A Consistent Carbohydrate Diet For Geriatrics

Carbohydrates are found in a variety of foods and work to increase blood sugar and provide energy to our body. A consistent carbohydrate diet is a meal plan that specifies the number of carbohydrates to consume with each meal and snack. This type of diet may be beneficial for diabetic older adults to help maintain blood sugar control, improve quality of life and decrease the risk of adverse health effects.

Carbohydrates

The ideal amount of carbohydrate to eat depends on your age, activity level, medical status and medications you may be taking. For example, older adults who are less active may require fewer carbohydrates than younger, more active individuals. It is important to discuss your intake with your doctor to determine the number of carbohydrates you should eat with each meal and snack. Foods that have carbohydrates include cereal, rice, pasta, oatmeal, fruit and fruit juice, yogurt, milk, starchy vegetables such as sweet potatoes and corn, beans, and sweets such as cake, candy and soft drinks.

Serving Sizes

A helpful way to estimate carbohydrate intake is to become familiar with serving sizes. One serving of carbohydrate equals about 15 g and can include one slice of bread, one small tortilla, 1/2 cup of oatmeal, 1 cup of milk, 2/3 cup plain fat-free yogurt sweetened with a sugar substitute, 1 tbsp. of honey or four to six crackers, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Meals and Snacks

Each meal on a consistent carbohydrate diet can include three to four servings of carbohydrate, preferably coming from nutritious foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy. A healthy source of protein and fat should also be included with each meal. For example, lunch could be a 3-oz grilled chicken breast over 1 cup baby spinach, 1/3 cup brown rice, 1 cup low-fat milk and 1 small banana. Healthy snacks can help maintain blood sugar and can include one to two servings of carbohydrates each. A healthy snack could be one apple and 1 oz. reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, or 1 cup of fat-free milk with one graham cracker. Diabetic older adults who have chewing or swallowing difficulty may need consistent carbohydrate meals and snacks that are chopped, ground or pureed to ensure good intake.

Nutrition Labels

Reading and understanding food labels is important to following a consistent carbohydrate diet. First, review the serving size and the amount of total carbohydrate per serving. Next, measure the amount of food that equals the number of carbohydrate you aim to consume. Older adults residing at home may find it helpful to use a food scale or measuring cups and spoons to estimate serving sizes. Older adults living in a nursing home may receive a consistent carbohydrate meal plan daily as prescribed by a doctor.

Considerations

A consistent carbohydrate diet is a beneficial lifestyle change for older adults with diabetes. For optimal blood sugar control, check your blood sugar regularly, avoid skipping meals, and eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods. Your doctor may recommend talking to a registered dietitian about a meal plan that is right for you.