Carbohydrate counting
is one method of meal planning for people who have diabetes.
Carbohydrate counting means adding up the amount of carbohydrate in your
food. Limiting carbohydrates when you eat helps prevent high blood sugar, because carbohydrate affects your blood sugar more than other
nutrients. All forms of carbohydrate increase your blood sugar. Foods that
contain carbohydrate include:
- Fruits and vegetables.
- Milk and
yogurt.
- Starchy foods (such as breads, cereals, dry beans, and
vegetables such as potatoes and corn).
- Sugary foods (such as
candy and cakes).
Foods that have sugar usually have more total
carbohydrate per serving than foods that have starch. You can eat foods that have sugar when you have
diabetes, but if you eat a lot of them, you are probably not eating enough of other more nutritious
foods.
You can use low-calorie artificial sweeteners that don't have sugar (such as Splenda or
NutraSweet). You can eat foods that have
sugar alcohols (mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol), a sweetener sometimes used in "sugar-free" processed foods like candies, cookies, and soft drinks. Treat sugar alcohols as carbohydrates, but for many people they don't affect blood sugar that much. They do contain some calories but less than sugar. Be careful using sugar alcohols, especially with children, because sugar alcohols sometimes cause diarrhea.
Test Your Knowledge
Carbohydrate counting helps you know how much
carbohydrate you are eating during a meal.
- True
This answer is correct.Carbohydrate counting helps you know how much
carbohydrate you are eating during a meal. Carbohydrate is the nutrient that
most affects your blood sugar. Carbohydrate counting allows you to spread the
amount you eat throughout the day to prevent high blood sugar after
meals.
- False
This answer is incorrect.Carbohydrate counting does help you know how
much carbohydrate you are eating during a meal. Carbohydrate is the nutrient
that most affects your blood sugar. Carbohydrate counting allows you to spread
the amount you eat throughout the day to prevent high blood sugar after
meals.
Which of these foods contain
carbohydrate?
- Wheat bread, rice, peas, and oatmeal
Both answers are correct.Wheat bread, rice, peas, and oatmeal all
contain starch, a form of carbohydrate. Carbohydrate is an essential nutrient
that comes in two forms: starch and sugar. Starch is found in foods such as
bread, cereal, grains, and vegetables. Sugar is found in fruit, milk, desserts,
and candy. Both answers are correct.
- Cheesecake, skim milk, and pears
Both answers are correct.Cheesecake, skim milk, and pears all contain
sugar, a form of carbohydrate. Carbohydrate is an essential nutrient that comes
in two forms: starch and sugar. Starch is found in foods such as bread, cereal,
grains, and vegetables. Sugar is found in fruit, milk, desserts, and candy.
Both answers are correct.
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