Diabetes & Carb Counting For Dummies
Book image
Explore Book Buy On Amazon
Whether you loosely manage your carbs or strictly count them depends on your situation. Carb counting is the gold standard if you have type 1 diabetes, but people with type 2 diabetes also stand to benefit from knowing how to count carbs. Establishing carb budgets and adhering to those budgets is one method of managing blood-glucose levels while simultaneously controlling calories and managing weight.

Counting carbs with type 1 diabetes: An essential tool

When you count carbs accurately, you know exactly how much glucose is going to end up in your bloodstream. Insulin doses can be adjusted to cover that amount of carb. People with type 1 diabetes don't make any of their own insulin. If insulin doses are based on carbohydrate intakes, counting carbs as precisely as possible is really important. It takes a little extra time initially, but with experience it gets easier and quicker.

Gaining tighter control over blood-glucose levels with type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance. The body has insulin, but the insulin doesn't work as well as it should. For better blood-glucose control, strive to spread carbohydrate intake between three meals and perhaps one or two small snacks per day.

People who skip breakfast or lunch often end up eating too much in the evening. Big meals with lots of carbohydrate can derail glucose control. There are several ways to set portion limits. The plate model puts perspective on portioning and is a simple visual tool. The carb portioning and counting fundamentals aren't reserved for people on insulin. Carb counting is an option for anyone who wants to accurately control carb portions.

Sticking with consistent carb counts when you're on set insulin doses

Do you check your blood-glucose level at mealtime and then refer to an insulin chart to determine what your dose should be? That insulin dosing method is called sliding-scale insulin. The dose goes up incrementally for higher blood-glucose readings. Some individuals are on set insulin doses at mealtimes. In other words, the dose of insulin is the same from one day to the next regardless of blood-glucose levels.

The problem with sliding-scale insulin dosing and set insulin dosing is that they don't take into consideration what you are planning to eat. The carbs in the pending meal will determine how much more glucose enters the bloodstream. Consider a low-carb salad for lunch one day and a burrito the next day. The two meals contain very different amounts of carbohydrate, but sliding-scale or set insulin dosing doesn't take that carb variability into consideration. These insulin dosing plans require mealtime carb intakes to be consistent from one day to the next.

Establish mealtime carb targets. You can vary your food choices daily but keep the carb amounts consistent.

Set insulin dosing and sliding-scale insulin dosing aren't ideal for type 1 diabetes but may suffice for some people with type 2 diabetes. Talk to your healthcare providers to determine a safe and effective insulin dosing plan for you.

Managing weight with carb counting and portion precision

Counting carbs and eating appropriate amounts at meals and snacks helps with weight control. When you adhere to budgeted amounts of carbs at mealtimes and snacks, you are automatically putting a cap on portion sizes for fruit, bread, grains, starches, cereals, milk, yogurt, sweets, and many other items. Controlling carb portions helps with blood-glucose control and weight management. Here are some pointers:
  • Choose lean proteins and limit mealtime protein portions to the size of the palm of your hand.
  • Choose lower-fat cooking methods and limit added fats.
  • Eat plenty of vegetables and salads.

The benefits are cumulative. Controlling portions helps with weight loss; losing weight improves insulin action; better-working insulin improves blood-glucose control; and controlling diabetes and weight lowers your risk of heart disease!

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book author:

Sherri Shafer, RD, CDE, is a senior registered dietitian and a certified diabetes educator at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. She teaches diabetes self-management workshops and provides nutrition counseling for individuals with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and gestational dia-betes. She is also the author of Diabetes Type 2: Complete Food Management Program.

This article can be found in the category: