If you have diabetes, your doctor or nutritionist may have put you on a carbohydrate counting meal plan. This means that you have a specific amount of carbohydrates that you are allowed for every meal and snack. Counting carbohydrates can help you maintain blood glucose or sugar control. Starting a diet like this can be a challenge at first. In addition to having regular doctor visits, exercising and taking medications regularly, carbohydrate counting can help you control your diabetes.
Start with a Plan
Your medical professional will give you the total number of carbohydrates you are allowed during meals and snacks. She will also give you a list of food items with their serving size and number of carbohydrates. Come up with a written, weeklong menu plan for the first one or two weeks. This helps to keep you on track and will help you get used to your new diet. In addition to following this plan, jot down what you are eating, the serving size and calculate the number of carbohydrates for the first two weeks. This gives you accountability and helps you see what you are eating and where your weaknesses are.
Read Food Labels
Reading food labels is an essential part of carbohydrate counting. When you are looking at the label, take into account the serving size and the total amount of carbohydrates for each serving size. After looking at this, consider your carbohydrate allowance and decide whether a serving of this food choice is worth the number of carbohydrates. After looking at different food choices, you will realize that you can get more bang for your buck in some cases. Reading labels should not stop at looking at the carbohydrates and serving size. Some items to consider are number of calories, total fat and ingredients. Compare nutritional values. You will be more informed about what you are putting into your body, which can help you make better choices.
Use a Resource List
For items that do not have food labels, there are resources that you can use to help determine the number of carbohydrates. Select a list that is user friendly and portable. It is important that you are able to carry this list around with you so that you can refer to it quickly when you are on the go. As you become an expert on carbohydrate counting, you not have to refer to this list as much.
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