If you have Type 1 diabetes, you are probably concerned with the amount of carbohydrates in your diet. Monitoring your carbohydrate intake takes effort, but the benefits are paramount. Following an exchange diet, increasingly being referred to as "carbohydrate counting," can help you control your blood sugars, lowering your risk for developing diabetes-related complications including neuropathies, kidney disease and blindness.
Carbohydrate Intake
The American Diabetes Association recommends consuming 45 to 60 g of carbohydrates at each meal. This number can differ depending on your age, sex, size and activity level. Consult with your physician, certified diabetes educator or registered dietitian to create an individual meal plan that caters to your needs and your health condition.
Carbohydrate-Containing Foods
The starch in grain products, like rice, pasta, cereal and bread, as well as starch in beans and lentils, break down into sugar in your body. Vegetables are generally low in carbohydrates with the exception of potatoes, squash, corn and peas. Fruit and fruit juices are sources of natural sugars, a simple form of carbohydrate. Milk and yogurt are carbohydrate-containing dairy products. And, perhaps more obvious, sweets and desserts are generally high in sugar. The most important aspect of all these foods is their ability to raise blood glucose levels, also referred to as blood sugars. Watching the portion sizes of these foods will help manage your Type 1 diabetes.
Carbohydrate Serving Sizes
Each serving of carbohydrate contains 15 g. This equates to 1/3 cup pasta or rice; one slice of bread; 1/2 cup of beans, corn, peas, squash or potatoes; one small piece of fruit or 1/2 cup fruit juice; 1 cup milk or 2/3 cup of yogurt; 1 tbsp. of honey, jelly or sugar; two small cookies or 1/2 cup ice cream. There are many other foods that can impact your blood sugars. Check food labels while you are grocery shopping to determine which foods contain carbohydrates, and which serving sizes are appropriate.
Foods Without Carbohydrates
Certain high-protein foods including meat, poultry, eggs and cheese, as well as fats like oil, do not contain carbohydrates and will not raise blood glucose levels. Including a protein and a fat food source while eating carbohydrates will help stabilize blood sugars and decrease the chance of having extreme high and low blood sugar levels.
