A strict diabetic diet plan is one weapon used to fight diabetes and lessen its effects. The diabetic diet plan will consist of a recommended daily intake list (based on the diabetic food pyramid). The diabetic diet plan ensures that the diabetic patient receives proper nutrition without an excess of foods that might raise blood sugar levels.

Several varieties of the diabetic diet plan are available. These plans have been carefully chosen by medical professionals and clinical dietitians to balance nutrition, taste, and effect on blood sugar levels.

"The 1990s experienced a growth in the demand for diet plans especially created for diabetic patients," said Dr. Nora Bueno, a diabetes specialist doctor for over a decade. Estimates show that nearly 10% of persons aged 20 or older suffer from diabetes (2005). Compare this to only 7.2% of diabetes suffers in the same age group in 1991. More than 20 million US citizens older than 20 years have diabetes. Even worse - 20.9% of seniors older than 60 also have diabetes. That's more than 10 million diabetic senior citizens. Back in 1991, only 7.9% of seniors suffered from diabetes. The need for a safe and effective diabetic diet plan is real and urgent.

It is difficult to design a universal diabetic diet plan. Lifestyles, food availability, food allergies, illnesses, and likes/dislikes prevent a single diabetic diet plan from applying to all diabetics. It is more effective (and time consuming) for a medical professional to design a diabetic diet plan for each individual diabetic.

Such diabetic diet plans are likely to have widely varying components. However, it is clear that diet and nutrition are very important in the treatment of diabetes. Therefore it is imperative that each diabetic get and follow a personalized diabetic diet plan.