Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide health problem. Diabetes mellitus is the group of disorders that share the primary symptom of high blood glucose resulting from decreased insulin production or insulin resistance. Type 1 diabetes results from the body's failure to produce insulin and most often occurs in children and young adults. Type 2 results from insulin resistance and most often occurs in adults over the age of 40. However, the incidence of Type 2 diabetes in teenagers and children is increasing. According to the American Diabetes Association, statistical data from 2007 reveal that 23.6 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes. Of those, 17.9 million are diagnosed, while 5.7 million are undiagnosed. Fifty-seven million people have pre-diabetes, and 1.6 million new cases are diagnosed each year.
Complications
Diabetes can result in several complications if blood sugars are not kept within a normal range. Those complications include heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney disease, nervous system disease, amputations and dental disease, according to the American Diabetes Association. To avoid these complications, long-term glucose control is needed. Hemoglobin A1C measures glucose control over the previous two to three months and should be measured every three months. Blood glucose monitoring can also be done on a daily basis to allow you to adjust either your dietary habits or medications.
Carbohydrate Counting
One important part of managing blood glucose levels is your diet. Carbohydrate counting is a successful way to keep track of the carbohydrates you eat, thus managing your glucose levels. If you are taking insulin, carbohydrate counting will help you determine insulin dosing. Carbohydrate intake must be kept consistent at meals and snacks throughout the day. To carbohydrate count you must remember that each serving of a food with carbohydrate is fifteen grams. Each individual may have different needs regarding how many carbohydrate choices he can consume in each meal or snack. Speak with your doctor or dietitian to determine your exact carbohydrate needs.
Carbohydrate Foods
Foods from the grain food group contain carbohydrates. These types of foods include cereal, bread, rice, crackers and pasta. Examples that provide 15 g of carbohydrates include one slice of bread or 3/4 cup of unsweetened cereal. Fruits contain carbohydrates, and 15 g can be provided by one small fresh fruit or one half cup of canned fruit. One serving of milk or yogurt provides approximately 12 g of carbohydrates. Finally, both starchy and non-starchy vegetables provide carbohydrates. Starchy vegetables, including potatoes and corn, provide 15 g per serving. Non-starchy vegetables provide 5 g of carbohydrate per serving. Since non-starchy vegetables have fewer carbohydrates, you only need to count them if you are consuming three or more servings. Limit candy, sweets and sweetened beverages, as they also provide carbohydrates but have limited nutritional benefits.
Food Labels
Being able to read a food label is a must for carbohydrate counting. First you need to look at the serving size. Then you need to look at the amount of total carbohydrates. The serving size listed determines the amount of total carbohydrates listed. Divide by the gram amount of carbohydrates to obtain the number of carbohydrates in one standard serving of that particular food. If you plan to eat more than one serving, then you need to adjust the amount of total carbohydrates counted accordingly.
Tips
There are several things you should keep in mind when eating to control your diabetes. Make sure you are comfortable with reading food labels. Eat a meal within a couple of hours of waking up and don't skip any meals. It is important to keep a consistent eating pattern and to eat at approximately the same time each day. Keep a record of your carbohydrate counting. Write down everything you eat and drink and how many carbohydrates each food item provides, to stay on track.
