How to Count Carbs on a Diabetic Diet

Overview

Counting carbohydrates is a vital technique for people with diabetes to manage their blood glucose levels. Carbohydrates in food raise blood glucose levels, so you must limit your intake. Your limit can vary on your condition and the medications you take. Your doctor can help determine what range to stay within. The American Diabetes Association recommends starting with 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrates per meal.

Step 1

Know which foods contain carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are found in starches, sugars and fiber. Bread, cereal, rice, fruit, milk, yogurt, dry beans, soy products, potatoes, soda, juice drinks, cake, cookies, candy and chips are sources of carbohydrates. Other foods may contain limited carbohydrates.

Step 2

Aim to eat 25 to 30 grams of fiber every day, which is recommended by the American Diabetes Association for good health. Fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes. You can subtract half the grams of dietary fiber from your serving of food if it contains 5 or more grams of dietary fiber, as fiber is not digested like the other carbohydrates.

Step 3

Read food labels, which list the amount of carbohydrates in foods. You will have to estimate how many carbohydrates are in foods without labels based on serving size. Pay special attention to the serving size and total grams of carbohydrates. Make sure you are adjusting the totals when you eat more or less than the serving size listed.

Step 4

Use the Glycemic Index (GI) to choose foods. The GI ranking is based on how quickly foods raise blood glucose levels. High GI foods generally have greater increases in blood sugar. Low GI foods tend to be high in fat.