Eating healthy is important for everyone. It is especially important for people with diabetes because the type and amounts of food can have a great impact on your blood glucose (sugar). By carefully choosing what and when you eat, you can help maintain healthy blood glucose levels and reduce your risk of long-term complications from diabetes.

Explore two of the methods of meal planning included in this section, the Food Pyramid and Exchange Lists. To help you choose healthy foods when shopping, we have provided an explanation of Food Labels.

There are several methods to guide you in planning healthy meals. No one plan is right for everyone. Work with your diabetes educator, registered dietitian or nutritionist to find the plan that's best for you, based on your personal needs.

To find nutritional information on many common foods, you can search the USDA's Nutrient Database.