Diabetics who follow a diabetic diet can greatly increase their quality of life,

And in certain cases even reverse the disease. In general this type of diet restricts calories, while controlling the ratio of carbohydrates and fats. Here's some more information on diabetes in general, and the diabetic diet.

Both types of diabetes can benefit from the diabetic diet. Type I, called juvenile diabetes, is often diagnosed in children while type II usually starts in adulthood and is more common. Type I diabetics suffer because their bodies don't produce insulin, while Type II diabetics suffer because their cells don't absorb insulin. It is type II diabetes that can be reduced by a diabetic diet, although type I also responds well to the diet.

The diabetic diet revolves around maintaining an ideal body weight. There is a simple rule of thumb to establish this ideal body weight. In females it starts with 100 pounds at five feet, then adds five pounds for every inch over and subtracts five pounds for every inch under five feet. Here's a quick example – a woman who is 5'4” tall ideally should be 100+20 pounds, in other words 120 pounds. Males begin with 106 pounds at five feet and add 6 pounds for every inch over five feet. At 5'6” a man's ideal weight is 142 pounds.

The ideal formula for a diabetic diet varies, but there are some common basics.

A type I diabetic should ideally consume 16 calories per pound of their weight. That means a 160 pound man should eat about 2500 calories per day. Type II diabetics eat about 1500 calories per day to lose weight, then differing amounts of calories to maintain ideal weight.

For a diabetic diet carbs are about 50% of daily calories. It is often believed that even lower card-levels are healthier for Diabetic patients, but higher percentages of fat in the diet has its own problems.

But if saturated fats are avoided, a little more fat in the diet is OK.