Carb

Carb counting basics -- Learn how to carb count and eat healthier. Here is a guide to better living.

Carb Counting

The Low Down on Carb Counting

When people think of diabetes, one of the first associations that comes to mind is food, and especially the old prohibition against eating sweets. In fact, today's dietary guidelines are not as stringent, but are slightly more complex. The guidelines are:

1. Eat a variety of healthy, nutritious foods.

2. Reduce fat and protein to reasonable amounts

3. And balance carbohydrate intake with insulin and exercise.

Numbers 1 and 2 relate to good eating habits and discipline. Both are strongly encouraged for long-term health. Number 3 determines most of the blood sugar control related to eating. Half the day's insulin is used to balance the carb we eat in foods. (The other half meets the background insulin need, and this need remains relatively steady from day to day.)

Food contains carbohydrates, fats, and proteins as sources of energy, plus many other important ingredients like vitamins and minerals. The carbs in food have the most impact on the blood sugar. High fat foods can contribute to obesity, heart disease, and higher blood sugars in the long run. However, dietary fat plays only a minor role in daily blood sugar control.

Protein is also a minor player in short-term carb counting. Half the protein we eat is converted to carb over a period of several hours. But protein makes up only 10% to 20% of total calories, so it normally determines less than 10% of total control.

To measure the impact that carbohydrates have on the blood sugar, either the exchange system, counting calories, or the Total Available Glucose (TAG) system can be used. If one of these systems is working for you, don't change a thing. But if your blood sugars aren't in the normal range, this can be a great help. Carb counting specifically measures the upward drive each meal has on the blood sugar, and allows food to be accurately balanced with insulin or with exercise. Better control will result from knowing how much carb is in the foods you eat.

This is just the beginning of carbcounting and more. Stay tuned for more health tips on carbohydrate counting and low carb recipes. You can be a healthy carb counter if you are given the right tools.