Cardiac Diabetic Diet Plan
Diabetes is a condition that’s characterized by high blood sugar levels. When you eat something, it’s digested and enters your bloodstream as glucose.
Your blood sugar level rises as the glucose enters your cells and gives them the energy to function. However, when you have diabetes, the body can’t properly regulate blood sugar levels.
As a result, glucose builds up in the blood, which can cause serious damage to the eyes, kidneys, heart and nerves. This is where the Cardiac Diabetic Diet Plan comes in.
What is the Cardiac Diabetic Diet Plan?
The cardiac diabetic diet is a nutrition plan designed to reduce the risk of heart disease in people with Diabetes.
This diet is recommended for people with type 2 diabetes and those who have had heart problems or have experienced a heart attack.
It excludes high-fat foods, foods with lots of sugar and other carbohydrates, and foods with high amounts of saturated fat.
Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease
Unfortunately, Diabetes has been linked to numerous other health problems. Over time, Diabetes can lead to coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease and kidney failure.
People with diabetes are twice as likely as those who do not have the condition to die from coronary heart disease.
Although the exact cause of coronary heart disease in people with diabetes is unknown, a combination of factors may be involved, including high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, smoking and stress.
How to Follow the Cardiac Diabetic Diet Plan
The cardiac diabetic diet is a plan for people suffering from high blood pressure or cardiac problems. This diet plan is also specifically for people with diabetes and heart problems.
This diet helps in reducing the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other coronary diseases. There are several foods that you can’t eat in this diet plan.
The foods that you can eat are very limited. Following this diet plan is necessary to avoid these diseases, especially cardiac problems and high blood pressure.
While preparing your meals, make sure you use olive oil as your main cooking oil. This oil has been found to help prevent heart problems and high blood pressure.
Foods to Eat on the Cardiac Diabetic Diet Plan
Here are some of the foods to eat while on this diet.
Fruits
Apples
Oranges
Bananas
Pears
Cereals
Whole wheat flakes
Oatmeal
Whole grain products
Brown rice
Whole wheat bread
Wheat pasta
High-fiber foods
Beans
Peas
Lentils
Nuts
Foods to Avoid on the Cardiac Diabetic Diet Plan
Some of the foods to avoid include:
Sugar. This one is obvious. Sugar increases your blood glucose levels, which can lead to heart problems. It’s also just unnecessary calories that don’t do anything for you.
Trans fats. These are found in everything from crackers and cookies to microwave popcorn and margarine.
They increase your risk of coronary heart disease by raising your LDL or bad cholesterol while lowering your HDL or good cholesterol.
Salt. This is another one that you might not think about as an ingredient, but most processed foods have it — and way too much of it — in them.
Salt raises your blood pressure, which can be dangerous if you suffer from heart disease or Diabetes because it raises the risks of both conditions.
Final Thoughts
A cardiac diabetic diet plan is important for the treatment and management of cardiovascular diseases. It is also referred to as a heart-healthy diet or a heart-healthy eating plan.
The goal is to avoid foods that increase blood sugar levels, known as hyperglycemia while limiting excess calories and saturated fats.
Printable Cardiac Diabetic Diet Plan (PDF)
Day | Breakfast | Snack | Lunch | Dinner |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cereal with fruit or toast and jam | One pear | Tuna salad on rye bread, with lettuce and tomato | Lean roast beef or pork plus one vegetable, two servings of vegetables, any kinds of vegetables you choose (with no butter) |
2 | 1 cup plain cereal with 1 cup skim milk and 1/2 cup sliced banana | Mixed berries | 4 ounces grilled chicken breast, 1/2 cup cooked broccoli, 1/2 cup brown rice and 1/2 cup watermelon chunks | 4 ounces broiled fish, 1/2 cup baked potato and 1/2 cup steamed asparagus |
3 | 1/2 Grapefruit, 1 Slice of Toast with 2 Tbsp. Peanut Butter, 1 cup of coffee or tea (with cream and sugar) | 1 cup of yoghurt topped with 1/2 cup of berries and 1 tsp. Honey | 2 slices whole-wheat bread, 2 tbs. Peanut butter, 1 apple (sliced) and 1 tbsp. Honey | 3 oz. Steak, 3 oz. Lobster tail, 1 baked sweet potato and a small salad |
4 | 1 egg, scrambled, 1 slice whole-wheat toast with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, 1 glass skim milk | A banana | 3 ounces lean turkey, 2 slices whole-wheat toast with 1 tablespoon light butter or margarine and 3 tablespoons jelly | 3 ounces baked fish (haddock, cod or sole) with 1 cup of cooked green beans and sliced tomatoes on the side, topped with a teaspoon of butter. Serve with 1/2 cup cooked brown rice and a glass of skim milk |
5 | 1/2 grapefruit, 1 slice whole-wheat toast with 2 tsp. peanut butter | 1 orange | tuna salad made with 2 cans of tuna, 2 stalks celery, 2 tsp. Low sodium soy sauce, 1 tbsp. Brown sugar and 3 tbsp. rice wine vinegar | 6 oz. baked salmon, steamed green beans and cauliflower |
6 | 1 cup of grapes, 1 cup of milk, 2 slices of whole wheat bread with jam or honey and a glass of milk | Yoghurt with chia seeds | 1 cup of cooked beans or lentils with chips and salsa or rice and beans. One large green salad with cucumber, tomato, olive oil and vinegar dressing One small orange | 1/2 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice with vegetables and lean meat such as chicken or turkey breast |
7 | whole wheat waffles with fresh berries, two scrambled egg whites, side salad of spinach leaves tossed with olive oil and vinegar dressing | Fresh fruit with cottage cheese | toasted pita bread stuffed with low-sodium turkey breast slices, cucumber slices and shredded lettuce | chicken stir-fry made with chopped chicken breast meat, snow peas, bok choy and sauteed carrots |
See Also
How Much Sodium Can You Have on a Cardia Diet
Printable High Cholesterol Food List
7 Day Vegetarian Mediterranean Diet
Printable Vegetarian Protein Sources