What Is Carbohydrate Counting?
Carbohydrate counting is a method of keeping track of the number of carbohydrates you eat at each meal. This is important if you need to manage your blood sugar levels, since your body turns carbohydrates into blood sugar, or glucose.
Why Should I Use the Carbohydrate-Counting Method?
Because carbohydrate counting focuses only on the carbohydrates in different foods, it allows for more flexibility than the exchange system . Carbohydrate counting is particularly useful for people who take insulin shots, since it allows you to balance food intake with insulin. The more carbohydrates you eat, the higher your blood sugar will be, and the more insulin you will need. Of course, always ask your doctor before adjusting insulin doses on your own.
Carbohydrate-Counting Basics
When you eat carbohydrates, your body turns them into sugar, or glucose. The foods that raise blood sugar the most are those that are high in carbohydrates (eg, starches, milk, fruit, and sweets).
Carbohydrates are often classified as simple or complex. Simple carbohydrates, or sugars, include table sugar, honey, high fructose corn syrup, and the sugars found in milk and fruit. Complex carbohydrates, or starches, include whole grains, starchy vegetables, and legumes. Both types affect blood sugar in a similar way, but certain choices in each are healthier than others.
Healthy ChoicesLimit or AvoidSimple Carbohydrates (Sugars)Low-fat milk and milk productsFruitVegetablesTable sugar (eg, cane sugar or sucrose)High fructose corn syrupThis is often added to processed foods. Read list of ingredients.HoneyFoods high in added sugars (eg, sweets, soda)Complex Carbohydrates (Starches)Whole grainsStarchy vegetablesBeansLentilsRefined starches (eg, white flour, foods made from white flour, and white rice) How Much Is One Serving of Carbohydrates?One carbohydrate serving is equal to 15 grams of carbohydrate. This is about the amount of carbohydrate in one slice of bread, cup dry, unsweetened cereal, cup of pasta, one cup of milk, or one small piece of fresh fruit. Since they have similar effects on your blood sugar, they can also be exchanged. This is because these foods are generally considered carbohydrate servings. For example, you may trade one starch serving for one fruit or milk serving.The table below gives examples of food that has approximately 15 grams of carbohydrates per serving.Examples of 15 Grams of Carbohydrates Per Serving1 slice bread1/3 cup rice cup dry, unsweetened cereal1/3 bagel cup pasta1 medium sugar cookie1 cup milk4 ounces of juice or soda1 small piece (or 1 cup) of fresh fruit cup beans
cup mashed potatoes3 cups popcorn cup granola1/3 cup hummus Meats and fats generally contain little or no carbohydrate, while vegetables contain only five grams per serving (one serving equals cup cooked or 1 cup raw vegetables). For more information on carbohydrate amounts in different types of foods, read the article Diabetes Exchange Diet . There are books that provide more comprehensive carbohydrate count lists. In addition, most packaged foods have labels with the carbohydrate amount. How Much Carbohydrate Can I Eat?Most people with diabetes should consume between 45%-65% of their calories as carbohydrates (and the rest from fat and protein). There are four calories in every gram of carbohydrate. So, for example, if you are on a 2,000-calorie diet with 50% of your calories coming from carbohydrates, you can have a total of 16 servings of carbohydrate per day. A registered dietitian can help you determine and calculate the best meal plan for you.Calculating Carbohydrate Servings2,000 calorie diet50% of calories from carbohydrates = 1,000 calories1,000 calories divided by 4 calories per gram of carbohydrate = 250 grams250 grams divided by 15 grams carbohydrate per serving = 16.66 servingsHow you distribute these servings will affect your blood sugar. So, try to be consistent from day to day, but adjust as needed to keep blood sugars within your target range.
The bottom line is you should space out your carbohydrate servings into at least three meals per day. In addition, the more fiber the carbohydrates contain, the better the effect on your blood sugar. The table below shows examples of different ways that these 16 carbohydrates could be distributed:Breakfast4423430AM Snack0222213Lunch5443543PM Snack0222223Dinner5444344Evening Snack2022023TOTAL CARBS16161616161616 What About Foods That Dont Contain Carbohydrates?When following the carbohydrate counting diet, foods consisting mainly of protein or fat (eg, meat and oils) should be eaten in moderation even though they are not technically counted. If they are eaten in excess, you may exceed your target calorie level and gain weight. Foods that are high in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, should also be limited to decrease your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. What About Dietary Fiber?Fiber is a carbohydrate, but because the body cant break it down, it does not affect blood sugar. If you eat many high-fiber foods, you may want to talk to a dietitian about label reading to learn how to subtract the dietary fiber grams from the total carbohydrate grams. This subtraction gives you a more accurate estimate of the carbohydrates that will affect your blood sugar.
Helpful Tips and Suggestions Focus on the amount, timing, and type of carbohydrate consumed: AmountBecome familiar with serving sizes and learn to read food labels.TimingOnce youve developed a plan that works for you, be consistent about how you distribute your carbohydrate intake from day to day.TypeChoose whole grain, unrefined sources of carbohydrates over those that are processed or high in added sugar. Eat a variety of healthful foods everyday: Choose unprocessed, unrefined sources of carbohydrate such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, and lentils.Choose healthful fats, such as olive and canola oil, peanuts, avocado, and fish oil.Choose lean sources of protein, such as lean cuts of beef and pork, poultry, fish, beans, and legumes.Talk with a registered dietitian. He or she can help you master carbohydrate counting and come up with an individualized meal plan. RESOURCES: American Diabetes Associationhttp://www.diabetes.org National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseaseshttp://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov CANADIAN RESOURCES: Canadian Diabetes Associationhttp://www.diabetes.ca Dietitians of Canadahttp://www.dietitians.ca References: American Diabetes Association website. Available at: http://www.diabetes.org . Accessed March 21, 2007.
Carbohydrate counting. Canadian Diabetes Association website. Available at: http://www.diabetes.ca/Section_About/carbcount.asp . Accessed March 21, 2007. Carbohydrate counting with chronic kidney disease. National Kidney Foundation website. Available at: http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozItem.cfm?id=51 . Accessed March 21, 2007. Kulkarni KD. Carbohydrate counting: a practical meal-planning option for people with diabetes. Clinical Diabetes . 2005; 23:120-122. Powers M. American Dietetic Association Guide to Eating Right When You Have Diabetes. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc; 2003. Last reviewed May 2008 by Dianne Scheinberg, MS, RD, LDNPlease be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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