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Carbohydrate Counting Diet

What`s it?

• Carbohydrate (kar-bo-hi-drate) counting means keeping an eye on the amount of carbs you eat every day. Carbohydrates are found in vegetables and starches, milk products, fruits, breads, sugars, and sweets. Carbs become blood sugar (glucose) in your body after you eat. By keeping your blood glucose within normal 20, you may avoid kidney disease, eye, heart disease, or heart problems.
• People with diabetes (di-uh-b-tees) can eat modest quantities of foods which contain glucose. However, the sugar-containing meals must be included at the levels. A diabetic needs to eat certain amounts of carbs to regulate blood glucose.
  • One serving of a carbohydrate food comprises 12 to 15 grams of carbohydrate. A food might be a fruit, dairy product, or a bread or starch serving at the numbers.
  • Berries contain just 5 grams of carbohydrate per serving. Unless you eat over 2 servings daily Don`t count vegetables.
  • Meat, meat substitutes, and carbohydrates aren`t counted as carbs.

Care:

Carbohydrate Intake

• Your dietitian (di-uh-tih-shun) can explain when and exactly how many carbohydrate servings or grams you can eat during the day. Ask your caregiver for the diabetic exchange diet CareNote about serving sizes to learn more.
• Speak with your caregiver if your blood sugar levels are too low or too large. Ensure that your cholesterol and other blood lipids (fats) are checked at least once annually. If they are too large you might have to observe a low fat diet.
• Seek advice from your dietitian before exchanging one type of carbohydrate for another. Ask your dietitian or caregiver before eating the following foods.
  • Foods with added sugar
  • corn-syrup
  • honey
  • molasses
  • maple syrup
  • jams and jellies.
• See the labels of packaged foods to find out how many grams of carbohydrate a serving has in it. Ensure you eat non-sweetened foods with your meals, if you eat foods or drink liquids with sugar.
• The lists below let you know how much carbohydrate is in each food group. Eat just the amount that`s about the food list.

Other Healthful Outcomes

• Don`t eat a lot of protein or fat because they can increase your risk of kidney or cardiovascular disease.
• Pick high fiber foods to help control your blood sugar. Examples of high fiber foods are fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, cooked dried beans, and bran cereals.
• Improve your activity level to help control your blood sugar levels. Tell your dietitian about your exercise plan to ensure your daily diet can be corrected to maintain your blood glucose normal.

Serving Sizes: Use the list below to measure foods and serving sizes. A serving size means the quantity of food after it`s cooked or prepared.

• 1 tsp or 2 cups (16 fluid ounces) of liquid is the size of 1-1/3 sodapop cans.
• 1-1/2 cup (12 fluid ounces) of liquid is the measurement of a sodapop can.
• 1 cup of food is the measurement of a big handful, or 8 fluid ounces of liquid.
• 1/2 cup of food is about half of a large handful, or 4 fluid ounces of liquid.
• 2 tablespoons (Tbsp) is about the size of a walnut.
• 1 tablespoon (Tbsp) is about the magnitude of the tip of your thumb (from the last crease).
• 1 teaspoon (tsp) is about the magnitude of the tip of one`s finger (from the last crease).
• 3 ounces of cooked meat, fish, or poultry is about the size of a deck of cards.
• 1 oz of cooked meat, fish, or poultry is about 1/4 cup (c).
• A single ounce of cheese is about a 1 inch cube.
• A serving of vegetables is 1/2 cup (1/2 handful) cooked, or 1 cup (1 handful) raw.

CARBOHYDRATE FOODS AND SERVING SIZES

Breads and Starches: Each serving contains 15 grams carbohydrate. Eat ____ portions per day. People today need 5-8 servings per day.

• 1 slice bread (1 ounce)
• 1/2 cup cooked pasta, corn, cooked cereal, mashed potato, or green beans
• 1/3 cup cooked rice, dried beans, or dried legumes
• 3/4 cup flake cereal
• 1/2 hamburger or hot dog bun, English muffin, or frozen bagel
• 3 cups air-popped Pop Corn
• 1 small (3 inch) curry
• Two rice cakes
• 6 saltines or three (2-1/2 inch squares) graham crackers

Berries: Each serving contains 15 grams carbohydrate. Eat ____ portions per day. Many men and women need 2-4 servings per day.

• 1/2 cup apple, orange, or grapefruit juice
• 1 small (2-1/2 inch) apple, peach, or orange
• 1/2 cup applesauce or canned fruit
• 3/4 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/3 cup cranberry juice cocktail, grape juice, or prune juice
• 15 small grapes or 12 large grapes
• 1 kiwi berry
• 1/2 big pear or fresh strawberry
• 2 Tbsp raisins or 1/4 cup dried fruit
• 1-1/4 cup fresh strawberries or melon cubes

Dairy: dairy Each serving contains 12 grams carbohydrate. Eat or drink ____ portions per day. Many men and women need 2-3 servings daily.

• 1/2 cup Sugarfree custard, pudding, or cherry milk
• 1 cup fresh milk or sugar-free yogurt
• 1/3 cup nonfat milk powder

Berries: Each serving contains 5 grams carbohydrate. Count on a vegetable as carbohydrate if you have over 2 servings daily. Eat ____ portions per day. Many men and women need 2-4 servings per day.

• 2 Tbsp tomato sauce
• 1 cup apple or tomato juice
• 1/2 cup cooked vegetables or 1 cup uncooked vegetables

Combination Foods: Each serving contains about 15 grams carbohydrate. Eat ____ portions per day. People today need 1-2 servings per day.

• 1/2 cup of any casserole, like tuna or chicken noodle, macaroni and cheese, chili with meat, or spaghetti and meat sauce
• 1 cup cream, bean, tomato, or vegetable soup
• 1/8 of a 10-inch pizza
• 1/2 of some store-bought pot pie, such as chicken, turkey, or steak
• One 3 ounce taco

NON-CARBOHYDRATE FOODS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR DIET

Meat / Meat Substitutes: The foods on the list don`t count as carbs. Eat ____ portions per day. Many folks need 2-3 servings per day.

• 1/2 cup cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup cooked dried legumes
• inch to 2 oz low fat cheese
• 1 large egg (Limit eggs to 2 or 3 each week.)
• 2-3 oz cooked meat, poultry, fish
• 2 Tbsp peanut butter

Fats: The foods on the list don`t count as carbs. Eat ____ portions per day. Many men and women need 1-3 servings per day.

• 6 almonds or 10 small peanuts
• 1/8 avocado
• 1 tsp oil or margarine
• 6 little tsp
• 2 Tbsp low calorie salad dressing
• 1 Tbsp regular salad dressing

CALL YOUR CAREGIVER IF:

• You`ve got questions about the serving sizes on the diet.
• You have questions regarding how to prepare or cook foods on this diet.
• You`ve got questions about how or where you can buy foods on this diet.
• You have questions or concerns about your illness, medicine, or this diet.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your attention. To help with this plan, you must understand your diet. You can then discuss treatment options with your health professionals. Use them to decide what care will be used to take care of. You always have the right to deny treatment.

Further information

Always seek advice from your physician to be sure the information displayed on these pages applies to your circumstances.