The diabetic patient should monitor carbohydrate intake. Carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars, which raise blood glucose levels. Consuming a consistent intake of carbohydrates throughout the day will help control blood sugars. Carbohydrate foods include breads, cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes, corn, peas, beans, milk, yogurt, fruits cakes, cookies, ice cream and jelly. Daily carbohydrate needs are broken down into servings, typically nine to 11 servings per day, each with about 15 g of carbohydrate. Each meal should have three to four servings or 45 to 60 g of carbohydrate. A registered dietitian can help plan meals and determine the right distribution of carbohydrates to best manage blood sugars.
Starches
The following represent one serving from the starch category, or 15 grams of carbohydrate: one slice bread; one 6-inch tortilla; 1/4 large bagel; two 5-inch taco shells; ½ hamburger or hot dog bun; ¾ cup ready-to-eat cereal; ½ cup cooked cereal; 1 cup broth-based soup; four to six small crackers; 1/3 cup cooked pasta or rice; ½ cup beans, peas, corn, sweet potatoes, winter squash, or mashed or boiled potatoes; ¼ large baked potato; ¾ ounce pretzels, potato or tortilla chips; and 3 cups of popped popcorn.
Fruit
The following are one serving from the fruit category, or 15 grams of carbohydrate: one small fresh fruit, ½ cup canned fruit, ¼ cup dried fruit, 17 small grapes, 1 cup melon or berries, 2 tbsp. raisins and ½ cup fruit juice.
Milk
One serving from the milk group is slightly lower in carbohydrates than the other groups. The following are one serving of the milk group, or 12 grams of carbohydrate: 1 cup fat-free or reduced-fat milk, 1 cup soy milk and 2/3 cup fat-free yogurt sweetened with sugar-free sweetener.
Sweets and Desserts
The following are one serving from the sweets or desserts category, or 15 grams of carbohydrate: 2-inch square piece of unfrosted cake; two small cookies; ½ cup ice cream or frozen yogurt; ¼ cup sherbet or sorbet; 1 tbsp. syrup, jam, jelly, table sugar or honey; and 2 tbsp. light syrup.
Other Foods
Some foods from the "other foods" category have almost no carbohydrates per serving. For example, 1 cup of raw vegetables and ½ cup of cooked nonstarchy vegetables have a negligible amount of carbohydrate per serving and are considered free foods, meaning they won't affect blood sugar. Eating three or more servings at one meal equals one serving of carbohydrate--in other words if you eat more of them the carbohydrates will add up. Foods that have less than 20 calories per serving also contain negligible carbohydrates. Again, eating three servings of a 20-calorie food will add up to one serving of carbohydrate.
