Carbohydrates are a necessary evil for a diabetic. They raise your blood sugar, but you need them for healthy functioning of your body. The way to control your diabetes is to control your carbohydrate intake, and one of the best ways to do that is to count the number of carbohydrates you consume. Thanks to the Internet and food labeling, it is easy to find out how many carbohydrates are in any given food. Talk to your doctor or nutritionist about a specific plan so you know for sure how many carbs to eat at a meal.
Carbohydrate Foods
Carbohydrates, proteins and fats are the three types of nutrients you can get from foods, and carbohydrates are the nutrients that will have the most impact on your blood sugar. They are generally starches and sugars, but can include milk, fruits, vegetables and beans. Of course, potatoes, cereals, cakes, cookies and candy are carbohydrates, as well, and will affect your blood sugar. It is important to keep strict control of all your carbohydrates to control the amount of sugar that eventually gets to your bloodstream.
Grams of Carbohydrates and Servings
For purposes of counting carbohydrates, one serving equals 15 grams of carbohydrates, according to the American Dietetic Association. This will become important when you make choices for meal planning, but it is crucial to know what constitutes one serving of carbohydrates. One slice of bread is one serving. One small fresh fruit of roughly 4 oz. is also one serving of carbohydrates. One cup of fat-free milk or two small cookies can also count as one serving. To help with carbohydrate counting, you can look up the count of foods on the Internet or in a book.
Meal Planning
When you eat a meal or snack, it is important that you stick to a specific amount of carbohydrate servings for that meal. Women can usually eat three to four servings per meal, and men can eat four to five servings per meal, according to the University of Kentucky. Snacks are one to two servings of carbohydrates. You should eat three large meals per day, with two snacks in between. Your doctor or nutritionist can tell you exactly how many carbohydrates you should have per meal. The total carbohydrates can range from 165 g to 285 g per day.
Reading Food Labels
A benefit of counting carbohydrates is that you can eat combination foods with ease thanks to food labeling. First, note whether the label is for the whole box or for a serving size. Measure out the food according to the package serving size to get the carbohydrate count listed on the label. Look at the food label category labeled "Total Carbohydrates." Divide this number by 15 grams -- the amount of carbohydrates in a meal serving -- to determine how many carbohydrate servings are in that meal. You do not need to look at the sugars, because they are included in the total carbohydrates number. Once you know how many servings the meal contains, you can incorporate it into your meal and plan the rest of your food accordingly. If the meal contains three servings, you can still eat another one or two servings of carbohydrates for that meal without upsetting your blood sugar.
