The optimal way to plan a diabetic diet meal is to first assess  the nutritional needs of a person with diabetes and the amounts of fat, protein, carbohydrate, and then calculating the corresponding total calories needed per day. This information is converted into recommendations for amounts and types of foods to be included in the daily diet. Every person having diabetes must consult a Registered Dietitian to prepare for his diabetic diet plan. However, the total number of meals and snacks and their timing throughout the day can differ for each person, depending on his or her nutritional needs, lifestyle, and the action and timing of medications. But then the rest of it is pretty much up to you. You get your meal plan 'budget', and then you decide how to spend it at each meal. Just as a non-diabetic can't eat cookies and cakes all day long and expect to be healthy, if you have diabetes you have to eat a balanced diet to remain healthy. But within limits, and with proper education, if you have diabetes you can eat whatever anybody else does.

In general, a nutrition plan for a person with diabetes includes

• 10 to 20 percent of calories from protein

• no more than 30 percent of calories from fats (with no more than 10 percent from saturated fats)

• and the remaining 50 to 60 percent from carbohydrates.

Given below are the ideal nutrition portions for your diet, according to size categories.

Diabetic Diet Plan (1200-1600 Calories)

This diabetic diet plan is perfect for if you are a small woman who exercises, a small or medium woman who wants to lose weight or even a medium woman who does not exercise much. Choose this many servings from these food groups to have 1,200 to 1,600 calories a day:

·        6 starches

·        2 milk and yogurt

·        3 vegetables

·        2 meat or meat substitute

·        2 fruit

·        Up to 3 fats

Diabetic Diet Plan (1600-2000 Calories)

This diabetic diet plan is perfect for if you are a large woman who wants to lose weight, a small man at a healthy weight, a medium man who does not exercise much or a medium to large man who wants to lose weight. Choose this many servings from these food groups to have 1,600 to 2,000 calories a day:

·        8 starches

·        2 milk and yogurt

·        4 vegetables

·        2 meat or meat substitute

·        3 fruit

·        Up to 4 fats

Diabetic Diet Plan (2000-2400 Calories)

This diet plan is perfect for if you are a medium/large man who does a lot of exercise or has a physically active job, a large man at a healthy weight or a large woman who exercises a lot or has a physically active job. Choose this many servings from these food groups to have 2,000 to 2,400 calories a day:

·        11 starches

·        2 milk and yogurt

·        4 vegetables

·        2 meat or meat substitute

·        3 fruit

·        Up to 5 fats

 * One serving of starch, fruit or milk all contains 15 grams carbohydrate or one carbohydrate serving.