Weighing and Measuring. Weighing and measuring food is extremely important in order to get the correct number of daily calories.
- Along with measuring cups and spoons, choose a food scale that measures grams. (A gram is very small, about 1/28th of an ounce.)
- Food should be weighed and measured after cooking.
- After measuring all foods for a week or so, most people can make fairly accurate estimates by eye or by holding food without having to measure everything every time they eat.
Timing. Meals should not be skipped, particularly for those who are on insulin. Skipping meals can upset the balance between food intake and insulin and also can lead to weight gain if the patient eats extra food too often to offset low blood sugar levels.
The timing of meals is particularly important for people taking insulin:
- Patients should coordinate insulin administration with calorie intake. In general, they should eat three meals each day at regular intervals. Snacks are often required.
- They should try to take an insulin injection 30 minutes before they eat, although this timing could vary, depending on the form. Some experts recommend a fast acting insulin (insulin lispro) at each meal and a longer (basal) insulin at night.
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