended to choose healthier sweets options, such as fresh fruit, to reduce added sugars in the diet.
Carbohydrates are an important source of energy, but people with diabetes need to be mindful of the types and amounts of carbohydrates they consume. High-fiber, whole-grain carbohydrates are recommended over refined or processed carbohydrates.
A low-carb diet can help manage diabetes by reducing the amount of carbohydrates in the diet, which can help control blood sugar levels. However, it is important to speak with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian before making any drastic changes to the diet. Low-carb can often mean high-fat, and that's not ideal if you also have high cholesterol or are at risk for heart disease.
It is not necessary to avoid all fat in a diabetes diet. Healthy fats, such as those found in nuts, seeds, avocado, and olive oil, can help provide energy and promote heart health. However, it is important to limit unhealthy fats, such as those found in fried foods and processed snacks.
The Best Reviews of Diabetes Diets