When you eat carbohydrates, they are broken down into glucose that your body can use as energy. If you have diabetes, your body cannot properly control your blood glucose levels, and the consumption of carbohydrates causes your glucose levels to rise. Diabetics need to monitor their carbohydrate intake in order to properly control blood glucose levels.
Types of Diabetes
There are two major types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. If you have type 1 diabetes, your pancreas cannot physically produce insulin, which is needed to remove glucose from the bloodstream. In addition to controlling carbohydrate intake, type 1 diabetics must administer insulin in order to survive.
If you have type 2 diabetes, your pancreas produces insulin, but your cells are resistant to its effects. As a result, your cells cannot use glucose for energy and levels of glucose in the blood remain high.
Carbohydrate Counting
Because carbohydrates raise your blood glucose levels, controlling the amount of carbohydrates you eat is an essential to controlling diabetes. Carbohydrate counting involves determining the specific number of carbohydrates you should consume each day and then monitoring the amount of carbohydrates you consume. In addition to monitoring the amount of carbohydrates you consume, it is also important to spread out your intake of carbohydrates throughout the course of the day and try to consume the same amount of carbohydrates at each meal.
Exchange Lists
The diabetic exchange lists are a type of carbohydrate counting tool that diabetics can use to control their carbohydrate intake. The diabetic exchange system groups foods into separate categories based on the carbohydrates, calories and nutrients that they provide. Foods are further broken down into the proper serving size that counts as a single exchange. Each serving size in the starch, fruit and milk groups provides 15 g of carbohydrates.
In order to use the exchange system correctly, work with a dietitian to determine the number of exchanges you are permitted each day. You can then use a workbook provided by the American Diabetes Association to make food choices and stay within your carbohydrate recommendations.
Considerations
The specific amount of carbohydrates you need depends on several factors, including age, sex, activity level and any medications you take. Although each case is different, the American Diabetes Association recommends starting between 45 and 60 g of carbohydrates per day and then adjusting your intake based on how your body responds. Foods that contain carbohydrates include bread, cereal, crackers, milk, yogurt, fruits, fruit juice, potatoes, corn and sugary items, such as soda, desserts and candy.
References
- American Diabetes Association: Carbohydrate Counting
- MayoClinic.com: Your Diabetes Eating Plan: Exchange Lists
- "Nutrition and You"; Joan Salge Blake; 2008
