Why Count Carbohydrates
Carbohydrate Counting & Diabetes
What is carbohydrate counting?
Carbohydrate counting, also called carb counting, is a meal planning tool for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Carbohydrate counting involves keeping track of the amount of carbohydrate in the foods you eat each day.
Why count carbohydrates?
• To follow a meal plan.
• To use in insulin-to-carb meal ratio.
• Portion control and body weight control.
What Are Carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are one of the main nutrients found in food and drinks. Protein and fat are the other main nutrients. Carbohydrates include sugars, starches, and fiber. Carbohydrate counting can help you control your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, levels because carbohydrates affect your blood glucose …show more content…
How much carbohydrate should you eat?
The amount of carbohydrate you need each day depends on your age, gender, weight and activity levels. The following table gives a general guide to the amount of carbohydrate the average man and woman may need at each main meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
What about snacks?
If you use insulin or certain types of blood glucose lowering medications, you may need to eat a carbohydrate-based snack in between meals and before going to bed to prevent a hypoglycemia. If you need snacks, aim for 1–2 carbohydrate exchanges per snack (that is, 15–30 grams of carbohydrate).
Sample meal plan
This meal plan is an example of what carbohydrate counting looks like across a day. Each main meal provides three (3) carbohydrate exchanges and each snack provides one (1) carbohydrate exchange. The carbohydrate foods are in bold.
Meal Food Carbohydrate exchanges
Breakfast ½ cup natural muesli with 250ml low-fat milk and ½ cup berries 3
Snack 1 small banana 1
Lunch 2 slices wholegrain bread with ½ cup baked beans 3
Snack 1 apple and 30g unsalted raw nuts 1
Evening
What is carbohydrate counting?
Carbohydrate counting, also called carb counting, is a meal planning tool for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Carbohydrate counting involves keeping track of the amount of carbohydrate in the foods you eat each day.
Why count carbohydrates?
• To follow a meal plan.
• To use in insulin-to-carb meal ratio.
• Portion control and body weight control.
What Are Carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are one of the main nutrients found in food and drinks. Protein and fat are the other main nutrients. Carbohydrates include sugars, starches, and fiber. Carbohydrate counting can help you control your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, levels because carbohydrates affect your blood glucose …show more content…
How much carbohydrate should you eat?
The amount of carbohydrate you need each day depends on your age, gender, weight and activity levels. The following table gives a general guide to the amount of carbohydrate the average man and woman may need at each main meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
What about snacks?
If you use insulin or certain types of blood glucose lowering medications, you may need to eat a carbohydrate-based snack in between meals and before going to bed to prevent a hypoglycemia. If you need snacks, aim for 1–2 carbohydrate exchanges per snack (that is, 15–30 grams of carbohydrate).
Sample meal plan
This meal plan is an example of what carbohydrate counting looks like across a day. Each main meal provides three (3) carbohydrate exchanges and each snack provides one (1) carbohydrate exchange. The carbohydrate foods are in bold.
Meal Food Carbohydrate exchanges
Breakfast ½ cup natural muesli with 250ml low-fat milk and ½ cup berries 3
Snack 1 small banana 1
Lunch 2 slices wholegrain bread with ½ cup baked beans 3
Snack 1 apple and 30g unsalted raw nuts 1
Evening