dLife Recipe Nutrient Guidelines
dLife Nutritional Guidelines*†
Recipes must have NO MORE THAN the following, per serving:CALORIES: 500 (main dishes); 350 (everything else)
CARBOHYDRATES: 45g (30g to be designated “Carb Safe,” 15g for "Low Carb," and 3g for "Very Low Carb")
SATURATED FAT: 7g
SODIUM: 800mg
*dLife recognizes that all people with diabetes have individual treatment goals and varying dietary needs, based on their own unique health situations. These guidelines may not be appropriate for everyone; patients should always check with their diabetes care team about the dietary regimen that works best for them.
Recipes cover a wide range of dishes, from appetizers to desserts. Therefore, recipe users should keep in mind that a 350 calorie vegetable dish may have more nutritional value than a 350 calorie dessert, and plan their meals accordingly. It is also important to note that moderation is key to eating well and meeting treatment goals with diabetes.
†Note: The dLife Recipe Finder is powered by software from ESHA Research, which has a food database comprised of more than 27,000 items, including extensive nutritional information on each. The nutritional analysis found on the recipe pages in the dLife Recipe Finder (the “Recipe Pages”) is calculated from the individual ingredients in each recipe, using the nutritional data found for those ingredients in the ESHA database. While we do our best to ensure accuracy, dLife makes no representation or warranty regarding the information contained in the ESHA database or the Recipe Pages or the accuracy thereof, and there can be no assurance that any of the information contained therein has not been, or will not be changed or altered. With respect to the Recipe Pages, dLife specifically disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular use. Please note that the nutritional analyses contained in the Recipe Pages are not intended for use in medical nutrition therapy. If you are following a strict diet for medical reasons, it’s important that you consult a health professional about using the dLife Recipe Finder for meal planning related to health management.
An Important Note on Carbohydrates
dLife suggests minimizing carbohydrate content for better blood glucose control and weight management, especially for those individuals who may achieve better control with a lower carbohydrate intake. To this end, recipes are categorized by per-serving carb count. Those recipes with 30g or fewer of carbohydrates are labeled “Carb Safe,” those with 15g or fewer are "Low Carb," and those with 3g or fewer are "Very Low Carb."
dLife also recognizes the individual nature of diabetes and treatment needs. People on a vegetarian diet may require a higher carbohydrate and/or calorie intake to get appropriate amounts of protein in their diet. A very physically-fit person or a high-performance athlete may require more carbohydrates and calories to meet their treatment goals, while another person who is less active may require fewer. As always, patients should consult with a registered dietitian and their diabetes care team to find the carbohydrate intake level that works for them.
Some dLife recipes contain refined sugar. The American Diabetes Association, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Dietetic Association, and American Association of Diabetes Educators all recognize that small amounts of sugar can be incorporated into the diets of people with diabetes, as long as it is in moderation and is calculated into their total carbohydrate and nutrient levels for the day.
An Important Note on Fiber
While dLife has no specific guidelines for fiber content in our recipe offerings, we recognize the potential health benefits of fiber in controlling blood cholesterol levels and promoting gastrointestinal health, and encourage the increased use of fiber in recipes when appropriate. For some people with diabetes, carbohydrates from fiber sources may have a more blunted effect on their blood glucose levels. Many health organizations suggest that you can deduct grams of fiber from total carbohydrates in a food when the amount of fiber is 5g or more. If you take insulin, talk to your healthcare provider about whether or not you need to adjust your insulin to carbohydrate ratio if much of the carbohydrate you’re eating is fiber.