Written by Megan Ayala. Last Updated: December 27, 2023
It’s often said that diabetes is not curable but it is manageable. Proper management requires a combination of medication, diet, and exercise. When it comes to weight loss while managing diabetes, things can get even trickier.
In time, diet and exercise alone can be enough.
This means that building a proper diet and sticking with that diet should be a primary concern if you’ve recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or you are considered pre-diabetic.
One of the biggest obstacles that newly diagnosed patients face is finding a diet plan that is safe, effective, and reliable long-term. There is a lot of misinformation shared online and a lot of “fad” diets that fail to deliver results.
The diet plans that you should trust are few and far between. The new Nutrisystem for Diabetics home delivery program happens to be one of those diet plans.
What is Nutrisystem D?
Nutrisystem D, or Nutrisystem (read our review) for Diabetics, is a home-delivery diet program designed by one of the best brands in the industry. Nutrisystem already has a strong reputation thanks to its existing home-delivery diet options.
They designed their first diets back in the 1970s and have continued to improve ever since. Their delivery service was launched in the 90s and set that standard that all other meal delivery services must compete with.
Nutrisystem D is unique in that it is designed specifically for patients with type 2 diabetes. The diet contains a lot of high-protein and high-fiber meal options while specifically limiting fat and carbohydrates. With long term use, it can help burn fat, lower your AIC, and improve blood sugar levels.
If you are pre-diabetic, then it can help greatly reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes – here’s a look at their current plans:
- Most Affordable Plan
- Classic Menu Variety
- Grab and Go Meals
- Starts at $9.99 a Day
- Top-Rated Menu
- Most Popular Menu Variety
- Weight Loss Coaching
- Starts at $12.14 per Day
- New Premium Meals
- 150+ Menu Choices
- Personalized Nutrition Plan
- Starting at $13.57 per Day
How Does It Work?
Nutrisystem has been in the meal-delivery service for a long time and it really shows. All of their meal plans and programs are easy-to-understand and customize. You start by choosing one of the available 4-week diabetic plans. Each plan type varies in terms of price as well as available menu options. The most expensive plan is only a few dollars extra and includes a much larger menu with more chances for customization.
The meals are portion controlled and pieced together by expert nutritionists. No artificial sweeteners or flavors are used in any of the meals. The Nutrisystem D plans include a total of 6 meals and snacks for each day. That includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner with snacks spaced around 2 to 3 hours apart.
Once you’ve selected your plan and meal options you simply wait for delivery. All orders are shipped free and take between 1 and 10 business days for delivery.
Meals will arrive with clear and simple instructions for preparation. There are even suggestions for mixing in your own fresh ingredients if you are feeling adventurous.
Nutrisystem D Plan Options
There are three different Nutrisystem D plan options available. The most affordable option is the Basic Diabetes Plan, then there is the Unique Yours Diabetes Plan, and finally the Uniquely Yours Ultimate Diabetes Plan.
The basic plan includes around 100 different menu options with 5 days worth of meals shipped each week. In between, you’ll mix in your own healthy meals. You’ll obviously want to follow the same dietary guidelines used with Nutrisystem meals if you want to see the intended results. The major setback with this particular plan is that it does not let you customize your meals.
The most popular option is the Uniquely Yours plan. The menu options are increased to around 160 and you’ll have access to some great frozen meals and new snacks. The big advantage is that you can now customize your meals as well.
The most expensive plan comes with the same menu and customization options as the previous package. However, you’ll receive 7 breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks each week. That’s enough to stick with a pure Nutrisystem D diet every day of the week. This is a great option if you don’t trust yourself with your diet on the remaining 2 days of the week.
See all Nutrisystem D plans at their website.
Nutrisystem D Sample Menu
The Nutrisystem D menus can have a lot of variety especially if you are using the most expensive plan. Each menu is broken down into six meals or snacks. Ideally, you can eat once every 2-to-3 hours. Here’s an example of what a sample menu might include.
- Breakfast: Turkey, sausage, and egg muffin with coffee
- Morning Snack: Low-fat yogurt and fresh fruit
- Lunch: Grilled chicken sandwich
- Afternoon snack: Crackers with cheese and apple slices
- Dinner: Stuffed shells and a salad
- Evening Snack: Cheddar popcorn
A menu like this can be prepared for you for each day with the “chef’s choice” option. Taking the chef’s choice is always a safe bet because each menu combination is prepared with specific nutrition goals in mind. However, if you have the Uniquely Yours plan, then you can customize the menu if there are certain items you don’t like.
Is it Safe For Type 2 Diabetes?
Nutrisystem has plenty of healthy food plans available. They can all be used to lose weight and improve your overall health. So what makes the Nutrisystem D plan such a great option for patients with type 2 Diabetes? It’s all about the unique balance of nutrients and the long-term effects on blood sugar levels.
For example, this particular meal plan puts a greater emphasis on dietary fiber than other Nutrisystem plans. Fiber happens to be a very important nutrient for patients with diabetes. In particular, dietary fiber is very beneficial because it isn’t broken down or digested in the body like fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
Dietary fiber is one of the few nutrients that will not have a negative impact on your blood sugar levels. The fiber is never properly digested, which means that it does not result in raised blood sugar or insulin release.
Water Soluble fiber offers the greatest advantage because it can slow down the body’s absorption of sugar from other food sources. Thus, by including plenty of menu items high in water-soluble dietary fiber, the Nutrisystem D plan can lower blood sugar levels and keep them there.
Foods that are high in fiber are also helpful for weight loss. Losing weight is one of the best ways to manage diabetes and its various systems. High-fiber foods are often more filling, which means you eat less of them and stay full for longer. Their lowered energy density means you get few calories with a higher volume.
Nutrisystem D vs Regular Nutrisystem
A major boost in fiber is only one of the ways this new Nutrisystem plan differentiates itself from its standard options. There are a few more changes to the formula that make this plan the perfect choice for diabetic patients. Here are a few of the key differences.
1. Protein Boost
The Nutrisystem D plan strips away some of the extra carbohydrates and fats found in their traditional meal options. They have instead added more menu options that are high in protein. Not only is this good for diabetics, but it’s also helpful if you’re trying to add muscle mass.
2. Less Sugar And Sodium
Foods with high sugar or sodium content are bad news for diabetic patients. Unfortunately, this also means reducing the number of fresh fruits found on the menu. You’ll find more bread, pasta, and leafy green vegetables to take their place.
3. Fewer Menu Items
This isn’t exactly a benefit, but it’s a difference worth pointing out. The menu is slightly more limited with the Diabetic option. This makes sense because they had to cut away foods high in sugar, sodium, or fat. Even so, there are more than 100 different food items to choose from. It’s unlikely you’ll ever get bored with their available combinations.
Pricing Options
Money is obviously a big concern when it comes to starting a diet plan. People often believe that healthy eating is the same as expensive eating, but this doesn’t have to be the case.
Using a delivery service adds a few extra bucks to the final bill, yet it remains surprisingly affordable.
Chances are, even the most expensive meal plan available won’t be any more than you already spend on groceries each week.
- Basic Plan – $8.57/day
- Uniquely Yours Plan – $10.36/day
- Uniquely Yours Ultimate Plan – $12.50/day
At the end of the day, you have to choose the plan that your budget will allow. But we recommend the Ultimate Plan if at all possible. It has the largest available menu, the ability to customize your meal plan, and it includes food for 7 days a week instead of 5.
It’s an all-around superior option and makes it much easier to stick with the diet over the coming months.
RELATED READING: Nutrisystem price per Month
Summary: Should You Join?
Are you a type 2 diabetic or at high risk for developing the condition? If so, then managing your diet and controlling your weight should be a top priority.
The Nutrisystem D meal-delivery service is a great way to go about doing this. You’ll enjoy meals that are crafted by experts specifically for patients with type 2 diabetes.
The meals are safe, portion-controlled, easy-to-make, and they actually taste good as well.
